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Computerized method and system for estimating liability for an accident from an investigation of the accident

  • US 7,805,321 B2
  • Filed: 11/27/2002
  • Issued: 09/28/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:

  • providing a computer system configured to access a memory,wherein the memory comprises at least one numerical factor shift associated with each of at least two of a plurality of cases, wherein each of at least two of the plurality of cases includes;

    a value of a speed factor, wherein the value of the speed factor is based on a comparison between a specified speed of a reacting vehicle in an accident and at least one other speed, wherein the specified speed is an actual speed, a speed limit, or a safe speed; and

    a value of a braking factor, wherein the value of the braking factor is based on whether or not a reacting vehicle in a vehicle accident attempted to avoid the accident by braking;

    wherein the memory further comprises a theoretical path of at least one vehicle in a vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the memory comprises a probable collision area for the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the probable collision area for the vehicle accident under consideration includes positions that a reference vehicle and a reacting vehicle in the accident under consideration are likely to occupy at impact, wherein the probable collision area is defined by a plurality of coordinates, and wherein the plurality of coordinates is estimated using the theoretical path of at least one point on at least one vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration;

    in a graphical user interface, displaying the probable collision area for the vehicle accident under consideration as a graphical image having a particular shape and at least one boundary, wherein the particular shape and the at least one boundary are based on the plurality of coordinates estimated using the theoretical path of the at least one point on the at least one vehicle;

    displaying at least one vehicle as a graphical image in the graphical user interface;

    displaying the theoretical path as a graphical image in the graphical user interface;

    assessing, using the displayed graphical images, an opportunity for the reacting vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration to have avoided the vehicle accident, wherein assessing the opportunity of the reacting vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration to have avoided the accident comprises;

    the computer system comparing a specified speed of the reacting vehicle in the accident under consideration with at least one other speed, wherein the specified speed for the reacting vehicle under consideration is an actual speed, a speed limit, or a safe speed of the reacting vehicle;

    determining, for the vehicle accident under consideration, a value of a speed factor, wherein the value of the speed factor is based on the comparison of the specified speed of the reacting vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration with the at least one other speed;

    determining, for the vehicle accident under consideration, a value of a braking factor, wherein the value of the braking factor is based on whether or not the reacting vehicle attempted to avoid the accident by braking;

    estimating, using the displayed graphical images, a contribution to liability of at least one party to the vehicle accident based on the opportunity of the reacting vehicle to avoid the accident, wherein estimating the contribution to liability comprises the computer system applying to a base liability, from among the numerical factor shifts associated with the plurality of cases in the memory, at least one numerical factor shift associated with a case, from among the plurality of cases, having;

    a value of a speed factor that matches the value of the speed factor for the accident under consideration; and

    a value of a braking factor that matches the value of the braking factor for the accident under consideration.

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