Today, we are pleased to interview a remarkable guest, Steve Frattare, the owner of Cornerstone Claims Service in Rochester, NY. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.
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With a career spanning since 1980, Steve's journey in the insurance claims business began as a community organizer before transitioning into a role where he interviewed life insurance candidates. Additionally, he gained valuable experience by conducting home inspections to determine replacement costs, dedicating one year to this pursuit.
One day, Steve stumbled upon another job advertisement, although he couldn't recall his initial motive for job hunting. Then, someone at the NY State Department of Labor suggested he explore a career as a claims adjuster.
Back in 1980, technology was vastly different. Steve relied on pay phones and later fax machines for communication. However, the most significant change he has witnessed throughout his extensive career is the advent of the internet, which revolutionized access to information. The ability to obtain public information and locate individuals online has had a tremendous impact.
When it comes to aspiring young adjusters, Steve emphasizes the significance of strong communication skills, a natural curiosity for investigating incidents, empathy, and analytical thinking.
According to Steve, technology has fundamentally altered how people interact with each other. However, he firmly believes in-person interactions remain crucial in the claims-handling process. Because of technological advancements, the changes in human interactions may be here to stay, requiring us to adapt and navigate accordingly.
The evaluation of a claim is a delicate matter. Factors such as medical history and liability play significant roles in valuation. Steve's best advice for assessing the value of a particular settlement is to refer to historical settlement data. Lost wages, medical bills, and other documented costs also play vital roles in valuations for injury claims.
We invite you to listen to the podcast and enjoy the conversation firsthand.
Questions about this episode? Shoot me an email at wauten@auten.claims
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