Methods and systems for assessing comparative negligence

• US 9,754,324 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Scialpi, Emilee, Castillo, Lorraine P., Thiele, Erin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamilton, Lalita M
• Application Number:
  US14/182,455
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 705 4, 705 35, 705 3, 705 38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods and systems for assessing comparative negligence and training adjustors to assess comparative negligence are described. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving information relating to a collision involving two or more vehicles. The information may include a type of accident. A claims adjustor may provide an initial negligence allocation between an insured vehicle and a claimant vehicle. Based on the received information and the initial negligence allocation, questions may be dynamically generated. The questions may be used by the claims adjustor to reevaluate the initial negligence allocation. A finalized negligence allocation between the insured vehicle and the claimant vehicle may be received.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a comparative negligence assessment system, information relating to a collision involving two or more vehicles, wherein the information includes a type of accident;

receiving, from a claims adjustor into the comparative negligence assessment system, an initial negligence allocation between an insured vehicle and a claimant vehicle;

dynamically generating, by the processor of the comparative negligence assessment system, questions based on the information relating to the collision, the initial negligence allocation and a skill level of the claims adjustor, the dynamically generated questions being displayed on a computing device associated with the claims adjustor in response to receiving the information relating to the collision and the initial negligence allocation,

wherein the questions are used by the claims adjustor to reevaluate the initial negligence allocation; and

receiving, from the claims adjustor through the comparative negligence assessment system, a finalized negligence allocation between the insured vehicle and the claimant vehicle.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a first question of the dynamically generated questions includes requesting the claims adjustor to indicate a point of impact of at least one of the two or more vehicles, and the computer-implemented method further includes receiving the indication of the point of impact of at least one of the two or more vehicles.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein additional questions of the dynamically generated questions are based on the type of accident and the point of impact.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the request to indicate the point of impact is a request to indicate the point of impact of the insured vehicle.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein dynamically generating questions includes presenting questions only when the initial negligence allocation allocates all negligence to the insured vehicle.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein dynamically generating questions includes presenting questions only when the type of accident is one of:

a failure to yield right of way, backing, lane change, or rear end.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising generating, by the processor, a comparison of the finalized negligence allocation with the initial negligence allocation.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising using the comparison to assess a skill level of the claims adjustor.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting comparisons of finalized negligence allocations with initial negligence allocations;

analyzing information relating to the comparisons; and

generating a report of the claims adjustor,

wherein the report includes the comparisons and an assessment of skill level or progress of the claims adjustor.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising presenting initial investigation questions to ask the insured vehicle and the claimant vehicle, the initial investigation questions based on the type of accident.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising recording received answers to the dynamically generated questions.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a capability to take a voice recording in response to receiving an indication of a first type of accident.

12. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors for:

receiving information relating to a collision involving two or more vehicles, wherein the information includes a type of accident;

receiving, from a claims adjustor, one or more inputs indicative of an initial negligence allocation between an insured vehicle and a claimant vehicle;

dynamically generating questions based on the information relating to the collision, the initial negligence allocation and a skill level of the claims adjustor, the dynamically generated questions being displayed on a computing device associated with the claims adjustor in response to receiving the information relating to the collision and the initial negligence allocation,

wherein the questions are used by the claims adjustor to reevaluate the initial negligence allocation; and

receiving, from the claims adjustor, a finalized negligence allocation between the insured vehicle and the claimant vehicle.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the information relating to the collision includes a point of impact of at least one of the two or more vehicles.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the dynamically generated questions are further based on the type of accident and the point of impact.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors for generating a report assessing the claims adjustor, wherein the report includes a statistical assessment identifying a number of times the initial negligence allocation differs from the final negligence allocation and an average degree of difference between the initial negligence allocation and the final negligence allocation.

16. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the processor operable to execute software modules, the software modules comprising;

an investigation module operable to receive information relating to a collision involving two or more vehicles,

wherein the information includes a point of impact of at least one of the vehicles,

an initial negligence allocation module operable to receive an initial negligence allocation between an insured vehicle and a claimant vehicle, and

a determination engine operable to determine whether to generate additional questions for a claims adjustor to reevaluate the initial negligence allocation, wherein when the additional questions are generated, the additional questions are displayed on a computing device associated with the claims adjustor,

wherein the determination is based on the point of impact, a skill level of the claims adjustor, and the initial negligence allocation.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises a generation engine operable to generate the additional questions when the initial negligence allocation allocates all negligence to the insured vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein statements from a driver of the insured vehicle and a driver of the claimant vehicle are required before presenting the claims adjustor with the additional questions.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises a generation engine operable to generate the additional questions when the initial negligence allocation allocates all negligence to the insured vehicle and the type of accident is one of:

a failure to yield right of way, backing, lane change, or rear end.