blog home Car Accidents Don’t let a computer decide your worth

Don’t let a computer decide your worth

By John Singleton on July 5, 2021

Artificial intelligence (AI) has long been a topic of sci-fi films and novels that deal with futuristic societies. You may think we are decades away from computers running the world, but in some cases, computers already do make the decisions.  Big insurance companies already use AI and computer software to handle accident claims. In an ideal world, this would make the claims process easier after an accident and help you get your bills paid faster.  But the harsh truth is that insurance companies use this software to save themselves money.

Do computers decide how much an accident claim is worth?

One of the biggest secrets of the insurance industry is that insurance adjusters do not always decide what you should be offered in a settlement — computer programs do! For decades, a software called Colossus has been used by big insurance companies like Allstate to add up the costs of an accident and calculate settlement amounts. All an adjuster has to do is tell Colossus a few details about the collision, and it will spit out a range of settlement amounts.

A software like Colossus is not focused on giving you a fair deal or proper compensation for your injuries. In fact, over 50% of insurance companies see this type of AI as a way to cut costs and keep profits high. This is why insurance adjusters will almost always pick the smallest number and try to get a victim to accept a lowball offer. Given that fatal car accidents cost Virginians more than $1.3 billion dollars in a single year, and crashes that involve injuries cost the Commonwealth over $2 billion dollars, victims and their families deserve proper compensation from insurance companies.  But this may not happen.

How does a computer calculate an accident claim?

A software like Colossus will take the average cost of an injury and increase or decrease its value based on several factors when calculating your car accident claim, including:

• If you immediately got medical treatment
• What type of treatment you received
• How long you received treatment if you had a pre-existing condition
• If you need future treatment
• Where you live
• Your age

What is my claim actually worth?

The number an insurance adjuster offers you is not the same as what your case is actually worth. Auto insurance policies are designed to help you get back on your feet after an accident, which means paying for your medical bills, helping you recover lost wages if you have to take time off work, and compensating you for the physical and emotional stress of an accident.

AI and insurance companies do not care about these details; they only care about how much a claim will affect their profit margins. Insurance adjusters are expected to always push the lowest settlement amount, and a company may block them from going above a certain amount. If you were injured in an accident, you will need to work with a skilled attorney to get proper and full compensation in a claim.

Can an attorney get me a better offer?

At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we know what it’s like to be an accident victim. My law partner Ken and I  have been in car accidents and had to deal with the claims process. We know the stress and frustration you feel, which is why we always provide our neighbors with compassion and strength. If you cannot take your claim to court, you do not have much leverage to argue against an insurance company and the computer-based offer. We are that leverage.

Just as we know what it’s like to be in an accident, we also know how to deal with insurance companies. We’ve worked for big insurance companies, in big cities, and as trial lawyers. Now we are proud to serve our neighbors here in Virginia with our experience and expertise.

If you were injured by a negligent driver, don’t let a computer decide what your injuries are worth. Instead, reach out to our team at GibsonSingleton. As Virginia injury attorneys, we can guide you through the claims process and demand proper compensation from an insurance company — even if it means taking your case to court.

Call us today at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777 to talk to us in a free consultation. There are no up-front fees for working with us. We only get paid when you do — that is our Zero Fee Guarantee.