Computerized method and system of displaying an impact point relating to an accident

• US 7,680,680 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computer Sciences Corporation (DXC Technology Company)
• Original Assignee: Computer Sciences Corporation (DXC Technology Company)
• Inventors: Johnston, Tim, Wahlbin, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor; Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pass; Natalie A
• Application Number:
  US09/969,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,087 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705/1, 705/13, 702/159, 701/45, 701/35, 701/36, 701/37, 703/8
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing claims data to a liability assesment program are provided. In one embodiment, data regarding a vehicle accident may be provided to a liability assessment program via a graphical user interface. The data may include information regarding one or more vehicles in the accident and an assessment of the vehicle accident. The data may be stored in a memory associated with the liability assessment program.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing a computer system configured to access a memory, wherein the memory comprises sets of characteristics regarding one or more past or theoretical vehicle accidents, and wherein at least one characteristic in the sets of characteristics is an impact point for a vehicle involved in a past or theoretical vehicle accident, and wherein at least one estimate of liability is associated with each of the sets of characteristics; and

the computer system executing program instructions to implement;

the computer system displaying the impact points as a graphical image in a graphical user interface;

selecting a graphical image of an impact point corresponding to an impact point for a vehicle involved in a real vehicle accident;

the computer system comparing the selected impact point with impact points associated with the sets of characteristics regarding past or theoretical vehicle accident to determine a nearest matching set of characteristics; and

the computer system determining, when possible, an estimate of liability for the real vehicle accident based on the liability associated with the nearest matching set of characteristics, wherein the estimate of liability is expressed as a range of percentage liability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the impact point is selected from the group consisting of right front corner, right front fender, right middle, right rear quarter-panel, right rear corner, rear middle, left rear corner, left rear quarter-panel, left middle, left front fender, left front corner, and front middle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical image of the impact point comprises a graphical representation of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is divided into two or more sections, and wherein the sections correspond to impact points.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the real vehicle accident comprises a two vehicle accident.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimate of liability is expressed as a percentage.

6. A system for estimating liability, comprising:

a CPU;

a data memory coupled to the CPU; and

a system memory coupled to the CPU, wherein the system memory is configured to store one or more computer programs executable by the CPU, and wherein the computer programs are executable to implement a method for estimating liability, the method comprising;

accessing the data memory, wherein the data memory comprises sets of characteristics regarding one or more past or theoretical vehicle accidents, and wherein at least one characteristic in the sets of characteristics is an impact point for a vehicle in one of the a past or theoretical vehicle accidents, and wherein at least one estimate of liability is associated with each of the sets of characteristics;

a computer system displaying the impact point as a graphical image in a graphical user interface;

selecting a graphical image of an impact point corresponding to an impact point for a vehicle in a real vehicle accident;

the computer system comparing the selected impact point with impact points associated with the sets of characteristics regarding past or theoretical vehicle accident to determine a nearest matching set of characteristics; and

the computer system determining, when possible, an estimate of liability for the real vehicle accident based on the liability associated with the nearest matching set of characteristics, wherein the estimate of liability is expressed as a range of percentage liability.

7. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions stored thereon, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement a method comprising:

providing a computer system configured to access a memory, wherein the memory comprises sets of characteristics regarding one or more past or theoretical vehicle accidents, and wherein at least one characteristic in the sets of characteristics is an impact point for a vehicle involved in a past or theoretical vehicle accident, and wherein at least one estimate of liability is associated with each of the sets of characteristics;

the computer system displaying the impact points as a graphical image in a graphical user interface;

selecting a graphical image of an impact point corresponding to an impact point for a vehicle involved in a real vehicle accident;

the computer system comparing the selected impact point with impact points associated with the sets of characteristics regarding past or theoretical vehicle accident to determine a nearest matching set of characteristics; and

the computer system determining, when possible, an estimate of liability for the real vehicle accident based on the liability associated with the nearest matching set of characteristics, wherein the estimate of liability is expressed as a range of percentage liability.