Auto Claims Examiner
Atlantic Casualty Insurance Co. · Glastonbury, CT · 1 mo ago
SalesFull-time
Position Summary
The Senior Commercial Auto & Garage Claims Examiner independently manages a portfolio of complex, high-exposure Commercial Auto, Garage Liability, and Garagekeepers claims within an Excess & Surplus Lines environment. This position handles claims involving significant property damage, catastrophic bodily injury, coverage disputes, litigation, dealer operations, towing exposures, repair facilities, transportation risks, and other specialized automotive-related exposures.
Responsibilities
Claim Investigation & Coverage Analysis
- Analyze and interpret Commercial Auto, Garage Liability, Garagekeepers, Dealer, Tow Truck, Transportation, and other specialty E&S policies to determine coverage applicability.
- Conduct detailed investigations involving liability, comparative negligence, damages, injuries, and policy coverage issues.
- Evaluate complex coverage questions, exclusions, endorsements, contractual risk transfer provisions, and policy conditions.
- Review police reports, witness statements, recorded interviews, accident reconstructions, medical records, repair estimates, and expert reports.
- Determine appropriate investigative strategies to ensure timely and equitable claim resolution.
Claims Management
- Independently manage a caseload of high-severity and litigated Commercial Auto and Garage claims.
- Handle claims involving catastrophic injuries, fatalities, multi-vehicle accidents, dealer operations, customer vehicles in care, custody and control, and other complex exposures.
- Establish, monitor, and maintain appropriate indemnity and expense reserves throughout the life of the claim.
- Identify and pursue subrogation opportunities and salvage recoveries when applicable.
- Maintain accurate and comprehensive claim documentation in accordance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
Litigation & Negotiation
- Manage litigated claims from assignment through resolution.
- Direct and oversee defense counsel, independent adjusters, accident reconstructionists, medical experts, and other vendors.
- Develop litigation strategies and evaluate exposure based on liability, damages, venue, and legal trends.
- Attend mediations, settlement conferences, arbitrations, and trials as necessary.
- Negotiate settlements within granted authority and present authority recommendations on high-exposure matters.
Technical Leadership
- Serve as a subject matter expert for Commercial Auto and Garage claims.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to claims staff and less experienced adjusters.
- Aid with training initiatives and claim reviews as needed.
- Participate in claim roundtables and large loss strategy discussions.
- Collaborate with underwriting and risk management teams on emerging trends and loss control opportunities.
Customer & Business Partner Service
- Maintain proactive communication with insureds, claimants, agents, brokers, attorneys, and vendors.
- Deliver exceptional customer service while balancing policy obligations and company objectives.
- Respond promptly to inquiries and maintain effective diary management practices.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable state regulations, company procedures, and claim handling standards.
Required Education & Experience
Education
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or equivalent combination of education and claims experience.
Experience
- Minimum of 7 years of Commercial Auto, Garage Liability, Garagekeepers, Transportation, or General Liability claims handling experience.
- Demonstrated success managing complex, litigated, and high-severity bodily injury claims.
- Experience handling claims within the Excess & Surplus Lines marketplace preferred.
- Proven expertise in coverage analysis, liability investigations, litigation management, negotiation, subrogation, and reserve evaluation.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of Commercial Auto, Garage Liability, Garagekeepers, Dealer Operations, and Transportation exposures.
- Strong understanding of state claims regulations, insurance law, and litigation practices.
- Advanced knowledge of bodily injury evaluation, medical terminology, and damage assessment.
- Experience handling catastrophic injury, fatality, and complex liability claims.
- Excellent analytical, investigative, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
- Strong organizational and time-management abilities with the capability to manage a high-volume, complex caseload.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficiency with claims management systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and related technology platforms.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience handling specialty E&S auto risks.
- Experience with dealership operations, repair facilities, towing risks, commercial fleets, and transportation accounts.
- Prior authority handling six-figure and complex exposure claims.
- Demonstrated success managing high-exposure litigated bodily injury claims from inception through resolution.
Licensing
- A valid resident adjuster license for the license state of the applicant.
- A non-resident adjuster’s license where required in the states where we do business.
- The position requires using and interpreting information and facts that may require refining and improving existing methods of analysis.
- The incumbent has considerable latitude for decision making and establishment of priorities.
- Significant planning is required to coordinate with other organizational units.
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Works primarily indoors.
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