Crash Assessment: Unlocking the Power of Delta-v
Understanding Crash Assessment
Crash assessments are the systematic analysis of a vehicular accident to determine the severity of impact, potential injuries, and overall claim implications. Traditionally, this assessment has relied on vehicle damage appraisals, witness statements, medical documentation, police reports and black box data. However, as technology advances, insurers now have access to tools that can to evaluate crash severity in near real time.
Key Components of Crash Assessment
A comprehensive crash assessment consists of several critical factors:
Delta-v – The change in velocity of a vehicle due to impact.
Vehicle Damage Patterns – The extent and location of structural deformation.
Occupant Kinematics – The forces exerted on passengers and the likelihood of injury.
Environmental & Road Conditions – Factors that may have influenced crash dynamics.
Telematics & Event Data Recorder (EDR) Insights – Black box data providing real-time crash details.
Among these, Delta-v is one of the most significant and validated predictors of crash severity and injury risk.
What is Delta-v?
Delta-v is a measure of the change in velocity of a vehicle during a collision. It quantifies how much speed the vehicle lost or gained upon impact, making it a key indicator of crash severity.
Delta-v is measured in meters per second (m/s) or miles per hour (mph) and is derived from crash reconstruction, crash models, onboard sensors, and or event data recorders (EDRs). Generally, the higher the Delta-v, the greater the force experienced by the occupants, increasing the likelihood of injuries.
Why is Delta-v Important?
Delta-v has been extensively validated in biomechanical and crash safety research as a reliable metric for predicting injury risk. Studies from institutions such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) confirm that higher Delta-v values correlate with greater injury severity.
Key reasons why Delta-v is crucial:
Predicts Injury Severity – Helps insurers understand potential medical costs and claim severity early.
Supports Liability Determination – Provides an objective measure of crash impact.
Enhances Fraud Detection – Differentiates between legitimate claims and exaggerated injuries.
Improves Claims Efficiency – Reduces unnecessary medical evaluations and accelerates claim resolutions.
Using Delta-v in Insurance & Claims Management
For insurers, incorporating Delta-v into claims assessment brings immediate value by enabling more precise and efficient claim handling.
Triage & FNOL (First Notice of Loss) Decisions – Delta-v allows insurers to categorize claims based on severity, prioritizing urgent cases while streamlining low-impact claims.
Medical Claim Validation – Provides scientific/objective data for navigating injury claims, reducing disputes and unnecessary litigation.
Automated Claim Processing – AI-powered platforms can instantly analyze Delta-v and classify claims, leading to faster settlements and improved policyholder satisfaction.
How Talem Enables Faster, Smarter Crash Assessments
Traditionally, obtaining Delta-v and crash severity data required physical access to the vehicle or extensive data to reconstruct both methods are time-consuming and costly processes. Talem is transforming this by leveraging technology to analyze images of the vehicle to provide insurers with real-time crash insights at a fraction of the cost and time.
Our technology:
Calculates Delta-v from crash photos within seconds.
Uses AI models validated by biomechanical research to predict injury severity accurately.
Integrates seamlessly into claims workflows, giving adjusters immediate access to critical crash metrics for faster decision-making.
Reduces claim cycle times and costs, improving both operational efficiency and customer experience.
The Future of Crash Assessment in Insurance
Delta-v is no longer a metric reserved for crash test labs—it’s now an essential tool for modern claims management. By utilizing AI and advanced analytics, insurers can make data-driven decisions that improve accuracy, efficiency, and fairness in claim settlements.
With Talem, insurers can access crash severity insights earlier, faster, and more affordably than ever before—enabling better risk assessment, improved claimant experiences, and optimized claim outcomes.
Are you ready to bring AI-powered crash assessments into your claims process?
