International law firm DAC Beachcroft has collaborated with InsurTech start-up Automated Insurance Solutions, and Audatex, to develop BAIL, an online artificial intelligence-powered (AI) tool that quickly, accurately and consistently assesses liability following a motor accident.

Simplicity

Developed in conjunction with DAC Beachcroft's claims research and development hub, Innovations Lab, and motor repair and claims flow solutions specialists, Audatex, the firms says this new tool represents a significant step in utilising the latest emerging technologies to tackle complex tasks in an ever-more digitised claims process. It also demonstrates DAC Beachcroft’s continued commitment to developing and trialling new, disruptive, AI-based technologies that deliver improved efficiencies and better accuracy for its insurance clients. “A key attraction of BAIL is its simplicity,” said Peter Allchorne, partner and head of DAC Beachcroft's Innovations Lab. “It's easy and intuitive to use, and the question set is entirely dynamic, only asking what’s relevant to return a quick, accurate and consistent decision on liability.” Elliot Roberts, product management director at Audatex, agrees “We wanted to support a machine learning-based solution for the essential and sometimes complicated process of establishing liability - helping claims professionals focus on the cases that require their attention and straight-through processing for those that don’t.”

AI platform

The BAIL platform is accessed via a secure web portal. Insurers answer simple questions about the motor accident, select a road layout image that best indicates the accident scenario, and add or request testimonials from witnesses, where available. Once BAIL has captured the data it needs, its underlying AI platform delivers an immediate answer on liability. Links to Google Maps and historical meteorological data also help pinpoint the accident's exact location and weather conditions at the time, enabling the user to produce a concise locus report in seconds, alongside the liability outcome. BAIL’s questions can either be completed by the claims handler on behalf of the policyholder or by the policyholder themselves using BAIL's self-service feature. This self-service capability enables policyholders to input their own account of the accident without needing to speak to a claims handler or investigator, generating increased efficiencies and time savings. “Clients who have been piloting the use of BAIL are already benefiting from a reduction in operational expense while simultaneously speeding up what has historically been a very manual, paper-based process,” said Ben Taylor, chief executive officer at Automated Insurance Solutions. “Not only does BAIL offer improvements in accuracy and efficiency – it also ensures that the insurer's customer remains at the very heart of the claims process.”