Systems and methods for automobile accident claims initiation

• US 8,712,806 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Medina, Reynaldo III, Oakes, Charles Lee III, Billman, Bradly Jay, Buech, Michael Patrick Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maguire, Lindsay M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fu, Hao
• Application Number:
  US13/601,390
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Automobile accident claims initiation systems and methods are described. An insured driver may initiate a claim by operating a mobile device. The system provides automated inquiries to the driver through the mobile device. The driver provides responses to the inquiries using the mobile device. The driver may provide images and audio data, as well as personal information and information on the parties and vehicles involved in the accident. The system may automatically arrange for services such as a rental car or a tow truck. The system may provide claim information, such as a claim number to the driver by transmitting information to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of initiating an insurance claim in response to a user operating a mobile device, comprising:

receiving a request from the mobile device requesting initiation of the insurance claim;

automatically transmitting an inquiry to the mobile device, the inquiry including a request for an identity of an adverse party to the insurance claim;

receiving a response from the mobile device responsive to the inquiry;

automatically analyzing the response to determine claim data, wherein analyzing the response includes authenticating the identity of the adverse party; and

initiating the insurance claim responsive to the claim data after authenticating the identity of the adverse party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inquiry comprises a request to collect image data at a claim site.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the inquiry further comprises a request to collect license plate image data from a vehicle license plate at a claim site, further comprising:

automatically analyzing the license plate image data to determine a license plate number;

automatically verifying the license plate number; and

automatically transmitting results of the verification to the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically transmitting a claim identifier to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically initiating services to assist the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein automatically initiating services comprises arranging a car rental.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein automatically initiating services comprises contacting an emergency services provider.

8. A system for initiating an insurance claim in response to a user operating a mobile device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory including instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement at least one subsystem that;

receives a request from the mobile device requesting initiation of the insurance claim;

automatically transmits an inquiry to the mobile device, the inquiry including a request for an identity of an adverse party to the insurance claim;

receives a response from the mobile device responsive to the inquiry;

automatically analyzes the response to determine claim data, wherein analyzing the response includes authenticating the identity of the adverse party; and

initiates the insurance claim responsive to the claim data after authenticating the identity of the adverse party.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the inquiry comprises a request to collect image data at a claim site.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the inquiry further comprises a request to collect license plate image data from a vehicle license plate at a claim site, further comprising at least one subsystem that:

automatically analyzes the license plate image data to determine a license plate number;

automatically verifies the license plate number, and

automatically transmits results of the verification to the mobile device.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising at least one subsystem that automatically transmits a claim identifier to the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising at least one subsystem that automatically initiates services to assist the user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one subsystem that automatically initiates services comprises at least one subsystem that arranges a car rental.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one subsystem that automatically initiates services comprises at least one subsystem that contacts an emergency services provider.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for initiating an insurance claim in response to a user operating a mobile device, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a request from the mobile device requesting initiation of the insurance claim;

automatically transmitting an inquiry to the mobile device, the inquiry including a request for an identity of an adverse party to the insurance claim;

receiving a response from the mobile device responsive to the inquiry;

automatically analyzing the response to determine claim data, wherein analyzing the response includes authenticating the identity of the adverse party; and

initiating the insurance claim responsive to the claim data after authenticating the identity of the adverse party.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the inquiry comprises a request to collect image data at a claim site.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the inquiry further comprises a request to collect license plate image data from a vehicle license plate at a claim site, further comprising instructions for:

automatically analyzing the license plate image data to determine a license plate number;

automatically verifying the license plate number; and

automatically transmitting results of the verification to the mobile device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for automatically transmitting a claim identifier to the mobile device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for automatically initiating services to assist the user.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions for automatically initiating services comprise instructions for arranging a car rental.