Let's take a look at each of these challenges in more detail:

Obtaining accident details and data at the scene — The scene of an accident is where the First Notice of Loss (FNOL) starts, yet it can be maddingly difficult to get relevant details and data until days later. This makes it difficult if not impossible to get an accurate assessment of the vehicle condition immediately following the incident, an assessment that could otherwise help streamline appraisal and claims adjudication.
Transporting the vehicle from the scene — If details, data and FNOL are not captured at the accident scene, the vehicle is captured by a tow that is usually arranged by the police and delivered to a storage yard. This results in unnecessary loss costs due to the typical five or six days of accumulated storage, fees, space rental and secondary tow that can add up to as much as $1,050 per accident.
Delivering the vehicle to the preferred location — By not receiving details from the accident scene, you also lose control over the vehicle storage location. What's more, because nearly half of accidents occur outside of a repair shop's normal business hours, these vehicles need to be secured for a period of time before they can be delivered to a preferred repair shop. As much as one week can pass before the vehicle is finally released and transported to the appropriate location.
Coordinating the recovery of non-drivable vehicles — The process of recovering a non-drivable vehicle from an accident scene or storage facility can also be complex and time-consuming. Arranging primary and secondary tows, collecting and completing all paperwork necessary to release vehicles from storage, reviewing and validating storage charges, and authorizing cash payments for vehicle release requires constant communication with tow companies, storage facilities and policyholders.

Streamlining the claims process

An accurate assessment of a vehicle's condition at the accident scene is crucial to streamlining appraisal processes, determining losses, and properly routing the vehicle. At this critical moment, two small process changes can make a world of difference. First, actionable digital photographs must be captured at the scene of the accident. High-quality photos that meet desktop appraisal inspection standards provide a clear, time-stamped record of vehicle damage. Second, those photos must be rapidly and efficiently ingested into your digital claims management process to expedite the assessment. In fact, these two simple steps can enable you to save time and money across tens of thousands of annual accident claims.

Special Reports /

Lowering costs and improving efficiency in auto accident claims

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