Tow claims system for secondary tow and salvage management

• US 20060190317A1
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce E. Crockett
• Original Assignee: Bruce E. Crockett
• Inventors: Crockett, Bruce E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A method and system for unified secondary management of tow claims and salvage tow data, and specifically for simplifying the workflow of attending insurers, towers, and a manager (operator of an application service provider). The system is implemented in software form and includes an Insurance Company Module for allowing Clients to initiate tow dispatch orders into the system, a Tow Company Module for allowing towing vendors to view, execute and track tow dispatches assigned to them through the dispatch system, and a Management Module for allowing a third party Manager to manage the system, and to dispatch tow orders, track orders, approve completed orders for payment, and provide Client and Vendor account management, reports and performance tracking. Data extracted from all three modules is stored in a relational database and can readily be accessed by any of the three participants in real time, and may be edited and/or analyzed for reporting.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented workflow system for simplifying the workflow of attending insurers and towing companies in administering to secondary tow and salvage claims, comprising:

an application service provider (ASP) workflow management module comprising a graphical user interface for allowing information entry, manipulation and output for tow and salvage dispatch orders, deployment and tracking, and management reports;

a client/insurer workflow management module comprising a graphical user interface for allowing information entry, manipulation and output for tow and salvage dispatch orders, deployment and tracking;

a vendor/tower workflow management module comprising a graphical user interface for allowing information entry, manipulation and output; and

a relational database for storing data extracted from ASP, client/insurer, and vendor/tower modules, said data comprising dispatch order information, tow authorization information, tow charges, vehicle information, vehicle location, and tow to location.

2. The computer-implemented tow and salvage claim workflow system according to claim 1, wherein said ASP workflow management module includes display of consolidated dispatch orders comprises a tree-index section illustrating a hierarchical tree-index of all dispatch orders for a particular manager having sub-indices to order status inclusive of “

New”

, “

In-Process”

, and “

Closed”

.

3. The computer-implemented tow and salvage claim workflow system according to claim 2, wherein said ASP workflow management module includes an SQL search interface for allowing access to desired dispatch orders by typing in a text search string, whereby a manager can access information for a dispatch order either via said tree-index section or search section to view more detailed information on that dispatch order.

4. The computer-implemented tow and salvage claim workflow system according to claim 1, wherein said client/insurer workflow management module comprises two permissions levels including claims adjuster and manager, determined at a login, said manager level having all capabilities of said claims adjuster plus an ability to view management reports that track utilization and costs.

5. The computer-implemented tow and salvage claim workflow system according to claim 1, wherein said client/insurer workflow management module comprises includes a dispatch order entry screen that allows said client/insurers to initiate dispatch orders, including claim number assignment and entry of vehicle owner authorization information, primary tow charges, vehicle information, vehicle location, and tow-to location.

6. A method for managing secondary tow and salvage claims amongst participating clients (insurers), vendors (towers) and a third party manager, each comprising the steps of:

providing each participating client, vendor and manager access to a computerized workflow management system including a dedicated graphical user interfaces for each participant;

receiving a tow assignment at said client, entering assignment data into said client user interface, and storing said assignment data in a database;

triggering a timer for tracking a first time within which vehicle owner consent for said tow assignment must be obtained;

said client determining a payout amount due for any primary tow, storage fees, and other charges and enters the payout amount into said client user interface for associated storage in said database in relation to the assignment data;

said client contacting the vehicle owner directly and obtaining a vehicle release authorization and proof of ownership of the vehicle;

said client entering tow assignment data, details of the tow authorization, and payout amount into said client user interface for storage in said database;

triggering a timer for tracking a second time within which a secondary tow must be completed by an assigned vendor;

electronically transmitting said tow assignment, vehicle release authorization and proof of ownership to a third party manager;

said manager facilitating a secondary tow by the substeps of,

mapping a location of the vehicle,

identifying a proximate subscribing tow vendor,

calculating secondary tow or salvage charges;

obtaining electronic payment for the payout amount from the client;

electronically transmitting the tow assignment to the identified vendor, inclusive of the payout amount;

said vendor executing the secondary tow by the following substeps,

proceeding to the vehicle location,

paying the payout amount to have the vehicle released,

transmitting confirmation to said manager that the payout amount has been paid, together with an itemized list of payout charges,

towing the vehicle,

inputting job completion data into said vendor interface,

transmitting a job completion notification to said manager;

whereby said manager submits electronic payment for the secondary tow to the vendor and sends an electronic invoice for same to the client.

7. The method for managing secondary tow and salvage claims amongst participating clients, vendors and a third party manager according to claim 6, wherein said first time is 48 hours.

8. The method for managing secondary tow and salvage claims amongst participating clients, vendors and a third party manager according to claim 7, wherein said second time is 24 hours.

9. The method for managing secondary tow and salvage claims amongst participating clients, vendors and a third party manager according to claim 6, wherein in response to said step of the client contacting the vehicle owner directly, said vehicle owner may provide said release authorization and proof of ownership of the vehicle by one of:

1) physically going to the location of said client;

     2) facsimile;

     3) email; and

     4) 3-way teleconference call between said client, vehicle owner and an impound lot operator.

10. The method for managing secondary tow and salvage claims amongst participating clients, vendors and a third party manager according to claim 6, wherein said vendor must substantiate to said manager any variation in the actual payout amount versus the payout amount transmitted to said vendor in the tow assignment.

11. The method for managing secondary tow and salvage claims amongst participating clients, vendors and a third party manager according to claim 6, further comprising the step of said manager compiling monthly reports and forwarding said report to said clients and vendors.