Patent ID: 7792690
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of estimating liability for a vehicle accident under consideration, comprising: a computer system executing program instructions to implement: estimating, for the vehicle accident under consideration, a theoretical path of a reference vehicle; estimating, for the vehicle accident under consideration, a theoretical path of a reacting vehicle, wherein the reacting vehicle reacts to a danger of an accident with the reference vehicle; estimating, using the computer system, a speed for avoiding for the vehicle accident, wherein the speed for avoiding for the vehicle accident under consideration is an approximate speed of the reacting vehicle that allows the vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident; estimating a base liability for the reacting vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the estimate of base liability for the reacting vehicle is based at least in part on at least one of the estimates of base liability associated with the one or more sets of characteristics for past or theoretical accidents; assessing an opportunity of the reacting vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident based at least in part on the estimated speed for avoiding the vehicle accident, wherein assessing the opportunity of the reacting vehicle to avoid the vehicle accident comprises: estimating, using the computer system, a contribution to liability of the reacting vehicle in the vehicle accident under consideration, wherein the contribution to liability of the reacting vehicle includes a numerical adjustment to the liability of the reacting vehicle based on the opportunity of the reacting vehicle to avoid the accident,