Systems and methods for automobile accident claims initiation

• US 8,019,629 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Billman, Bradly Jay, Medina, Reynaldo III, Oakes, Charles L. III, Bueche, Michael Patrick Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maguire; Lindsay M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fu; Hao
• Application Number:
  US12/098,667
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Automobile accident claims initiation systems and methods are described. An insured driver may initiate a claim by operating a mobile device. The system provides automated inquiries to the driver through the mobile device. The driver provides responses to the inquiries using the mobile device. The driver may provide images and audio data, as well as personal information and information on the parties and vehicles involved in the accident. The system may automatically arrange for services such as a rental car or a tow truck. The system may provide claim information, such as a claim number to the driver by transmitting information to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of initiating an insurance claim for an accident involving an insured person and an adverse party, the initiating being in response to a user operating a mobile device, comprising:

receiving user input on the mobile device, the user input comprising claim data;

automatically storing the claim data on the mobile device;

receiving claim initiation input on the mobile device;

automatically transmitting the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer;

receiving a claim identifier from the insurer on the mobile device;

receiving on the mobile device, a request for an identity of the adverse party;

transmitting the identity of the adverse party to the claim; and

receiving and presenting on the mobile device a notification indicating whether the identity of the adverse party is authentic, wherein the identity was analyzed and authenticated by a claim data analysis subsystem.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an insurer inquiry from the insurer on the mobile device; and

responsive to the insurer inquiry, automatically presenting the insurer inquiry on a mobile device display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically transmitting the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer further comprises:

collecting location data automatically on the mobile device; and

transmitting the location data to the insurer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the location data comprises global positioning system data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically transmitting the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer further comprises:

collecting timestamp data automatically on the mobile device; and

transmitting the timestamp data to the insurer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically initiating a voice call on the mobile device to the insurer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an insurer inquiry from the insurer on the mobile device; and

responsive to the insurer inquiry, automatically presenting the insurer inquiry on a mobile device display;

wherein automatically transmitting the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer further comprises;

collecting location data automatically on the mobile device, wherein the location data comprises global positioning system data;

collecting timestamp data automatically on the mobile device; and

transmitting the location data and the timestamp data to the insurer.

8. A system for initiating an insurance claim for an accident involving an insured person and an adverse party, the initiating being in response to a user operating a mobile device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory including instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement at least one subsystem that;

receives user input on the mobile device, the user input comprising claim data;

automatically stores the claim data on the mobile device;

receives claim initiation input on the mobile device;

automatically transmits the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer;

receives a claim identifier from the insurer on the mobile device;

receives a request for an identity of the adverse party;

transmit the identity of the adverse party to the claim; and

receive and present on the mobile device a notification indicating whether the identity of the adverse party is authentic, wherein the identity was analyzed and authenticated by a claim data analysis subsystem.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory further comprises instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a subsystem that:

receives an insurer inquiry from the insurer on the mobile device; and

responsive to the insurer inquiry, automatically presents the insurer inquiry on a mobile device display.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the subsystem that automatically transmits the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer:

collects location data automatically on the mobile device; and

transmits the location data to the insurer.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the location data comprises global positioning system data.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the subsystem that automatically transmits the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer:

collects timestamp data automatically on the mobile device; and

transmits the timestamp data to the insurer.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory further comprises instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a subsystem that automatically initiates a voice call on the mobile device to the insurer.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory further comprises instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a subsystem that:

receives an insurer inquiry from the insurer on the mobile device; and

responsive to the insurer inquiry, automatically presents the insurer inquiry on a mobile device display;

wherein the at least one subsystem that automatically transmits the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer further comprises at least one subsystem that;

collects location data automatically on the mobile device, wherein the location data comprises global positioning system data;

collects timestamp data automatically on the mobile device; and

transmits the location data and the timestamp data to the insurer.

15. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions for initiating an insurance claim for an accident involving an insured person and an adverse party, the initiating being in response to a user operating a mobile device, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving user input on the mobile device, the user input comprising claim data;

automatically storing the claim data on the mobile device;

receiving claim initiation input on the mobile device;

automatically transmitting the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer;

receiving a claim identifier from the insurer on the mobile device;

receiving on the mobile device, a request for an identity of the adverse party;

transmitting the identity of the adverse party to the claim; and

receiving and presenting on the mobile device a notification indicating whether the identity of the adverse party is authentic, wherein the identity was analyzed and authenticated by a claim data analysis subsystem.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

receiving an insurer inquiry from the insurer on the mobile device; and

responsive to the insurer inquiry, automatically presenting the insurer inquiry on a mobile device display.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions for automatically transmitting the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer further comprise instructions for:

collecting location data automatically on the mobile device; and

transmitting the location data to the insurer.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the location data comprises global positioning system data.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions for automatically transmitting the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer further comprise instructions for:

collecting timestamp data automatically on the mobile device; and

transmitting the timestamp data to the insurer.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for automatically initiating a voice call on the mobile device to the insurer.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

receiving an insurer inquiry from the insurer on the mobile device; and

responsive to the insurer inquiry, automatically presenting the insurer inquiry on a mobile device display;

wherein the instructions for automatically transmitting the claim data from the mobile device to an insurer further comprises instructions for;

collecting location data automatically on the mobile device, wherein the location data comprises global positioning system data;

collecting timestamp data automatically on the mobile device; and

transmitting the location data and the timestamp data to the insurer.