Methods of facilitating emergency assistance

• US 9,786,154 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Potter, Thomas Michael, Clauss, Mark E., Carter, Dustin Ryan, Graff, Douglas Albert, Baumann, Megan Michal, Bonnom, Atlanta, Cope, Craig, Lawyer, Jennifer Luella, Simpson, Curtis, Baumann, Nathan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US14/798,757
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 34042612, 34053912, 340439, 340436, 340435, 340438, 705 4, 705400, 705325, 705 267, 455557, 4554041, 4554562
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/082 Vehicle operation after collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems

Abstract

In system and methods for loss mitigation, accident data associated with a vehicle accident involving a driver may be collected. The accident data may be analyzed, and a likely severity of the vehicle accident may be determined based upon the analysis of the accident data. A communication related to emergency assistance or an emergency assistance recommendation may be generated based upon the determined likely severity of the vehicle accident, and transmitted, via wireless communication, from one or more remote servers to a mobile device associated with the driver. A wireless communication from the driver indicating approval or modification of the emergency assistance or emergency assistance recommendation may be received. A third party may be notified, via a communication sent from the remote server(s), of requested emergency assistance as approved or modified by the driver. An estimated insurance claim may also be generated based upon vehicle accident likely severity.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of loss mitigation, the method comprising:

collecting, by one or more remote servers associated with an insurance provider, accident data associated with a vehicle accident involving a driver, the accident data including vehicle telematics data, and the driver being associated with an insurance policy issued by the insurance provider;

analyzing, by the one or more remote servers, the accident data;

determining, by the one or more remote servers and based upon the analysis of the accident data, a likely severity of the vehicle accident;

generating, by the one or more remote servers and based upon the determined likely severity of the vehicle accident, a communication related to emergency assistance or an emergency assistance recommendation;

transmitting, via wireless communication, the communication related to the emergency assistance or emergency assistance recommendation from the one or more remote servers to a mobile device associated with the driver;

receiving, at the one or more remote servers, a wireless communication from the driver indicating approval or modification of the emergency assistance or emergency assistance recommendation; and

notifying, via a communication sent from the one or more remote servers, a third party of requested emergency assistance in accordance with the emergency assistance or emergency assistance recommendation as approved or modified by the driver.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

adjusting, generating or updating, at the one or more remote servers, one or more insurance-related items based upon the driver having emergency assistance functionality, the one or more insurance-related items including one or more of (i) parameters of the insurance policy;

(ii) a premium;

(iii) a rate;

(iv) a discount;

or (v) a reward.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, the method further comprising transmitting information indicative of the adjusted, generated, or updated insurance-related items from the one or more remote servers to a mobile device associated with either the driver or another individual associated with the insurance policy, to be displayed on the mobile device for review, modification, or approval by the driver or other individual.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein collecting accident data includes collecting data associated with, or generated by, one or both of (i) one or more mobile devices;

and (ii) an insured vehicle or a computer system of the insured vehicle.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein collecting accident data includes collecting data associated with, or generated by, one or more of (i) a vehicle other than the insured vehicle;

(ii) vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication;

or (iii) roadside equipment or infrastructure located near a location of the vehicle accident.

6. A computer-implemented method of loss mitigation, the method comprising:

collecting, by one or more remote servers associated with an insurance provider, accident data associated with a vehicle accident involving a driver, the accident data including vehicle telematics data, and the driver being associated with an insurance policy issued by the insurance provider;

analyzing, by the one or more remote servers, the accident data;

determining, by the one or more remote servers and based upon the analysis of the accident data, a likely severity of the vehicle accident;

generating, by the one or more remote servers and based upon the determined likely severity of the vehicle accident, a communication related to emergency assistance or an emergency assistance recommendation;

transmitting the communication related to the emergency assistance or emergency assistance recommendation from the one or more remote servers to a third party to facilitate a prompt and appropriate emergency responder response to the vehicle accident;

notifying the driver, via a communication sent from the one or more remote servers, that emergency assistance from the third party has been requested; and

receiving from the driver, at the one or more remote servers, a wireless communication indicating one or both of (i) a cancellation of the emergency assistance from the third party, and (ii) that the emergency assistance from the third party is not necessary.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

adjusting, generating, or updating, at the one or more remote servers, one or more insurance-related items based upon the driver having emergency assistance functionality, the one or more insurance-related items including one or more of (i) parameters of the insurance policy;

(ii) a premium;

(iii) a rate;

(iv) a discount;

or (v) a reward.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, the method further comprising transmitting information indicative of the adjusted, generated, or updated insurance-related items from the one or more remote servers to a mobile device associated with either the driver or another individual associated with the insurance policy, to be displayed on the mobile device for review, modification, or approval by the driver or other individual.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein collecting accident data includes collecting data associated with, or generated by, one or both of (i) one or more mobile devices;

and (ii) an insured vehicle or a computer system of the insured vehicle.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein collecting accident data includes collecting data associated with, or generated by, one or more of (i) a vehicle other than the insured vehicle;

(ii) vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication;

or (iii) roadside equipment or infrastructure located near a location of the vehicle accident.

11. A system for facilitating loss mitigation, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to

collect accident data associated with a vehicle accident involving a driver, the accident data including vehicle telematics data, and the driver being associated with an insurance policy issued by the insurance provider,

analyze the accident data,

determine, based upon the analysis of the accident data, a likely severity of the vehicle accident,

generate, based upon the determined likely severity of the vehicle accident, a communication related to emergency assistance or an emergency assistance recommendation,

cause the communication related to the emergency assistance or emergency assistance recommendation to be transmitted, via wireless communication, to a mobile device associated with the driver,

receive a wireless communication from the driver indicating approval or modification of the emergency assistance or emergency assistance recommendation, and

cause a third party to be notified of requested emergency assistance in accordance with the emergency assistance or emergency assistance recommendation as approved or modified by the driver.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

adjust, generate or update one or more insurance-related items based upon the driver having emergency assistance functionality, the one or more insurance-related items including one or more of (i) parameters of the insurance policy;

(ii) a premium;

(iii) a rate;

(iv) a discount;

or (v) a reward.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

cause information indicative of the adjusted, generated, or updated insurance-related items to be transmitted to a mobile device associated with either the driver or another individual associated with the insurance policy, to be displayed on the mobile device for review, modification, or approval by the driver or other individual.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the accident data includes data associated with, or generated by, one or more mobile devices.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the accident data includes data associated with, or generated by, an insured vehicle or a computer system of the insured vehicle.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the accident data includes data associated with, or generated by, a vehicle other than the insured vehicle.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the accident data includes data associated with, or generated by, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the accident data includes data associated with, or generated by, roadside equipment or infrastructure located near a location of the vehicle accident.