Granted Patent B2

US 12,657,630 · App. 18/336,748 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Inventors: Randall M. Hanson (Lake Ozark, MO); Joel DeWall (Libertyville, IL); Jamin Ejupi (Libertyville, IL)

Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company

G06Q40/04

Abstract

Claims (67)

1 . A method of detecting and processing a loss involving an insured vehicle comprising:

receiving, by a total loss evaluation and handling system, a first notice of loss (FNOL) indication from a claimant computing device;

establishing, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a wireless data connection with a device present in the insured vehicle, wherein the device comprises one or more sensors configured to sense vehicle acceleration characteristics;

after receiving the FNOL indication, iteratively, and until sufficient vehicle state data is received:

receiving, by the total loss evaluation and handling system via the wireless data connection, vehicle state data corresponding to one or more components of the insured vehicle, wherein at least some of the vehicle state data comprises real-time sensor data captured by the one or more of the sensors indicating a deceleration force experienced by the insured vehicle during a loss event;

applying, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a total loss rule of a set of total loss rules to at least a portion of the received vehicle state data, wherein a particular total loss rule configures the total loss evaluation and handling system to automatically determine that the loss is a total loss when the deceleration force exceeds a predetermined deceleration threshold;

after receiving sufficient vehicle state data and based on determining that the deceleration force exceeds the predetermined deceleration threshold, determining, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, that the loss is a total loss;

generating, by the total loss evaluation and handling system and based on determining that the loss is a total loss, a settlement amount; and

automatically initiating payment of the settlement amount to a bank account associated with an individual associated with the insured vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle state data comprises information describing the state of the insured vehicle and the insured vehicle's components and sub-systems.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the information describing the state of the insured vehicle comprises an identification of which of the insured vehicle's components and sub-systems have been damaged and an indication of an extent of the damage.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle state data is received from an individual associated with the insured vehicle.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle state data comprises information derived from vehicle telematics data.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components of the insured vehicle comprises at least one of seats, tires, windows, air conditioning, navigation system, and entertainment system.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle state data comprises information related to at least one of a make of the insured vehicle, a model of the insured vehicle, a year of the insured vehicle, a current vehicle mileage, a state of vehicle components before and after the loss, and options the insured vehicle includes.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle state data comprises information corresponding to damage of a first component, a second component, and a third component, each of the one or more components of the insured vehicle.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, prior vehicle state information corresponding to percentage of total loss of vehicles substantially similar to the insured vehicle;

analyzing, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the prior vehicle state information; and

determining, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the predetermined deceleration threshold corresponding to the vehicle state data.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

establishing, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a wireless data connection with one or more weather systems;

receiving, by the total loss evaluation and handling system while the wireless data connection is established and from the one more weather systems, weather information corresponding to a geographic location of where the loss occurred; and

applying, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a second total loss rule of the set of total loss rules to a portion of the weather information received.

11 . A total loss evaluation and handling system comprising:

at least one processor;

a vehicle state data store; and

a total loss evaluator configured to:

receive a first notice of loss (FNOL) indication from a claimant computing device;

establish, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a wireless data connection with a device present in an insured vehicle, wherein the device comprises one or more sensors configured to sense vehicle acceleration characteristics;

after receiving the FNOL indication, iteratively, and until sufficient vehicle state data is received:

receive, via the wireless data connection, vehicle state data corresponding to one or more components of an insured vehicle, wherein at least some of the vehicle state data comprises real-time sensor data captured by the one or more of the sensors indicating a deceleration force experienced by the insured vehicle during a loss event;

apply a first total loss rule of a set of total loss rules to a portion of the received vehicle state data, wherein a particular total loss rule configures the total loss evaluation and handling system to automatically determine that the loss is a total loss when the deceleration force exceeds a predetermined deceleration threshold;

after receiving sufficient vehicle state data and based on determining that the deceleration force exceeds the predetermined deceleration threshold, determine that the loss is a total loss; and

generate based on determining that the loss is a total loss, a settlement amount; and

automatically initiate payment of the settlement amount to a bank account associated with an individual associated with the insured vehicle.

12 . The total loss evaluation and handling system of claim 11 , wherein the total loss evaluator is further configured to:

receive, by the total loss evaluator, prior vehicle state information corresponding to percentage of total loss of vehicles substantially similar to the vehicle;

analyze, total loss evaluator, the prior vehicle state information; and

determine, total loss evaluator, the predetermined deceleration threshold corresponding to the vehicle state data.

13 . The total loss evaluation and handling system of claim 11 , wherein the total loss evaluator is further configured to:

establish, by total loss evaluator, a wireless data connection with one or more weather systems;

receive, by the total loss evaluator while the wireless data connection is established and from the one more weather systems, weather information corresponding to a geographic location of where the loss occurred; and

apply, by the total loss evaluator, a second total loss rule of the set of total loss rules to a portion of the weather information received.

14 . The total loss evaluation and handling system of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle state data comprises information related to at least one of a make of the insured vehicle, a model of the insured vehicle, a year of the insured vehicle, a current vehicle mileage, a state of vehicle components before and after the loss, and options the insured vehicle includes.

15 . The total loss evaluation and handling system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more components of the insured vehicle comprises at least one of seats, tires, windows, air conditioning, navigation system, and entertainment system.

16 . The total loss evaluation and handling system of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle state data comprises information received from an individual associated with the insured vehicle or information derived from vehicle telematics data.

17 . The total loss evaluation and handling system of claim 11 , wherein the first total loss rule is configured to determine whether the loss is a total loss based on an angle of impact experienced by the insured vehicle.

18 . A total loss evaluation and handling apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a first notice of loss (FNOL) indication from a claimant computing device a first notice of loss (FNOL) indication;

establish, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a wireless data connection with a device present in an insured vehicle, wherein the device comprises one or more sensors configured to sense vehicle acceleration characteristics;

after receiving the FNOL indication, iteratively, and until sufficient vehicle state information is received:

receive, via the wireless data connection, vehicle state information corresponding to one or more components of an insured vehicle, wherein at least some of the vehicle state data comprises real-time sensor data captured by the one or more of the sensors indicating a deceleration force experienced by the insured vehicle during a loss event;

apply a first total loss rule of a set of total loss rules to a portion of the received vehicle state data, wherein a particular total loss rule configures the total loss evaluation and handling system to automatically determine that the loss is a total loss when the deceleration force exceed a predetermined deceleration threshold;

after receiving sufficient vehicle state data and based on determining that the deceleration force exceeds the predetermined deceleration threshold, determine that the loss is a total loss;

generate, based on determining that the loss is a total loss, a settlement amount; and

automatically initiate payment of the settlement amount to a bank account associated with an individual associated with the insured vehicle.

19 . The total loss evaluation and handling apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are further caused to:

receive prior vehicle state information corresponding to percentage of total loss of vehicles substantially similar to the vehicle;

analyze, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the prior vehicle state information; and

determine, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the predetermined deceleration threshold corresponding to the vehicle state data.

20 . The total loss evaluation and handling apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are further caused to:

establish, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a wireless data connection with one or more weather systems;

receive while the wireless data connection is established and from the one more weather systems, weather information corresponding to a geographic location of where the loss occurred; and

apply a second total loss rule of the set of total loss rules to a portion of the weather information received.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (336)