In the wake of the Hurricane Sandy, EagleView Technologies and Pictometry International Corp. each played a significant role in assisting insurance professionals with claims processing. Pictometry's planes were in the air within days after the storm and captured more than 160,000 images of the aftermath, while EagleView provided tens of thousands of roof and wall reports to claims professionals. Having merged in January, EagleView and Pictometry can now bring a complete set of business solutions to claims professionals to help them prepare and respond when the next event occurs.

Last year, Superstorm Sandy caused an unprecedented amount of damage in one of the nation's most highly populated regions. The effects were felt down miles of coastline across several states. As if a hurricane wasn't enough, a fierce Nor'easter was rapidly approaching the same area. It was clear that an unusually high number of claims were going to need to be processed. To be able to tackle such a task, major insurance carriers and independent adjusting firms turned to aerial-image based technologies provided by EagleView and Pictometry. The industry's highest quality aerial images captured by a portion of Pictometry's 73 aircraft fleet helped these companies assess the storm's widespread impact.

The 3D modeling and measurements of the properties' roofs and walls provided by EagleView assisted in analyzing the storm's effects on homes and buildings. The precise measurements of the damaged structures enabled more claims to be processed in a day; accurate estimates to be developed; and the claim to be closed without the need for supplementals.

Understand the Impact

This new combination of measurement solutions, high-quality aerial imagery and property data allows claims professionals to have a comprehensive understanding of a claim from before the event occurs to after the claim has been closed.

EagleView and Pictometry's solutions provide claims professionals with a rich understanding of their insureds and those properties, which builds a solid foundation for planning and preparedness. Pictometry's patented method for capturing aerial property images includes taking photos at an oblique angle that show the north, south, east, and west views of each property. This allows claims professionals to get a clear idea of the aspects of a building just from looking at the imagery. In addition, policies in force data can be overlaid on the imagery to give adjusters a visualization of where their customers are located. This provides insight on how each customer may or may not be affected by different storm situations.

Make Informed Decisions

Once a claim-inducing event occurs, accurate pre- and post-event imagery can help determine the magnitude of property damage. Being able to visualize damage from a wider viewpoint allows carriers to grasp which neighborhoods were impacted the most. When Sandy hit New Jersey, the scope of devastation was immediately evident from the images. Streets were wiped off the landscape by mounds of sand washed ashore, power lines were clearly damaged, whole neighborhoods were completely destroyed and homes that managed to stay in one piece drifted blocks away. The ability to overlay data onto images of the destruction gave insurance professionals a clear picture of exactly which streets, parcels, power lines and other assets were damaged. A wider viewpoint also enabled adjusters to determine whether the damage was caused by wind, water, hail or something else. This allowed them to calculate and validate the impact on loss reserves.

Close Claims Quickly and Accurately

EagleView's 3D aerial measurement reports are created from images that were taken before there was any damage. By using EagleView's remote exterior measurements rather than attempting an in-person evaluation, the claims process is expedited and adjusters are kept out of harm's way. The guaranteed accurate measurements are relied on by the largest insurance carriers to prepare estimates for repair or rebuilding. In cases where access to remote or damaged areas isn't possible, EagleView is able to provide the detailed information needed to allow carriers to close claims quickly and enable property owners to go about the business of rebuilding their lives.

When carriers have a better background on the situation, they can properly allocate their resources and may even be able to have claims desk adjusted. This eliminates travel time, which means more claims can be processed each day. All parties involved in the claim can easily agree on the industry's most accurate roof and wall measurements. With the virtual elimination of disputes and supplemental claims, the claim cycle becomes more efficient. Additionally, carriers can assure accurate claim compensation.

Higher CSAT Scores

When a customer submits a storm-related claim, it's usually out of necessity and can be just one aspect of a very stressful situation. With an expedited claims process and a set of standard measurements, claims professionals are empowered to make fast, accurate payments on claims. Solutions from EagleView and Pictometry allow claims professionals to provide customers with the answers they need, when they need them the most. And nothing makes a customer more satisfied than being back in their home, safe and secure.

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