Computerized method and system for estimating liability
First Claim
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1. A method of estimating liability for a vehicle accident under consideration, comprising:
- a computer system executing program instructions to implement;
associating, in a memory of the computer system, one or more estimates of base liability with one or more sets of characteristics for past or theoretical accidents;
associating, in a memory of the computer system, one or more numerical factor shifts with each of at least two values of a speed factor, wherein at least one of the values of the speed factor is based on a comparison between a specified speed of a reacting vehicle with a speed for avoiding, wherein the specified speed is an actual speed, a safe speed, or a speed limit for an accident, wherein the speed for avoiding is an approximate speed that allows the reacting vehicle to avoid an accident, and wherein the speed for avoiding is a maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident or a brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident, wherein the maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident is an approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by maintaining a constant rate of speed, wherein the brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident is an approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by braking without stopping;
estimating, for the vehicle accident under consideration, an actual speed of a vehicle involved in the vehicle accident;
providing at least one specified speed of the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration;
comparing, using the computer system, the actual speed to at least one specified speed, wherein at least one of the compared specified speeds comprises a safe speed for the vehicle assessed using a coefficient of friction of a road surface, wherein comparing the actual speed to at least one specified speed comprises calculating, using the computer system, an excess of the actual speed over the at least one compared specified speed;
estimating a base liability for the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the estimate of base liability for the vehicle is based at least in part on at least one of the estimates of base liability associated with the one or more sets of characteristics for past or theoretical accidents;
assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein assessing the opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident under consideration comprises;
estimating one or more speeds for avoiding for the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein at least one of the speeds for avoiding is an approximate speed of the vehicle that would allow the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident, wherein the at least one speed for avoiding is a calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration or a calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration is a calculated approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by maintaining a constant rate of speed, wherein the calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration is a calculated approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by braking without stopping;
the computer system making one or more comparisons of at least one specified speed of the vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration to at least one of the one or more estimated speeds for avoiding for the accident under consideration, wherein, for each of at least one of the one or more comparisons, the specified speed for the comparison is an actual speed, a safe speed, or a speed limit and the estimated speed for avoiding is the calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration or the calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration;
determining a value of a speed factor for the vehicle accident under consideration based on at least one of the one or more comparisons made of the at least one specified speed of the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration to the at least one of the one or more estimated speeds for avoiding for the vehicle accident under consideration; and
estimating a contribution to liability of the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident based at least in part on the comparison of the actual speed to the at least one specified speed,wherein the contribution to liability includes a first numerical adjustment to the estimate of base liability for the vehicle, wherein the amount of the first numerical adjustment varies based on the excess of the actual speed over the at least one compared specified speed,wherein the contribution to liability includes a second numerical adjustment to the estimate of base liability for the vehicle, wherein the second numerical adjustment comprises at least one numerical factor shift, from among the numerical factor shifts in the memory of the computer system, that is associated with a value of the speed factor that matches the value of the speed factor for the vehicle accident under consideration.
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Abstract
Computer-implemented methods and systems for estimating liability for a vehicle accident are provided. In one embodiment, an actual speed of a vehicle involved in an accident may be estimated. At least one specified speed of a vehicle involved in the accident may be provided to a computer system. In an embodiment, the specified speed may be a speed limit. In other embodiments, the specified speed may be a safe speed of the vehicle involved in an accident. The actual speed may be compared to at least one specified speed. In some embodiments, an effect on liability may be estimated based on the comparison.
201 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of estimating liability for a vehicle accident under consideration, comprising:
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a computer system executing program instructions to implement; associating, in a memory of the computer system, one or more estimates of base liability with one or more sets of characteristics for past or theoretical accidents; associating, in a memory of the computer system, one or more numerical factor shifts with each of at least two values of a speed factor, wherein at least one of the values of the speed factor is based on a comparison between a specified speed of a reacting vehicle with a speed for avoiding, wherein the specified speed is an actual speed, a safe speed, or a speed limit for an accident, wherein the speed for avoiding is an approximate speed that allows the reacting vehicle to avoid an accident, and wherein the speed for avoiding is a maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident or a brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident, wherein the maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident is an approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by maintaining a constant rate of speed, wherein the brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident is an approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by braking without stopping; estimating, for the vehicle accident under consideration, an actual speed of a vehicle involved in the vehicle accident; providing at least one specified speed of the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration; comparing, using the computer system, the actual speed to at least one specified speed, wherein at least one of the compared specified speeds comprises a safe speed for the vehicle assessed using a coefficient of friction of a road surface, wherein comparing the actual speed to at least one specified speed comprises calculating, using the computer system, an excess of the actual speed over the at least one compared specified speed; estimating a base liability for the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the estimate of base liability for the vehicle is based at least in part on at least one of the estimates of base liability associated with the one or more sets of characteristics for past or theoretical accidents; assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein assessing the opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident under consideration comprises; estimating one or more speeds for avoiding for the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein at least one of the speeds for avoiding is an approximate speed of the vehicle that would allow the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident, wherein the at least one speed for avoiding is a calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration or a calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration is a calculated approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by maintaining a constant rate of speed, wherein the calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration is a calculated approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by braking without stopping; the computer system making one or more comparisons of at least one specified speed of the vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration to at least one of the one or more estimated speeds for avoiding for the accident under consideration, wherein, for each of at least one of the one or more comparisons, the specified speed for the comparison is an actual speed, a safe speed, or a speed limit and the estimated speed for avoiding is the calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration or the calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration; determining a value of a speed factor for the vehicle accident under consideration based on at least one of the one or more comparisons made of the at least one specified speed of the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration to the at least one of the one or more estimated speeds for avoiding for the vehicle accident under consideration; and estimating a contribution to liability of the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident based at least in part on the comparison of the actual speed to the at least one specified speed, wherein the contribution to liability includes a first numerical adjustment to the estimate of base liability for the vehicle, wherein the amount of the first numerical adjustment varies based on the excess of the actual speed over the at least one compared specified speed, wherein the contribution to liability includes a second numerical adjustment to the estimate of base liability for the vehicle, wherein the second numerical adjustment comprises at least one numerical factor shift, from among the numerical factor shifts in the memory of the computer system, that is associated with a value of the speed factor that matches the value of the speed factor for the vehicle accident under consideration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. 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 a vehicle accident under consideration, the method comprising; associating, in a memory of a computer system, one or more estimates of base liability with one or more sets of characteristics for past or theoretical accidents; associating, in a memory of the computer system, one or more numerical factor shifts with each of at least two values of a speed factor, wherein at least one of the values of the speed factor is based on a comparison between a specified speed of a reacting vehicle with a speed for avoiding, wherein the specified speed is an actual speed, a safe speed, or a speed limit for an accident, wherein the speed for avoiding is an approximate speed that allows the reacting vehicle to avoid an accident, and wherein the speed for avoiding is a maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident or a brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident, wherein the maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident is an approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by maintaining a constant rate of speed, wherein the brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident is an approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by braking without stopping; estimating, for the vehicle accident under consideration, an actual speed of a vehicle involved in the vehicle accident; providing at least one specified speed of a vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration; comparing the actual speed to at least one specified speed, wherein at least one of the compared specified speeds comprises a safe speed the for vehicle, wherein the safe speed for the vehicle is assessed using a coefficient of friction of a road surface, wherein comparing the actual speed to at least one specified speed comprises calculating an excess of the actual speed over the at least one compared specified speed; and estimating a base liability for the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the estimate of base liability for the vehicle is based at least in part on at least one of the estimates of base liability associated with the one or more sets of characteristics for past or theoretical accidents; assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein assessing the opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident under consideration comprises; estimating one or more speeds for avoiding for the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein at least one of the speeds for avoiding is an approximate speed of the vehicle that would allow the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident, wherein the at least one speed for avoiding is a calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration or a calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration is a calculated approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by maintaining a constant rate of speed, wherein the calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration is a calculated approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by braking without stopping; making one or more comparisons of at least one specified speed of the vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration to at least one of the one or more estimated speeds for avoiding for the accident under consideration, wherein, for each of at least one of the one or more comparisons, the specified speed for the comparison is an actual speed, a safe speed, or a speed limit and the estimated speed for avoiding is the calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration or the calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration; determining a value of a speed factor for the vehicle accident under consideration based on at least one of the one or more comparisons made of the at least one specified speed of the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration to the at least one of the one or more estimated speeds for avoiding for the vehicle accident under consideration; estimating a contribution to liability of the vehicle involved in the accident based on the comparison of the actual speed to the at least one specified speed, wherein the contribution to liability includes a numerical adjustment to the estimate of base liability for the vehicle, wherein the amount of the numerical adjustment varies based on the excess of the actual speed over the at least one compared specified speed, wherein the contribution to liability includes a second numerical adjustment to the estimate of base liability for the vehicle, wherein the second numerical adjustment comprises at least one numerical factor shift, from among the numerical factor shifts in the memory of the computer system, that is associated with a value of the speed factor that matches the value of the speed factor for the vehicle accident under consideration.
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20. A tangible, computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions storage thereon, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement a method for estimating liability for a vehicle accident under consideration, the method comprising:
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associating, in a memory of a computer system, one or more estimates of base liability with one or more sets of characteristics for past or theoretical accidents; associating, in a memory of the computer system, one or more numerical factor shifts with each of at least two values of a speed factor, wherein at least one of the values of the speed factor is based on a comparison between a specified speed of a reacting vehicle with a speed for avoiding, wherein the specified speed is an actual speed, a safe speed, or a speed limit for an accident, wherein the speed for avoiding is an approximate speed that allows the reacting vehicle to avoid an accident, and wherein the speed for avoiding is a maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident or a brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident, wherein the maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident is an approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by maintaining a constant rate of speed, wherein the brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident is an approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by braking without stopping; estimating, for the vehicle accident under consideration, an actual speed of a vehicle involved in the vehicle accident; providing at least one specified speed of a vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration; comparing the actual speed to at least one specified speed, wherein at least one of the compared specified speeds comprises a safe speed for the vehicle, wherein the safe speed for the vehicle is assessed using a coefficient of friction of a road surface, wherein comparing the actual speed to at least one specified speed comprises calculating an excess of the actual speed over the at least one compared specified speed; estimating a base liability for the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the estimate of base liability for the vehicle is based at least in part on at least one of the estimates of base liability associated with the one or more sets of characteristics for past or theoretical accidents; assessing an opportunity of a the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein assessing the opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident under consideration comprises; estimating one or more speeds for avoiding for the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein at least one of the speeds for avoiding is an approximate speed of the vehicle that would allow the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident, wherein the at least one speed for avoiding is a calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration or a calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration is a calculated approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by maintaining a constant rate of speed, wherein the calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration is a calculated approximate maximum speed to avoid the vehicle accident by braking without stopping; making one or more comparisons of at least one specified speed of the vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration to at least one of the one or more estimated speeds for avoiding for the accident under consideration, wherein, for each of at least one of the one or more comparisons, the specified speed for the comparison is an actual speed, a safe speed, or a speed limit and the estimated speed for avoiding is the calculated maintain-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration or the calculated brake-to-delay speed for the vehicle accident under consideration; determining a value of a speed factor for the vehicle accident under consideration based on at least one of the one or more comparisons made of the at least one specified speed of the vehicle involved in the vehicle accident under consideration to the at least one of the one or more estimated speeds for avoiding for the vehicle accident under consideration; and estimating a contribution to liability of the vehicle involved in the accident based at least in part on the comparison of the actual speed to the at least one specified speed, wherein the contribution to liability includes a first numerical adjustment to the estimate of base liability for the vehicle, wherein the amount of the first numerical adjustment varies based on the excess of the actual speed over the at least one compared specified speed, wherein the contribution to liability includes a second numerical adjustment to the estimate of base liability for the vehicle, wherein the second numerical adjustment comprises at least one numerical factor shift, from among the numerical factor shifts in the memory of the computer system, that is associated with a value of the speed factor that matches the value of the speed factor for the vehicle accident under consideration.
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Specification