Someone hurt in an accident three weeks ago finally sits down to look for a solicitor. They have two questions in their head: do I have a case, and will this cost me anything. A website that answers neither loses them. A website that answers the first one loses them something worse.
Here are the myths about what a personal injury site can safely say.
Myth 1: a website can tell someone whether they have a claim
Reality: liability depends on evidence, timing, medical findings and law. A website that suggests a claim is strong, or dismisses one, is giving advice without any of those facts. The correct answer explains that a solicitor will review the details and offers a consultation. Qualifying without advising is covered in qualifying legal enquiries without giving advice.
Myth 2: a rough compensation figure is helpful
Reality: figures set expectations that the facts may never support. Someone comparing firms on predicted amounts is being sold to, not advised.
Myth 3: funding is too complicated to explain online
Reality: funding is exactly what people want explained. What a no-win-no-fee arrangement means in practice, what happens if the case is lost, what a success fee is and whether there are any upfront costs can all be set out plainly. Firms that do this win more enquiries, as described in fee questions that decide which firm gets the client.
Visitor: I slipped at work and hurt my back. Do I have a claim? Assistant: A solicitor needs to look at the details before anyone can say. The page explains how the firm assesses claims and how funding works, including that initial consultations are free. If you share when it happened, where, whether it was reported and whether you have seen a doctor, a solicitor can review it and come back to you.
Myth 4: capturing details is intrusive
Reality: capturing the date, location, what happened, whether it was reported and whether medical treatment was sought is what lets a solicitor assess quickly. It is the difference between a same-day response and a week of messages.
Myth 5: time limits can be left until later
Reality: limitation periods matter enormously, and someone enquiring years after an event needs to speak to a solicitor urgently. A website should never state whether a specific claim is in time, but it should encourage prompt contact.
Myth 6: enquiries arrive in office hours
Reality: injured people research in the evening, in pain, after work or while off sick. Answering at that moment, without advising, is what wins the instruction.
Myth 7: everything can be automated
Reality: nothing about the merits of a case can be. The assistant's job is to explain process, answer funding questions and hand over cleanly, which works the same way in any professional services firm, as covered in partner and reseller enquiries from your website and AI receptionist for personal trainers.
How SpideyChat handles it
SpideyChat for law firms answers only from your published pages, declines to assess claims or predict outcomes, and captures accident details for a solicitor to review. You can see handover on the demo, and plans are on the pricing page.
Testing before launch
Write down the ten most common opening messages your firm receives and check the assistant declines to assess every one while still being useful.