Fault determination with autonomous feature use monitoring

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining fault for an accident involving a vehicle having one or more autonomous (and/or semi-autonomous) operation features and paying claims associated with such accidents are provided. According to certain aspects, operating data from sensors within or near the vehicle may be used to determine the occurrence of a vehicle accident, such as a collision. The operating data may further be used to determine an allocation of fault for the accident between a vehicle operator, the autonomous operation features, or a third party. The allocation of fault may be used to further determine and make claims payments related to the accident. In some embodiments, claims may be rejected based upon the operating data and determined allocation of fault.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for evaluating vehicle operations, comprising:
 receiving, by one or more processors, operating data of a vehicle during a vehicle trip, the operating data including information regarding use of one or more autonomous operation features to control the vehicle during the vehicle trip, wherein the operating data are received from one or more sensors disposed within the vehicle;   determining, by the one or more processors, an occurrence of a collision during the vehicle trip based upon the operating data;   in response to determining the occurrence of the collision, determining, by the one or more processors, an operational mode of the vehicle during the vehicle trip; and   assigning, by the one or more processors, an allocation of fault for the collision based upon the operational mode of the vehicle, wherein the operational mode of the vehicle includes one of a manual driving mode, a fully autonomous driving mode, or a semi-autonomous driving mode.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein when the operational mode of the vehicle is determined to be the manual driving mode, assigning the allocation of fault for the collision to a driver of the vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 adjusting, by the one or more processors, a risk profile associated with the driver of the vehicle.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein when the operational mode of the vehicle is determined to be the fully autonomous driving mode, assigning the allocation of fault for the collision to the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 adjusting, by the one or more processors, risk profiles associated with the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein when the operational mode of the vehicle is determined to be the semi-autonomous driving mode, assigning the allocation of fault for the collision between a driver of the vehicle and the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 adjusting, by the one or more processors, a risk profile associated with the driver of the vehicle and risk profiles associated with the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 27 , wherein assigning the allocation of fault for the collision between the driver of the vehicle and the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle includes determining which of the one or more autonomous operation features were in use at the occurrence of the collision and whether the driver of the vehicle overrode any control decisions of the one or more autonomous operation features. 
     
     
         29 . A system for evaluating vehicle operations, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
 receive operating data of a vehicle during a vehicle trip, the operating data including information regarding use of one or more autonomous operation features to control the vehicle during the vehicle trip, wherein the operating data are received from one or more sensors disposed within the vehicle; 
 determine an occurrence of a collision during the vehicle trip based upon the operating data; 
 in response to determining the occurrence of the collision, determine an operational mode of the vehicle during the vehicle trip; and 
 assign an allocation of fault for the collision based upon the operational mode of the vehicle, wherein the operational mode of the vehicle includes one of a manual driving mode, a fully autonomous driving mode, or a semi-autonomous driving mode. 
   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein when the operational mode of the vehicle is determined to be the manual driving mode, the instructions that cause the system to assign the allocation of fault for the collision further comprise instructions that cause the system to assign the allocation of fault to a driver of the vehicle. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 adjust a risk profile associated with the driver of the vehicle.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein when the operational mode of the vehicle is determined to be the fully autonomous driving mode, the instructions that cause the system to assign the allocation of fault for the collision further comprise instructions that cause the system to assign the allocation of fault to the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 adjust risk profiles associated with the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein when the operational mode of the vehicle is determined to be the semi-autonomous driving mode, the instructions that cause the system to assign the allocation of fault for the collision further comprise instructions that cause the system to assign the allocation of fault between a driver of the vehicle and the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 adjust a risk profile associated with the driver of the vehicle and risk profiles associated with the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions that cause the system to assign the allocation of fault for the collision between the driver of the vehicle and the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle further comprise instructions that cause the system to determine which of the one or more autonomous operation features were in use at the occurrence of the collision and whether the driver of the vehicle overrode any control decisions of the one or more autonomous operation features. 
     
     
         37 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for evaluating vehicle operations, the instructions when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:
 receive operating data of a vehicle during a vehicle trip, the operating data including information regarding use of one or more autonomous operation features to control the vehicle during the vehicle trip, wherein the operating data are received from one or more sensors disposed within the vehicle;   determine an occurrence of a collision during the vehicle trip based upon the operating data;   in response to determining the occurrence of the collision, determine an operational mode of the vehicle during the vehicle trip; and   assign an allocation of fault for the collision based upon the operational mode of the vehicle, wherein the operational mode of the vehicle includes one of a manual driving mode, a fully autonomous driving mode, or a semi-autonomous driving mode.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein when the operational mode of the vehicle is determined to be the manual driving mode, the instructions when executed by the at least one processor that cause the computing device to assign the allocation of fault for the collision further cause the computing device to assign the allocation of fault to a driver of the vehicle. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein when the operational mode of the vehicle is determined to be the fully autonomous driving mode, the instructions when executed by the at least one processor that cause the computing device to assign the allocation of fault for the collision further cause the computing device to assign the allocation of fault to the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein when the operational mode of the vehicle is determined to be the semi-autonomous driving mode, the instructions when executed by the at least one processor that cause the computing device to assign the allocation of fault for the collision further cause the computing device to assign the allocation of fault between a driver of the vehicle and the one or more autonomous operation features of the vehicle.