System and method for vehicle repair cost estimate verification

A computer-implemented method of processing data relating to vehicle repair estimates associated with insurance claims, comprising:

• storing in one or more data storage devices an insurance claims database having data relating to a plurality of insurance claims;
• receiving, by one or more computer processors, claim identifying data from a repair facility computer system;
• determining, by the one or more computer processors, based on the claim identifying data, an insurance claim associated with the claim identifying data;
• receiving, by the one or more computer processors, data indicative of a repair estimate associated with the insurance claim, including data indicative of an amount, from the repair facility computer system;
• accessing, by the one or more computer processors, an evaluation of the received repair estimate, the evaluation being based on an application of a plurality of rules to the repair estimate;
• responsive to the data indicative of an amount of the repair estimate being below a first threshold, determining, by the one or more computer processors, an insurance workflow to include forwarding the estimate for approval;
• responsive to the data indicative of an amount of the repair estimate being at least the first threshold, and the evaluation being indicative of one or more rules being triggered, determining, by the one or more computer processors, an insurance workflow to include forwarding the estimate to a claim handler device for review;
• and
• responsive to the data indicative of an amount of the repair estimate being at least the first threshold, and the evaluation being indicative of no rules being triggered, determining, by the one or more computer processors, an insurance workflow to include forwarding the estimate for approval.

A computer system for processing data for verification of vehicle repair estimates in connection with insurance claims, comprising:

• a claim handler computer system configured to receive estimate data and display estimate data, including data indicative of rules triggered by an estimate;
• and
• an insurance data system in communication with the claim handler computer system via a local area network, and comprising:
• one or more data storage devices storing:
• an insurance claims database storing data relating to a plurality of insurance claims and repair estimates, including at least one field for storing data indicative of status of vehicle repair estimates in a vehicle repair estimate workflow;
• one or more computer processors in communication with the insurance claims database;
• a communications device in communication with the one or more computer processors and in communication with a network;
• a memory device in communication with the one or more computer processors, and storing computer-readable instructions, which instructions, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to:
• receive claim identifying data via the communications device and the network from a repair facility computer system;
• determine, based on the claim identifying data, an insurance claim associated with the claim identifying data;
• receive data indicative of a repair estimate associated with the insurance claim from the repair facility computer system;
• access data indicative of an evaluation of the repair estimate, the evaluation being based on application of a plurality of estimate rules to the repair estimate;
• responsive to the data indicative of an amount of the repair estimate being below a first threshold, determine an insurance workflow to include forwarding the estimate for approval;
• responsive to the data indicative of an amount of the repair estimate being at least the first threshold, and the evaluation being indicative of one or more rules being triggered, determine an insurance workflow to include forwarding the estimate to a claim handler device for review;
• and
• responsive to the data indicative of an amount of the repair estimate being at least the first threshold, and the evaluation being indicative of no rules being triggered, determine an insurance workflow to include forwarding the estimate for approval.