Computerized method and system for estimating an effect on liability using a comparison of the actual speed of a vehicle in an accident and time and distance traveled by the vehicles in a merging vehicle accident
First Claim
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1. A method of estimating liability for vehicle accidents using a computer system, comprising:
- the computer system estimating a theoretical path of a straight traveling vehicle using position data for one vehicle in a vehicle accident that has already occurred;
the computer system estimating a theoretical path of a turning vehicle using position data for another vehicle in the vehicle accident that has already occurred, wherein the turning vehicle is in the same lane at the completion of a turn as the straight traveling vehicle;
estimating, for at least one of the straight traveling vehicle or the turning vehicle that is in the same lane at the completion of the turn as the straight traveling vehicle, at least one vehicle avoidance speed, wherein the vehicle avoidance speed is an approximate speed that allows a reacting vehicle an opportunity to avoid the vehicle accident;
the computer system making at least one comparison of the vehicle avoidance speed with at least one specified speed for the at least one vehicle, wherein the computer system making at least one comparison of the vehicle avoidance speed with at least one specified speed of at least one vehicle comprises;
estimating at least one safe speed of the at least one vehicle, wherein the safe speed is estimated based on at least the speed limit, road conditions and weather conditions at the time and location of the accident;
the computer system comparing at least one vehicle avoidance speed with at least one actual speed of at the at least one vehicle; and
the computer system comparing at least one vehicle avoidance speed with the at least one estimated safe speed for the at least one vehicle;
assessing an opportunity of at least one vehicle to have avoided the vehicle accident that has already occurred, wherein the assessment of the opportunity of the at least one vehicle to have avoided the vehicle accident is based, at least in part, on the comparison of the at least one vehicle avoidance speed with at least one actual speed of the at least one vehicle and on the comparison of the at least one vehicle avoidance speed with the at least one estimated safe speed for the at least one vehicle; and
the computer system estimating, when possible, a contribution to liability of at least one vehicle based, at least in part, on the opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident that has already occurred.
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Abstract
Computer-implemented methods and systems for estimating liability for a vehicle accident are provided. In one embodiment, the theoretical paths of a straight traveling vehicle and of a turning vehicle may be estimated. In certain embodiments, the turning vehicle may be merging into the same lane as the straight traveling vehicle. The opportunity of at least one vehicle, traveling at a specified speed, to avoid the accident may be assessed. In an embodiment, a contribution to liability to at least one vehicle may be estimated based on the opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of estimating liability for vehicle accidents using a computer system, comprising:
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the computer system estimating a theoretical path of a straight traveling vehicle using position data for one vehicle in a vehicle accident that has already occurred; the computer system estimating a theoretical path of a turning vehicle using position data for another vehicle in the vehicle accident that has already occurred, wherein the turning vehicle is in the same lane at the completion of a turn as the straight traveling vehicle; estimating, for at least one of the straight traveling vehicle or the turning vehicle that is in the same lane at the completion of the turn as the straight traveling vehicle, at least one vehicle avoidance speed, wherein the vehicle avoidance speed is an approximate speed that allows a reacting vehicle an opportunity to avoid the vehicle accident; the computer system making at least one comparison of the vehicle avoidance speed with at least one specified speed for the at least one vehicle, wherein the computer system making at least one comparison of the vehicle avoidance speed with at least one specified speed of at least one vehicle comprises; estimating at least one safe speed of the at least one vehicle, wherein the safe speed is estimated based on at least the speed limit, road conditions and weather conditions at the time and location of the accident; the computer system comparing at least one vehicle avoidance speed with at least one actual speed of at the at least one vehicle; and the computer system comparing at least one vehicle avoidance speed with the at least one estimated safe speed for the at least one vehicle; assessing an opportunity of at least one vehicle to have avoided the vehicle accident that has already occurred, wherein the assessment of the opportunity of the at least one vehicle to have avoided the vehicle accident is based, at least in part, on the comparison of the at least one vehicle avoidance speed with at least one actual speed of the at least one vehicle and on the comparison of the at least one vehicle avoidance speed with the at least one estimated safe speed for the at least one vehicle; and the computer system estimating, when possible, a contribution to liability of at least one vehicle based, at least in part, on the opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident that has already occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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5. A system configured to estimate liability, comprising:
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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 for vehicle accidents, the method comprising; estimating a theoretical path of a straight traveling vehicle using position data for one vehicle in a vehicle accident that has already occurred; estimating a theoretical path of a turning vehicle using position data for another vehicle in the vehicle accident that has already occurred, wherein the turning vehicle is in the same lane at the completion of a turn as the straight traveling vehicle; estimating, for at least one of the straight traveling vehicle or the turning vehicle that is in the same lane at the completion of the turn as the straight traveling vehicle, at least one vehicle avoidance speed, wherein the vehicle avoidance speed is an approximate speed that allows a reacting vehicle an opportunity to avoid the vehicle accident; making at least one comparison of the vehicle avoidance speed with at least one specified speed for the at least one vehicle, wherein making at least one comparison of the vehicle avoidance speed with at least one specified speed of at least one vehicle comprises; estimating at least one safe speed of the at least one vehicle, wherein the safe speed is estimated based on at least the speed limit, road conditions and weather conditions at the time and location of the accident; comparing at least one vehicle avoidance speed with at least one actual speed of at the at least one vehicle; and comparing at least one vehicle avoidance speed with the at least one estimated safe speed for the at least one vehicle; assessing an opportunity of at least one vehicle to have avoided the vehicle accident that has already occurred, wherein the assessment of the opportunity of the at least one vehicle to have avoided the vehicle accident is based, at least in part, on the comparison of the at least one vehicle avoidance speed with at least one actual speed of the at least one vehicle and on the comparison of the at least one vehicle avoidance speed with the at least one estimated safe speed for the at least one vehicle; and estimating, when possible, a contribution to liability of at least one vehicle based, at least in part, on the opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident that has already occurred. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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6. A tangible, computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions stored thereon, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement a method for estimating liability for vehicle accidents, the method comprising:
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estimating a theoretical path of a straight traveling vehicle using position data for one vehicle in a vehicle accident that has already occurred; estimating a theoretical path of a turning vehicle using position data for another vehicle in the vehicle accident that has already occurred, wherein the turning vehicle is in the same lane at the completion of a turn as the straight traveling vehicle; estimating, for at least one of the straight traveling vehicle or the turning vehicle that is in the same lane at the completion of the turn as the straight traveling vehicle, at least one vehicle avoidance speed, wherein the vehicle avoidance speed is an approximate speed that allows a reacting vehicle an opportunity to avoid the vehicle accident; making at least one comparison of the vehicle avoidance speed with at least one specified speed for the at least one vehicle, wherein making at least one comparison of the avoid the vehicle accident vehicle avoidance speed with at least one specified speed of at least one vehicle comprises; estimating at least one safe speed of the at least one vehicle, wherein the safe speed is estimated based on at least the speed limit, road conditions and weather conditions at the time and location of the accident; comparing at least one estimated speed to avoid the vehicle accident vehicle avoidance speed with at least one actual speed of at the at least one vehicle; and comparing at least one vehicle avoidance speed with the at least one estimated safe speed for the at least one vehicle; assessing an opportunity of at least one vehicle to have avoided the vehicle accident that has already occurred, wherein the assessment of the opportunity of the at least one vehicle to have avoided the vehicle accident is based, at least in part, on the comparison of the at least one vehicle avoidance speed with at least one actual speed of the at least one vehicle and on the comparison of the at least one vehicle avoidance speed with the at least one estimated safe speed for the at least one vehicle; and estimating, when possible, a contribution to liability of at least one vehicle based, at least in part, on the opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident that has already occurred.
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Specification