Crashboxx Telematics announces the release of Crashboxx DENT, a web-based software tool that creates forecasts of the material damage cost to vehicles involved in crashes. The software allows a preliminary repair cost estimate to be performed during the initial call with the policyholder, providing insurers with actionable intelligence, at the beginning of the claims process, instead of later when the car in already in a body shop.

Crashboxx DENT (Damage Estimates in Near Real Time) is designed to improve the efficiency of claims operations for p&c carriers.

 "A big challenge in the insurance claims process is the correct disposition, or triage, of a vehicle following an accident," says Peter Byrne, president of Crashboxx. "Usually, the vehicle is towed to a local body shop, which will write up the cost using estimating software. But frequently, the outcome is the vehicle is, in fact, a total loss, and not repairable. The cost of storage, estimating fees and transport to the correct location, e.g. a salvage auction, is borne by the insurer. There are 18 million claims annually, of which 17 percent are a total loss. Each time a body shop handles a total loss, (an unrepairable car), the insurer is billed about $325. This adds up to about $1 billion annually in the U.S., and is wasteful."