According to NBC, the Kentucky-based physician filed an emergency "bill of discovery" against United on Wednesday, demanding that video footage and other evidence of the incident be "preserved and protected".
The three officers who removed Dao have been suspended from their jobs at the Chicago Aviation Department.
Paul Callan, a civil and criminal trial lawyer in NY, said Dao has at least two potential claims against the airline: a personal injury claim for assault and battery, which could also target the police; and a contract claim.
The doctor's legal team asked a court to force United Airlines and the city to retain all video and flight records pertaining to the flight, including the personnel records of the Chicago Department of Aviation officers who dragged Dao off the plane.
The disturbing episode began when the airline offered as much as $800 to passengers who gave up their seats to allow crew members to fly.
Video of Sunday's incident taken by other passengers and showing Dao being dragged up the plane aisle and with a bloodied mouth circulated rapidly, causing public outrage.
Crystal Dao Pepper, Dao's daughter, said the family was "shocked and horrified" to learn what had happened.
Dao's family and two lawyers, corporate law specialist Stephen Golan and prominent personal injury lawyer Thomas Demetri, are expected to hold a press conference regarding the incident on Thursday morning.
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Dao's lawyers filed an emergency request with an IL state court on Wednesday to require United Continental Holdings Inc and the City of Chicago to preserve video recordings and other evidence related to the incident, which would be a precursor to a lawsuit.
In a hurried reaction Monday after backlash mushroomed on social media, United CEO Oscar Munoz apologized "for having to re-accommodate these customers" - further exasperating the denizens of the online community.
"Just because United is responsible doesn't mean the city of Chicago isn't responsible", he said.
The news of the scorpion sting could not have come at a more coincidental time than this week, days after a United passenger was forcibly dragged from his flight to Chicago. At the hearing, United called it a different set of circumstances.
Details emerged Tuesday that the flight, earlier described by the airline as overbooked, had only been fully booked, meaning there was room for all passengers. Munoz himself said on Wednesday that he had left a message for Dao.
United has apologized and says it won't happen again.
United Airlines has since issued a refund to all passengers on the flight.
But Quinn said that even without a strong case, Dao would probably walk away with a hefty settlement.
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