By Ryan McMahon in Insurance Thought Leadership

The automotive claims process has long been strenuous, time-consuming and costly both for insurers and consumers. The moment an incident occurs, a driver is placed in a world of stress. In addition to managing the emotional strain that is a car crash, the driver now has to deal with several different parties to repair the damage. Traditionally, it takes one to three days after filing a claim to initiate contact with an insurance adjuster (it takes even more time if the adjuster needs to inspect the damage).

There is suddenly an unexpected burden consuming time and money and requiring paperwork. But advancements in artificial intelligence and telematics (such as our new Claims Studio) can revolutionize the claims system by validating claims, processing them much faster and placing safety at the forefront for drivers.

Here are three ways the insurance industry can adapt to improve the claims process: 

Validating Claims

Automotive claims have historically been a manual process, where drivers retell their side of the story following a collision. These details are then shared with insurance companies, adjusters and, at times, even courts, to resolve claims and disputes. This process leaves room for ambiguity and human error, because, as we all know, there are two sides to each story. We also have to take into consideration the shock that results from a car crash – a driver might not remember or realize immediately the need to take photos of the damages or call the insurance company to begin the claims process.

Insurers can help drivers mitigate this complicated and stressful process by implementing advanced technologies, now available, that provide accurate, unbiased crash storylines. These narratives detail key findings such as the severity of a crash, where the vehicle was hit, the driver’s speed (before, during and after a collision), the weather and more. A claims adjuster needs this information to do his or her job. When this information is incomplete or inaccurate, the process takes longer, and costs increase for the driver.

Accelerating the Claims Process

In addition to enabling insurers to settle claims more seamlessly and accurately (preventing potential fraud), these technologies aid in settling claims earlier, paving the way for better customer experiences. For example, our solution automatically populates crash insights and reporting into a web portal or directly into an insurer’s claims management system, providing insurers with many details needed to quickly process a claim. By offering claims adjusters this information within 10 minutes of an accident, insurers are empowering them to help drivers quickly resolve their issues.

Placing Safety at the Forefront

The use of artificial intelligence and telematics has brought significant benefits to insurers and consumers. Several auto insurers are already using mobile telematics to assess risk and promote safer driving behavior, but the benefits don’t start and end there. In fact, one of the most important – and life-saving – aspects of the technology is the ability to detect crashes within moments of their occurring. Technology provides real-time notifications of a vehicle crash to quickly send roadside assistance to drivers when they need it most. By providing critical details like GPS location, time and driver identification, new crash detection solutions enable insurers to save valuable time in emergency situations, offering an added level of peace of mind.

In some instances, the new technologies could also save a life. One instance is Discovery Insure, a South Africa-based insurer that uses our Crash Detector to send immediate roadside assistance and paramedics to customers following collisions and life-threatening crashes. One customer, Evelyn Sadler, received immediate attention after a taxi swerved into her vehicle, causing it to go airborne. As the distracted driving epidemic increases, causing 1.25 million people to die in road crashes each year, insurers can offer drivers technologies and solutions that can keep safety at the forefront and prevent many deaths.

The future of the automotive claims system is already here, with several insurers realizing the impact this technology has on their bottom line. I’m excited to continue to watch this space grow – and hope that additional insurance organizations will quickly follow suit.