Computerized method and system of liability assessment for an accident using environmental, vehicle, and driver conditions and driver actions

• US 7,890,353 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computer Sciences Corporation (DXC Technology Company)
• Original Assignee: Computer Sciences Corporation (DXC Technology Company)
• Inventors: Wahlbin, Stefan, Johnston, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilligan; Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gootschalk; Martin A.
• Application Number:
  US09/969,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,423 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing vehicle accident information to a computer system are provided. In one embodiment, a roadway configuration of a vehicle accident may be provided to the computer system via a graphical user interface. The computer system may include a memory. The memory may have sets of characteristics regarding one or more past or theoretical accidents. In an embodiment, at least one characteristic in the sets of characteristics may be a roadway configuration. The computer system may display one or more of the roadway configurations in the memory as a graphical image on the graphical user interface. A user may select a roadway configuration of the vehicle accident from the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method of estimating liability in a real vehicle accident, comprising:

providing to a computer a real set of characteristics of a real vehicle accident under consideration,

wherein the real set of characteristics for the real vehicle accident comprises;

at least one impact for a first vehicle in the real vehicle accident;

at least one impact point for a second vehicle in the real vehicle accident;

wherein at least one of the characteristics of the real set is based on a condition of a vehicle in the real vehicle accident, a condition of a driver of the vehicle in the real vehicle accident, an action of the driver of the vehicle in the real vehicle accident, or an environmental condition common to the vehicle in the vehicle accident;

wherein the computer system is configured to access a memory, wherein the memory comprises;

sets of characteristics for past or theoretical vehicle accidents wherein at least two of the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical accidents comprise;

a combination of impact points for a past or theoretical accident, wherein one of the impact points of the combination is an impact point for a first vehicle in the past or theoretical accident and another of the impact points in the combination is an impact point for a second vehicle in the past or theoretical accident; and

an effect on an estimate of liability associated with each of two or more of the sets of the characteristics for past or theoretical vehicle accidents, and wherein at least one of the characteristics of the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents is based on a condition of a vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, a condition of a driver of the vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, an action of the driver of the vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, or an environmental condition common to the vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents;

wherein, for each of at least two past or theoretical accidents, the combination of impacts points for the past or theretical accident is associated with at least one impact group, wherein the association between the combination of impact points and the at least one impact group is stored in a database in the memory;

wherein each of at least one of the impact groups is associated with at least one base liability, wherein the association between impact group and the at least one base liability is stored in a database in the memory;

comparing, using the computer system, the real set of characteristics to the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents to determine a nearest matching set of characteristics among the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, wherein comparing the real set of characteristics to the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents comprises;

the computer system searching, in the database having the, combinations of impact points for the past or theoretical, accidents, for an impact group associated with a combination of impact points that at least partially matches the impact points for the first vehicle and second vehicle in the real vehicle accident under consideration;

estimating a base liability for the real vehicle accident, wherein the base liability is independent of the actions of the drivers and the conditions of the drivers, wherein the estimating the base liability for the real vehicle accident comprises;

the computer system extracting, from the database having the base liabilities, at least one base liability corresponding to at least one impact group associated with a combination of impact points that at least partially matches the impact points for the first vehicle and second vehicle in the real vehicle accident under consideration; and

determining an estimate of liability of an insured party for the real vehicle accident under consideration based on the base liability and the effect of the estimate of liability associated with the nearest matching set of characteristics from the past or theoretical vehicle accidents.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of a construction zone, an obstructed view or glare, a road condition, a road character, a road defect, a defective traffic control, visibility, alcohol, illicit drugs, prescription drugs, driver inattention, corrective lenses, driver inexperience, driver fatigue, driver illness, following too closely, headlights off, speed, a sudden stop or swerve, taillights or brakelights off, unsafe backing, failure to take evasive action, high beams, an improper lane change, improper parking, and improper signaling.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the estimate of liability with a situational weight.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising estimating a situational weight from one or more circumstances of the vehicle accident, and adjusting the estimate of liability with a situational weight.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising estimating a situational weight from knowledge obtained from an experienced claims adjuster, and adjusting the estimate of liability with a situational weight.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the estimate of liability with one or more ranking factors.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the estimate of liability with a factor influence.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the base liability is independent of factors specific to the condition of vehicles in the accident.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the base liability is independent of factors specific to environmental conditions common to vehicles in the accident.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the base liability is independent of factors specific to the condition of vehicles in the accident and independent of factors specific to environmental conditions common to vehicles in the accident.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimate of liability of the insured party comprises a base liability, and upper range a liability, and a lower range of liability.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the impact groups is associated with one pair of impact points for a past or theoretical accident.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the impact groups is associated with two or more pairs of impact points for two or more past or theoretical accidents.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein each of at least two of the impact groups is associated with an accident type, wherein the accident type specifies a relationship between two or more vehicles'"'"' paths on a roadway at the time of a vehicle accident,

wherein the computer system searching for the impact group comprises the computer system searching, from within the database, for an impact group that corresponds to the accident type for the real vehicle accident, and

wherein the computer system extracting the base liability comprises the computer system extracting, from the database, a base liability associated with an impact group that corresponds to the accident type combination for the real vehicle accident.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein each of at least two of the impact groups is associated with a roadway configuration,

wherein the computer system searching for the impact group comprises the computer system searching, from within the database, for an impact group that corresponds to the roadway configuration for the real vehicle accident, and

wherein the computer system extracting the base liability comprises the computer system extracting, from the database, a base liability associated with an impact group that corresponds to the roadway configuration for the real vehicle accident.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the database having the combinations of impact points for the past or theoretical accidents and the database having the base liabilities are the same database.

8. A system for estimating liability, comprising:

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;

providing a real set of characteristics of a real vehicle accident under consideration,

wherein the real set of characteristics for the real vehicle accident comprises;

at least one impact point for a first vehicle in the real vehicle accident;

at least one impact point for a second vehicle in the, real vehicle accident;

wherein at least one of the characteristics of the real set is based on a condition of a vehicle in the real vehicle accident, a condition of a driver of the vehicle in the real vehicle accident, an action of the driver of the vehicle in the real vehicle accident, or an environmental condition common to the vehicle in the real vehicle accident;

wherein the data memory comprises;

sets of characteristics for past or theoretical vehicle accidents, wherein at least two of the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical accidents comprise;

a combination of impact points for a past or theoretical accident wherein one of the impact points of the combination is an impact point for a first vehicle in the past or theoretical accident and another of the impact points in the combination is an impact point for a second vehicle in the past or theoretical accident; and

an effect on an estimate of liability associated with each of two or more of the sets of the characteristics for past or theoretical vehicle accidents, and wherein at least one of the characteristics of the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents is based on a condition of a vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, a condition of a driver of the vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, an action of the driver of the vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, or an environmental condition common to the vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents;

wherein, for each of at least two past or theoretical accidents, the combination of impact points for the past;

or theoretical accident is associated with at least one impact group, wherein the association between the combination of impact points and the at least one impact group is stored in a database in the memory;

wherein each of at least one of the impact groups is associated with at least one base liability, wherein the association between impact group and the at least one base liability is stored in a database in the memory;

comparing the real set of characteristics to the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents to determine a nearest matching set of characteristics among the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, wherein comparing the real set of characteristics to the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents comprises;

searching, in the database having the combinations impact points for the past or theoretical accidents, for an impact associated with a combination of impact points that at least partially matches the impact points for the first vehicle and second vehicle in the real vehicle accident under consideration;

estimating a base liability for the real vehicle accident, wherein the base liability is independent of the actions of the drivers and the conditions of the drivers, wherein the estimating the base liability for the real vehicle accident comprises;

extracting, from, the database having the base liabilities at least one base liability corresponding to at least one impact group associated with a combination of impact points that at least partially matches the impact points for the first vehicle and second vehicle in the real vehicle accident under consideration; and

determining an estimate of liability of an insured party for the real vehicle accident under consideration based on the base liability and the effect of the estimate of liability associated with the nearest matching set of characteristics from the past or theoretical vehicle accidents.

9. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions stored thereon, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

providing to a computer a real set of characteristics of a real vehicle accident under consideration,

wherein the real set of characteristics for the real vehicle accident comprises;

at least one impact point for a first vehicle in the real vehicle accident;

at least one impact point for a second vehicle in the real vehicle accident;

wherein at least one of the characteristics of the real set is based on a condition of a vehicle in the real vehicle accident, a condition of a driver of the vehicle in the real vehicle accident, an action of the driver of the vehicle in the real vehicle accident, or an environmental condition common to the vehicle in the vehicle accident;

wherein the computer system is configured to access a memory, wherein the memory comprises;

sets of characteristics for past or theoretical vehicle accidents, wherein at least two of the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical accidents comprise;

a combination of impact points for a past or theoretical accident, wherein one of the impact points of the combination is an impact point for a first vehicle in theoretical accident and another of the impact points in the combination is an impact point for a second vehicle the past or theoretical accident; and

an effect on an estimate of liability associated with each of two or more of the sets of the characteristics for past or theoretical vehicle accidents, and wherein at least one of the characteristics of the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents is based on a condition of a vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, a condition of a driver of the vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, an action of the driver of the vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, or an environmental condition common to the vehicle in the past or theoretical vehicle accidents;

wherein, for each of at least two past or theoretical accidents, the combination of impact points for the past or theoretical accident is associated. with at least one impact group, wherein the association between the combination of impact points and the at least one impact group is stored in a database in the memory;

wherein each of at least one of the impact groups is associated with at least one base liability, wherein the association between impact group and the at least one base liability is stored in a database in the memory;

comparing the real set of characteristics to the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents to determine a nearest matching set of characteristics among the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents, wherein comparing the real set of characteristics to the sets of characteristics for the past or theoretical vehicle accidents comprise;

the computer system searching, in the database having the combinations of impact points for the past or theoretical accidents, for an impact group associated with a combination of impact points that at least partially matches the impact points for the first vehicle and second vehicle in the real vehicle accident under consideration;

estimating a base liability for the real vehicle accident, wherein the base liability is independent of the actions of the drivers and the conditions of the drivers, wherein the estimating the base liability for the real vehicle accident comprises;

the computer system extracting from the database having the base liabilities, at least one base liability corresponding to at least one impact group associated with a combination of impact points that at least partially matches the impact points for the first vehicle and. second vehicle in the real vehicle accident under consideration; and

determining an estimate of liability of an insured party for the real vehicle accident under consideration based at least partially on the effect of the estimate of liability associated with the nearest matching set of characteristics from the past or theoretical vehicle accidents.

16. The method of claim , wherein each of at least two of the impact groups is associated with a roadway configuration/accident type combination, wherein the accident type specifies a relationship between two or more vehicles'"'"' paths on a roadway at the time of a vehicle accident,

wherein the computer system searching for the impact group comprises the computer system searching, from within the database, for an impact group that corresponds to the roadway configuration/accident type combination for the real vehicle accident.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the computer system extracting the base liability comprises the computer system extracting, from the database, a base liability associated with an impact group corresponding to the roadway configuration/accident type combination for the real vehicle accident.