Keitha Van Buren
Summary
Detail-oriented claims adjuster and a team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy. Strong knowledge of insurance processes and documentation. Independent Insurance claims adjuster with over 8 years Property Loss Assessment documentation working directly with Public Adjusters, Contractors, Attorneys, Agents, Service Vendors, and Insureds from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. Proficient in all property lines of coverage with a specialty in residential and small commercial weather-related property and casualty indemnity claims. Effectively set and manage client expectations, build positive relationships while instilling trust and confidence during a stressful and challenging life event. Developed strong Customer Centered Services skills through clear concise fact based verbal and written communication. Have focused on professional growth throughout my career by obtaining various Client specific certifications and remaining current with technology.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Remote Property Adjuster
Allstate Ins Co
04.2024 - 03.2025
- Investigates the claim and analyzes claim details, assess coverage, and determine liability.
- Evaluate the damages and inspect damages, prepare estimates, and determine appropriate settlements, using Xactimate.
- Determine what is covered by policy and what is not.
- Communicate with customers, contractors.
- Calculate the payment amount based on the policyholder's deductible and depreciation
- Negotiate with claimants and other parties to reach fair settlements.
- Contact policyholder to discuss the claim and issue any payment.
- Work as a team with other claims examiners to help process claims quickly.
Team Lead
Allcat/Florida Peninsula
09.2024 - 12.2024
- Investigate any coverage issues and work towards a resolution.
- Reviewed field adjusters's report, photos, estimates and other supporting documents.
- Determine what is covered by policy and what is not.
- Calculate the payment amount based on the policyholder's deductible and depreciation
- Contact policyholder to discuss the claim and issue any payment.
- Work as a team with other claims examiners to help process claims quickly.
Claims Examiner
TWIA & TFPA/Team One
07.2024 - 08.2024
- Investigate any coverage issues and work towards a resolution.
- Reviewed field adjusters's report, photos, estimates and other supporting documents.
- Determine what is covered by policy and what is not.
- Calculate the payment amount based on the policyholder's deductible and depreciation
- Contact policyholder to discuss the claim and issue any payment.
- Work as a team with other claims examiners to help process claims quickly.
Supplement/Litigation Claims Desk Adjuster Team Lead
Crawford & Company/Allstate
03.2023 - 11.2023
- Supervise/Manage 12 Supplement Desk Adjusters, 1 Team Lead, 1 Trainer and 1 Claim File Processor
- Specialized claim handling with: Appraisals, Attorney Rep and Litigation claims, Public Adjusters, Contractors, Engineers, and Specialty Vendors.
- Customer Claim Experience – Leader Call Backs: insureds, agents, contractors and vendors – providing resolutions to escalated claim concerns, setting new expectations and providing an action plan moving forward.
- Policy Review – State Specific Statues, Carrier Specific Endorsement and Exclusions, Special Limits/Sub-limits and deductibles and recoverable and non-recoverable depreciation.
- Property Inspection Documentation Review – roof, elevations, appurtenant structures, interior – proper photo documentation.
- Estimate Review / Collaborative Writing – responsible for QA approving 400 claim files, checking for completeness, accuracy and compliance on estimates ranging from $0.00 - $573,000.
- Submitted Daily File Review Log – productivity documentation.
Property Claims Desk Adjuster Team Lead
Crawford & Company/CAA -Canada
10.2022 - 03.2023
- Investigators claim damages and situations using internal and external resources. Investigation steps include speaking with the insured or other involved parties such as contractors, requesting and receiving a field investigation report, research on past claim activity, research on external websites for CAT event confirmation, and engaging vendors for services, material supply and/or pricing.
- Determines policy coverage through analyzing investigation data and policy terms, including whether claims will be approved or denied. Notifies insured of coverage or any issues. Establishes reserve levels at the beginning of handling a claim and adjusts as appropriate based on investigation findings.
- Maintains accurate and current claim file documentation throughout the life cycle of claim cases.
- Negotiating settlements and authorizing payments.
- Ensures compliance with company procedures, applicable federal/state laws, and legal requirements.
- Obtain settlement agreements, approved releases, or suit dismissals on claim resolution.
Property Claims Desk Adjuster
Crawford & Company/Desjardins-Canada
05.2022 - 09.2022
- Investigators claim damages and the situation using internal and external resources. Investigation steps include speaking with the insured or other involved parties such as contractors, requesting and receiving a field investigation report, research on past claim activity, research on external websites for CAT event confirmation, and engaging vendors for services, material supply and/or pricing.
- Determines policy coverage through analyzing investigation data and policy terms, including whether claims will be approved or denied. Notifies insured of coverage or any issues. Establishes reserve levels at the beginning of handling a claim and adjusts as appropriate based on investigation findings.
- Contacting claimant's employers or doctors for additional information if the claim is questionable.
- Conferring with legal counsel when needed.
- Maintains accurate and current claim file documentation throughout the life cycle of claim cases.
- Negotiating settlements and authorizing payments.
- Negotiate final resolution with claimants or their legal representatives, considering ADR forums.
- Manage established claims on an ongoing basis.
- Administer medical benefits to injured workers.
- Obtain settlement agreements, approved releases, or suit dismissals on claim resolution.
Bodily Injury Claims Desk Adjuster
Crawford & Company/Allstate
10.2021 - 04.2022
- Investigating, evaluating, and settling insurance claims.
- Engages specialized departments such as Special Investigation Unit and Subrogation as appropriate.
- Determines and negotiates settlement amounts for damages claimed within assigned authority limits.
- Investigate single and multi-vehicle auto accidents involving property damage and/or bodily injury using innovative tools and technology to capture recorded statements, photos and/or the review of police reports to resolve losses.
- Proficient communication skills, especially over the phone, to establish rapport and assess claim accuracy.
- Ability to work independently and remotely, while managing time efficiently.
- Familiarity with insurance policies, coverage, and liability determination.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to evaluate and negotiate injury claims successfully.
- Knowledge of innovative tools and platforms for effective claims evaluation.
- Leading Closer on claims resolution team.
- Document claims through active listening and use of data to investigate and assess claim coverage, liability, and damages while reviewing medical records and/or bills.
- Investigate accident facts, liability issues, need for experts, extent of related injuries and property damages, applicable statutes and formulate a liability assessment setting a strategy for resolution.
- Summarize liability decisions and evaluate claim worth before negotiating and settling with customers in accordance with business unit methodologies.
- Makes recommendations to management for settlement amounts outside of authority limits.
Supplement Property Claims Desk Adjuster
Crawford & Company/Allstate
03.2021 - 10.2021
- Claim Handling Volume: 500-600, plus 350 supplements
- Supplement Claim Handling: Insureds, Public Adjusters, Contractors, and Advocates)- review additional damage claim – coverage determination per policy – settle, pay, action plan for claim closure.
- Customer Service throughout the claim process – various contacts, claim file documentation, write estimate (review weather reports, prior claim history and FNOL statements), upload and label inspection photos, settle claim, send written correspondence, pay claim (QCP, EFT, system check).
- Virtual Inspection: document roof/components, exterior elevations, interior rooms, personal property damage and other structures.Virtual Packages - reviewed damage inspection reports and photo documentation. Pulled weather reports, prior claim history and FNOL statements – wrote estimate/settled claim, process payment (QCP, EFT, Fast E-Mobile, System Check) and communicated with insured via phone, text, emailed and written correspondence.
- Customer Service throughout the claim process – claim status updates every 2 days and file documentation.
- Supplement claims (PA's, Contractors, Advocates)- review additional damage claim (scheduled re-inspections) – determine coverage per policy (code upgrade, State Specific requirements)- estimate revision, settle/pay, close claim.
- Close 3-5 claims per day consistently – worked over 75 claims from start to finish; about 25-30 supplemental claims and 5 special handling claims (appraisal, engineer C/O/L, and pre-litigation).
- Claim settlement range: Denials (P/F), Under Deductibles, Withdrawals, Inquiry Only and settlement payments between $1 - $66,000.
- Assessed claims for underwriting review, SIU referral, subrogation and salvage potential.
- Assist teammates in claim handling procedures – (peer support).
- Trained new incoming adjusters on claim handling protocols (system use/ file documentation/ claim evaluation/ estimate writing/ customer service).
- Claim settlement range: RC/ACV, Denials (P/F), Below Deductibles, Withdrawals and No Damage settlement payments between $0.00 - $100,000, (settlement authority $5,000).
- Close 4-6 claims per day.
- Peer Support / Training: assist teammates in claim handling procedures and estimating ac
Property Claims Desk Adjuster
Sedgwick/Liberty Mutual
01.2021 - 03.2021
- Manage efficient cycle times and quality of claims handling.
- Mobilize additional resources for claim investigation.
- Coordinate loss investigations on all assigned claims
- Verify facts and determine coverage by evaluating policy provisions, endorsements, etc.
- Maintain detailed documentation and follow up on each file.
- Prepared Reports and Findings.
- Review the prior claims for closures.
- Corresponds with the claimant regarding the claim.
- Engages specialized departments such as Special Investigation Unit and Subrogation as appropriate.
- Estimates Cost of repair, replacement, or compensation.
- Makes recommendations to management for settlement amounts outside of authority limits.
Auto/Fire Claims Field Adjuster
Pilot Catastrophe/State farm
08.2017 - 01.2021
- Investigation steps include speaking with the insured or other involved parties such as contractors, requesting and receiving a field investigation report, research on past claim activity, research on external websites for CAT event confirmation, and engaging vendors for services, material supply and/or pricing.
- Excellent customer service and decision-making skills.
- Applying knowledge of policies and insurance regulations when determining coverage, liability, & damages.
- Xactimate, XactContents.
- Effectively managing work through task driven queues while multi-tasking in a fast-paced call center environment.
- Notifies insured of coverage or any issues. Establishes reserve levels at the beginning of handling a claim and adjusts as appropriate based on investigation findings.
- Contacting customers by telephone, written correspondence and/or various electronic media.
- Physical agility to allow for: frequent lifting, carrying, and climbing a ladder; ability to navigate roofs at various heights for inspection of both residential and commercial structures; ability to crawl in tight spaces.
- Estimate and/or determine coverage based on policy and carrier guidelines.
- Maintains accurate and current claim file documentation throughout the life cycle of claim cases.
Education
High School Diploma -
Murrah High School
Jackson, MS05-1991
Skills
- Policy interpretation
- Claims investigation
- Damage assessment
- Insurance regulations
Certification
- 8 years Desk Property, field & Auto Adjuster CAT
- Licensed All Lines Adjuster
- TWIA-Certified Residential & Commercial field & certified Desk Examiner
- TFPA -Certified Residential & Commercial field & Desk Examiner
- State Farm Certified-IA Fire Policy & Fire Estimatics,Auto, RV & Marine Certified
- Allstate Certified
- Citizens Certified
- File Examiner
- Content IA trained
- Flood NFIP Certified
- Multiple State Licenses
- California Earthquake Certified
- Hail & Wind damage to Residential roofs
- Interior Finishes
- Proficient in Guidewire
- Beginner in Symbility
- Proficient in Claims Management Systems(CMS)
- Proficient in Xactimate1 and online Version
- Proficient in XactAnalysis
- Proficient in Microsoft word, Excel,Ms Outlook
Timeline
Team Lead
Allcat/Florida Peninsula
09.2024 - 12.2024
Claims Examiner
TWIA & TFPA/Team One
07.2024 - 08.2024
Remote Property Adjuster
Allstate Ins Co
04.2024 - 03.2025
Supplement/Litigation Claims Desk Adjuster Team Lead
Crawford & Company/Allstate
03.2023 - 11.2023
Property Claims Desk Adjuster Team Lead
Crawford & Company/CAA -Canada
10.2022 - 03.2023
Property Claims Desk Adjuster
Crawford & Company/Desjardins-Canada
05.2022 - 09.2022
Bodily Injury Claims Desk Adjuster
Crawford & Company/Allstate
10.2021 - 04.2022
Supplement Property Claims Desk Adjuster
Crawford & Company/Allstate
03.2021 - 10.2021
Property Claims Desk Adjuster
Sedgwick/Liberty Mutual
01.2021 - 03.2021
Auto/Fire Claims Field Adjuster
Pilot Catastrophe/State farm
08.2017 - 01.2021
High School Diploma -
Murrah High School
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