Auto Claims Examiner

Senior Commercial Auto & Garage Claims Examiner

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.

The Examiner is responsible for conducting detailed coverage analysis, liability investigations, reserve management, litigation oversight, and settlement negotiations while ensuring timely and equitable claim resolution. The position serves as a technical resource to adjusters and management and works closely with defense counsel, independent adjusters, experts, and insureds to achieve favorable claim outcomes.

This role offers substantial authority and autonomy in handling complex claims and contributes to the continued development of best practices within the claims organization.

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.
• Assist 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

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or equivalent combination of education and claims 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.
• Industry designations such as AIC, CPCU, SCLA, or ARM are preferred.

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.

Mental Requirements:

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.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle controls and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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.

TRAVEL: 5%