Systems and Methods for Identifying a Subrogation Opportunity for a Potential Subrogation Claim

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining a subrogation score for a potential subrogation claim. The systems and methods described herein provide a user, such as a claims adjuster, with the tools to retrieve and communicate information related to one or more products likely to have caused a property loss. The systems and methods may further determine a subrogation score indicative of subrogation opportunity for a potential subrogation claim relative to the one or more products. The subrogation score may be based on information in at least one database. The subrogation score may be provided to the user such as an insurance carrier. The user may then decide whether to proceed with further investigative analyses (e.g., component testing of the one or more products) pursuant to a potential subrogation claim. Additional systems and methods disclosed herein facilitate the insurance carrier's submission of the one or more products for component testing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 receiving, via an application on a computing device of a user, one or more product identifiers, the one or more product identifiers identifying one or more products likely to have contributed to a loss;   searching at least one database for product data related to said one or more product identifiers, said at least one database including one or more of a Statute of Repose database, a Consumer Product Safety database, a historical database and a new trends database;   retrieving, via one or more servers, said product data from said at least one database;   determining, based on said retrieved product data, a subrogation score for each of said one or more products, said subrogation score indicative of subrogation opportunity for a potential subrogation claim relative to said one or more products; and   providing said subrogation score to said user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said product identifiers include at least one product attribute for each of said one or more products. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying a claim identifier, said claim identifier identifying said potential subrogation claim related to said loss. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing, via the application on the computing device of the user, a selectable option to submit said one or more products for component testing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising receiving, via the application on the computing device of the user, an affirmative user selection of the selectable option to submit said one or more products for component testing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising responding to the affirmative user selection of the selectable option to submit by prompting the user to enter one or more claim identifiers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising generating a confirmation number for the one or more products for component testing. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising responding to the affirmative user selection by providing shipping information to the user to ship the one or more products for the component testing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising responding to the affirmative user selection by providing evidence collection recommendations related to the one or more products for the component testing. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving, via the application on the computing device of the user, an affirmative user selection of the selectable option to not submit said one or more products for component testing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining said subrogation score includes generating a subrogation report for each of said one or more products based on said subrogation score. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating said subrogation score with each of said one or more product identifiers in a subrogation database. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one database includes a new trends database, and further comprising:
 comparing said subrogation score to a threshold;   determining, based on said comparison of subrogation score to said threshold, a new trend factor, the new trend factor indicative of recent occurrences of said one or more products in the new trends database; and   adjusting the subrogation score based on the new trend factor.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one database includes a Statute of Repose database, and further comprising:
 identifying a state for applying said Statute of Repose;   identifying a statutory time limit for said state in said Statute of Repose database; and   adjusting the subrogation score based on comparison of said statutory time limit and an elapsed time from purchase date of said one or more products.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said claim identifier includes one or more of:
 an insured party identifier, the insured party identifier identifying a beneficiary of the insurance claim,   a date identifier, the date identifier identifying the date said loss occurred, and   a geographical identifier, the geographical identifier identifying a physical location where said loss occurred.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said retrieved product data includes one or more of product recall information, a manufacturing defect information, and a product warning. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more products include one or more of roofing material, an appliance, electrical components, and plumbing components. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more product identifiers includes one or more of a product barcode, serial number, and UPC code. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one product attribute includes one or more of a make, model, year of manufacture, year of purchase, age, photograph, video recording, audio recording, and product description related to said one or more products. 
     
     
         20 . A method for generating a subrogation report implemented on a mobile device, comprising:
 identifying, via the user-interface on the mobile application, one or more product identifiers, the one or more product identifiers identifying one or more products likely to have contributed to a loss;   providing, via one or more servers, said one or more product identifiers to a central server;   prompting said central server to search at least one database for product data related to said one or more products, said at least one database including one or more of a Statute of Repose database, a Consumer Product Safety database, a historical database and a new trends database;   receiving, from said central server, a subrogation score based on said one or more products identifiers, said subrogation score indicative of subrogation opportunity for a potential subrogation claim relative to said one or more products; and   displaying said subrogation score via the mobile application.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:
 receiving, via an application on a computing device of a user, one or more product identifiers, the one or more product identifiers identifying one or more products likely to have contributed to a loss;   searching at least one database for product data related to said one or more product identifiers, said at least one database including one or more of a Statute of Repose database, a Consumer Product Safety database, a historical database and a new trends database;   retrieving, via one or more servers, said product data from said at least one database;   determining, based on said retrieved product data, a subrogation score for each of said one or more products, said subrogation score indicative of subrogation opportunity for a potential subrogation claim relative to said one or more products; and   providing said subrogation score to said user.