Farran Strange
Mesquite,USA
Summary
Dynamic Senior Claims Professional with over 12 years of experience in managing auto, bodily injury, specialty (GAP), and multi-line insurance claims. Currently leading a team of five adjusters as the Lead Auto Claims Specialist at Reserv, overseeing a personal portfolio of up to 200 active claims monthly, with exposures exceeding $250K. Proven expertise in coverage analysis, liability determination, reserve management, and ensuring compliance with multi-state regulations, including TDI and EDI standards, across more than 40 licensed states. Strong track record of decreasing litigation referral rates and compliance penalties while enhancing team performance through targeted coaching and comprehensive quality audits.
Overview
1
1
Certification
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Auto Claims Specialist
Reserv
Remote
02.2024 - Current
- Lead and develop a team of five claims adjusters, conducting regular file reviews, providing real-time coaching, and delivering performance feedback that reduced claim reopen rates by 15% within the first year.
- Oversee a personal caseload of 150–200 active auto claims monthly spanning minor property damage through high-severity exposures exceeding $250K, maintaining timely cycle times and audit-ready documentation.
- Drive quality assurance across the team's portfolio by reviewing complex coverage questions, liability decisions, and reserve adequacy — ensuring full TDI and EDI compliance on all claim files.
- Negotiate settlements with claimants, lienholders, and repair facilities to achieve equitable resolutions while minimizing leakage and controlling indemnity costs.
- Partner cross-functionally with defense counsel, medical professionals, and insurance agents to expedite dispute resolution and reduce litigation referral rates.
- Spearhead onboarding and mentorship of 5–10 junior adjusters, standardizing best practices in documentation, coverage interpretation, and multi-state regulatory adherence.
- Remote
- Evaluated auto claims to determine validity and potential liability exposure.
- Collaborated with policyholders and repair shops to facilitate efficient claim resolutions.
- Utilized strong negotiation skills to settle disputed liability cases in a fair and reasonable manner, ultimately minimizing company exposure to financial risk.
- Provided exceptional customer service at all stages of the claims lifecycle while adhering to strict confidentiality guidelines regarding sensitive client information.
- Assisted clients with navigating complex insurance policies, ensuring they understood the extent of their coverage and benefits available to them during the claims process.
Senior Auto Claims Adjuster
The Best Claims Solutions
04.2023 - 02.2024
- Maintained a zero-penalty compliance record across TX, LA, MS, and FL, responding to all DOI inquiries and consumer complaints within regulatory timeframes.
- Investigated and adjudicated auto and BI claims by synthesizing medical reports, police reports, and witness statements to establish accurate liability determinations and coverage positions.
- Provided technical escalation support to the broader adjuster team on complex coverage, liability, and damages issues, strengthening file quality and compliance outcomes across the unit.
- Managed sensitive escalated claims requiring nuanced stakeholder communication, balancing firm regulatory adherence with empathy-driven claimant interaction.
- Collaborated with attorneys, medical providers, and employers to gather documentation efficiently, supporting faster cycle times and reduced file age on complex BI claims.
- Remote
Senior Auto / Bodily Injury Adjuster
The Davies Group
11.2021 - 04.2023
- Conducted thorough multi-party investigations on auto and BI claims, analyzing police reports, photographic evidence, and witness statements to establish clear liability findings.
- Negotiated directly with claimants, plaintiff attorneys, and medical providers to achieve favorable settlements, reducing litigation referral rates by 20% year-over-year.
- Maintained meticulous claims management system documentation — tracking status, reserve changes, and coverage decisions — ensuring full audit readiness and state regulatory compliance.
- Applied EDI standards and multi-state compliance protocols to all claim files, supporting carrier reporting requirements and minimizing regulatory exposure.
- Remote
GAP Claims Adjuster (Specialty Lines)
Allied Solutions
Plano, TX
09.2021 - 11.2021
- Investigated and adjudicated GAP insurance claims, analyzing vehicle valuation reports, lease agreements, loan statements, and lender payoff balances to determine accurate settlement amounts and prevent overpayment.
- Verified lender payoff figures against financial institution records, identifying discrepancies that protected carriers from unnecessary indemnity spend on total loss claims.
- Reviewed total loss valuations in coordination with primary insurers to ensure GAP payout calculations aligned with policy terms and current market standards.
- Negotiated settlements with finance companies, dealerships, and vehicle owners, consistently resolving claims within policy guidelines and company authority thresholds.
- Conducted targeted fraud audits on GAP claim files, identifying suspicious patterns and escalating SIU referrals that contributed to reduced fraudulent payout exposure.
- Trained and mentored junior adjusters on GAP claim protocols, regulatory compliance requirements, and documentation best practices, accelerating their independent caseload readiness.
Auto Claims Adjuster
State Farm
Richardson, TX
11.2012 - 09.2018
- Investigated and evaluated auto liability and property damage claims, reviewing police reports, photographs, and witness statements to produce accurate, defensible coverage decisions.
- Negotiated settlements with claimants and repair facilities to achieve timely, fair resolutions while managing indemnity spend within authority limits.
- Reviewed lease and loan contracts to verify outstanding balances on total loss claims, coordinating with lenders and insurance brokers to resolve documentation discrepancies.
- Built foundational expertise in multi-party claims handling, customer communication, and claims management system documentation across a high-volume personal lines environment.
Education
Associate of Arts -
Southern University
Skills
- Auto, BI & GAP Claims Management
- Team Leadership & Adjuster Development
- Coverage Analysis & Liability Determination
- Reserve Setting & Exposure Management
- Settlement Negotiation (Claimants, Attorneys, Lienholders)
- DOI Inquiry Response & Consumer Complaint Resolution
- TDI & EDI Compliance
- Multi-State Adjuster Licensing (10 States)
- Fraud Detection & SIU Referral
- Subrogation Identification & Recovery
- Claims Management Systems (Audit-Ready Documentation)
- Total Loss Evaluation & Lender Payoff Verification
- Claims
- Claims processing
- Claims investigation
- Verbal communication
- Microsoft office
- Coverage assessments
- Settlement determinations
- Claims analysis
- Policy interpretation
- Compliance management
- Accident investigations
- Documentation review
- Estimate preparation
- Complex claims consulting
- Allocating claims
- Forms validation
- Settlement management
- Negotiation leadership
- Settlement coordination
- Inspection report review
- Liability denials
- Time management
- Decision-making
- Critical thinking
- Customer service
- Organizing and prioritizing work
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Multitasking Abilities
- Interpersonal communication
- Problem-solving
- Claims adjustment
- Insurance coverage verification
- Documentation skills
- Information verification
- Team building
- Eligibility determination
- Data entry
- Claim amount calculations
- Coverage determination
- Denied claims identification
- Appointment scheduling
- Small claims payouts
- Reporting skills
- Regulatory compliance adherence
- Records management
- Data entry software
- Insurance claim forms review
- Written communication
- Documentation processing
- Great mathematical skills
- Medical terminology
- Document control
- Patient rapport
- Policy review
- 10-key touch
- Account management
- Client interviews
- Payment and investigation escalations
- Problem-solving abilities
Certification
- Licensed Property & Casualty Claims Adjuster — 10+ States (full list available upon request)
- Multi-state licensure spanning TX, LA, MS, FL, and additional states — actively maintained and in good standing
- Experienced with TDI (Texas Department of Insurance) compliance standards and EDI claims data reporting protocols
- Familiar with DOI inquiry response procedures across multiple jurisdictions
Timeline
Lead Auto Claims Specialist
Reserv
02.2024 - Current
Senior Auto Claims Adjuster
The Best Claims Solutions
04.2023 - 02.2024
Senior Auto / Bodily Injury Adjuster
The Davies Group
11.2021 - 04.2023
GAP Claims Adjuster (Specialty Lines)
Allied Solutions
09.2021 - 11.2021
Auto Claims Adjuster
State Farm
11.2012 - 09.2018
Associate of Arts -
Southern University