The 2026 Legal Intake Benchmark Report
We called 1,000 personal injury law firms after 5pm. 41% never answered. This report reveals exactly where firms are losing clients—and how to fix it.
Key Findings at a Glance
Data-driven insights from analyzing thousands of legal intake interactions
of firms never answered our after-hours calls
of callers who hit voicemail hang up and never call back
of clients hire the first firm that answers the phone
of firms had any AI or automated intake system
The Legal Intake Report provides information on the most pressing challenges facing law firms
Based on 1,000 live phone calls to personal injury law firms across 17 states and 25 cities, every call placed after 5pm local time. Real data. Real firms. Real results.
What's Inside the Report
Comprehensive analysis backed by real data from the legal industry
The National Breakdown
41% of firms never answered. 80% hang up on voicemail and never call back. 74% claim 24-hour availability—29% broke that promise. Only 3% had AI response.
The Speed-to-Retention Clock
Contact odds drop 100x between 5-30 minutes. 87% of people who contact an attorney hire one. 72% only contact a single firm. First responder wins 78% of the time.
Geographic Reach
17 states. 25 cities. New York: 78.7% answer rate. Detroit: 36.5%. Friday is the worst day at 44.5%—when nonfatal crashes peak nationally.
The Cost of Missed Calls
409 unanswered calls = $1,346,400 in lost fees. Every missed call burns $700-$1,500 in marketing and risks $10,000-$18,000 in fees. The loss is invisible.
Stop losing clients to missed calls
Join the top 10% of firms that capture every lead, 24/7. See how ClaireAI can transform your intake.