Streamlined Claims Processing

• US 20150324924A1
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanson, Randall Martin, Wilson, Thomas Joseph, Ihm, Stephen Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US14/465,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20150324924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

An enhanced claims settlement apparatus may process insurance claims rapidly and accurately. The apparatus may first receive a notification of loss associated with an insured item (e.g., car, boat, truck, home, etc.). The apparatus may then apply various algorithms for using sensors to identify, analyze, and estimate the cost of damage associated with the insured item. The sensors that are a part of the enhanced claims settlement server may include cameras, tactile sensors, electromagnetic sensors, etc. that may communicate data to a processor associated with the server. Once the data has been generated and analyzed by the sensors, a claim settlement file may be transmitted to a claimant.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

generating a digital map of damage to a damaged item;

based on the digital map and other information, generating a non-negotiable work order for repairing the damage to the damaged item; and

transmitting the non-negotiable work order to one or more repair shops.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital map is generated by a plurality of sensors.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensors include lasers and cameras.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to further perform:

transmitting the non-negotiable work order to a customer associated with the damaged item.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the damaged item comprises a vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to further perform:

receiving feedback related to an actual cost to repair the damage to the damaged item from the one or more repair shops.

7. The apparatus of claims 6, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to further perform:

using the feedback when generating future non-negotiable work orders for other damaged items.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the other information comprises telematics information from the damaged item.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the other information comprises information related to an actual cost to repair prior cases of damage to other damaged items.

10. The apparatus of claims 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to further perform:

transmitting an identification code to a customer associated with the damaged item to allow the customer to be identified at the one or more repair shops for work related to the non-negotiable work order to commence.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to further perform:

receiving at least one response from the one or more repair shops to indicate whether or not the one or more repair shops agree to terms of the non-negotiable work order.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more repair shops are chosen based on proximity to a location of a customer associated with the damaged item.

13. A method comprising:

generating, at an enhanced claims settlement server, a digital map of damage to a damaged item;

based on the digital map and other information, generating, at the enhanced claims settlement server, a non-negotiable work order for repairing the damage to the damaged item; and

transmitting, from the enhanced claims settlement server, the non-negotiable work order to one or more repair shops.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, at the enhanced claims settlement server, feedback related to an actual cost to repair the damage to the damaged item from the one or more repair shops.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

using the feedback, at the enhanced claims settlement server, when generating future non-negotiable work orders for other damaged items.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting, from the enhanced claims settlement server, an identification code to a customer associated with the damaged item to allow the customer to be identified at the one or more repair shops for work related to the non-negotiable work order to commence.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, at the enhanced claims settlement server, at least one response from the one or more repair shops to indicate whether or not the one or more repair shops agree to terms of the non-negotiable work order.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor, cause the processor at least to:

receive information related to damage to a damaged vehicle;

based on the received information, generate a non-negotiable work order for repairing the damage to the damaged vehicle;

transmit the non-negotiable work order to at least one repair shop; and

receive feedback as to an actual cost of repair from the at least one repair shop once the damage to the damaged vehicle has been fixed.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the received information comprises telematics data from the damaged vehicle.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the feedback is used to generate more accurate payment amounts associated with future work orders.