Computerized method and system for estimating an effect on liability based on the stopping distance of vehicles
First Claim
1. A method of estimating liability for a vehicle accident using a computer system, comprising:
- retrieving vehicle data from a memory of a computer system;
estimating at least one stopping distance of a vehicle based at least in part on the retrieved vehicle data, wherein a stopping distance is an approximate distance for the vehicle traveling at a specified speed to stop;
estimating a perception distance based at least in part on the retrieved vehicle data, wherein a perception distance is an approximate distance between a location of the vehicle when a driver of the vehicle first sensed danger of the accident and a location where the vehicle accident ultimately occurs;
the computer system comparing the estimated perception distance to at least one estimated stopping distance to determine whether the estimated stopping distance at the specified speed is less than the estimated perception distance;
assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident based at least in part on the comparison of the estimated perception distance to the at least one estimated stopping distance, wherein assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident comprises determining that the vehicle had an opportunity to avoid the accident if the stopping distance at the specified speed is less than the estimated perception distance;
the computer system estimating an effect on liability based on the opportunity to avoid the accident, wherein estimating an effect on liability based on the opportunity to avoid the accident comprises;
estimating an increase in liability if it is determined that the driver of the vehicle had an opportunity to avoid the accident based on the stopping distance at the specified speed being less than the estimated perception distance; and
estimating no increase in liability if it is not determined that the driver had an opportunity to avoid the accident based on the comparison of the stopping distance to the estimated perception distance; and
storing the estimated effect on liability in a memory of the computer system.
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Abstract
Computer-implemented methods and systems for estimating liability for a vehicle accident are provided. In one embodiment, at least one stopping distance of a vehicle may be estimated. In some embodiments, a stopping distance may include an approximate distance for the vehicle traveling at a specified speed to stop to avoid the accident. A perception distance that may correspond to an approximate distance from the accident at which the vehicle sensed danger of an accident may be estimated. In certain embodiments, an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident using the perception distance may be assessed. Some embodiments may include estimating an effect on liability based on the opportunity to avoid the accident.
222 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of estimating liability for a vehicle accident using a computer system, comprising:
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retrieving vehicle data from a memory of a computer system; estimating at least one stopping distance of a vehicle based at least in part on the retrieved vehicle data, wherein a stopping distance is an approximate distance for the vehicle traveling at a specified speed to stop; estimating a perception distance based at least in part on the retrieved vehicle data, wherein a perception distance is an approximate distance between a location of the vehicle when a driver of the vehicle first sensed danger of the accident and a location where the vehicle accident ultimately occurs; the computer system comparing the estimated perception distance to at least one estimated stopping distance to determine whether the estimated stopping distance at the specified speed is less than the estimated perception distance; assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident based at least in part on the comparison of the estimated perception distance to the at least one estimated stopping distance, wherein assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident comprises determining that the vehicle had an opportunity to avoid the accident if the stopping distance at the specified speed is less than the estimated perception distance; the computer system estimating an effect on liability based on the opportunity to avoid the accident, wherein estimating an effect on liability based on the opportunity to avoid the accident comprises; estimating an increase in liability if it is determined that the driver of the vehicle had an opportunity to avoid the accident based on the stopping distance at the specified speed being less than the estimated perception distance; and estimating no increase in liability if it is not determined that the driver had an opportunity to avoid the accident based on the comparison of the stopping distance to the estimated perception distance; and storing the estimated effect on liability in a memory of the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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5. 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, the method comprising; estimating at least one stopping distance of a vehicle, wherein a stopping distance is an approximate distance for the vehicle traveling at a specified speed to stop; estimating a perception distance, wherein a perception distance is an approximate distance between a location of the vehicle when a driver of the vehicle first sensed danger of the accident and a location where the vehicle accident ultimately occurs; comparing the estimated perception distance to at least one estimated stopping distance to determine whether the estimated stopping distance at the specified speed is less than the estimated perception distance; assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident based at least in part on the comparison of the estimated perception distance to the at least one estimated stopping distance, wherein assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident comprises determining that the vehicle had an opportunity to avoid the accident if the stopping distance at the specified speed is less than the estimated perception distance; and estimating an effect on liability based on the opportunity to avoid the accident, wherein estimating an effect on liability based on the opportunity to avoid the accident comprises; estimating an increase in liability if it is determined that the driver of the vehicle had an opportunity to avoid the accident based on the stopping distance at the specified speed being less than the estimated perception distance; and estimating no increase in liability if it is not determined that the driver had an opportunity to avoid the accident based on the comparison of the stopping distance to the estimated perception distance.
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6. A computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions stored thereon, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement a method for estimating liability for a vehicle accident, the method comprising:
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estimating at least one stopping distance of a vehicle, wherein a stopping distance is an approximate distance for the vehicle traveling at a specified speed to stop; estimating a perception distance, wherein a perception distance is an approximate distance between a location of the vehicle when driver of the vehicle first sensed danger of the accident and a location where the vehicle accident ultimately occurs; comparing the estimated perception distance to at least one estimated stopping distance to determine whether the estimated stopping distance at the specified speed is less than the estimated perception distance; assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident based at least in part on the comparison of the estimated perception distance to the at least one estimated stopping distance, wherein assessing an opportunity of the vehicle to avoid the accident comprises determining that the vehicle had an opportunity to avoid the accident if the stopping distance at the specified speed is less than the estimated perception distance; and estimating an effect on liability based on the opportunity to avoid the accident, wherein estimating an effect on liability based on the opportunity to avoid the accident comprises; estimating an increase in liability if it is determined that the driver of the vehicle had an opportunity to avoid the accident based on the stopping distance at the specified speed being less than the estimated perception distance; and estimating no increase in liability if it is not determined that the driver had an opportunity to avoid the accident based on the comparison of the stopping distance to the estimated perception distance.
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Specification