General Liability Property Damage Adjuster - Washington DC/Baltimore

Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Casualty/Property Liability Adjuster manages all aspects of liability claims in a variety of business classes, effectively determining and communicating the extent of liability or damage associated with each claim. The adjuster assists the client in fulfilling its obligation to policyholders and maintaining the client’s claims processing functions including; evaluating potential coverage issues, liability and damages, risk transfer opportunities, litigation and settlement matters within the limits of assigned authority levels and in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The claims assigned are based on the adjuster’s experience and demonstrated aptitude for handling large or complex matters with minimal supervision.

This is a field position in the Washington DC/Baltimore market. This is not a desk position.

Your EMpact:

• Determine appropriate methods and extent of needed investigation for all assigned claims, including conducting investigations through field visits and phone contact; obtaining contracts, job files, and appraisals; conducting insured, witness, and claimant interviews and/or statements, complete site inspections; scope, measure and write estimates, and using other fact-finding methods to evaluate liability, damages, and proper coverage.
• Use your knowledge of property and construction, and/or knowledge of the specific industry or business affected, personally conduct property inspections and photograph claim sites as necessary to depict and substantiate losses or damage, or the lack thereof.
• Investigate insurance claims in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: retail establishments, office buildings, residences, condominiums, apartments, hotels, corporate facilities, governmental facilities, schools, clinics, or hospitals; assess loss or damage resulting from various events including, but not limited to, inclement or catastrophic weather, construction defect, and fire.
• Conduct thorough interviews or other methods to obtain necessary information from the claimant and experts such as architects, engineers, builders, construction workers, police officers, health care practitioners, accountants, and others to fully and accurately assess the extent of the loss.
• Apply your thorough understanding of insurance policies and policy interpretation to properly conduct an investigation, establish appropriate loss estimates based on all relevant information and findings, provide coverage recommendations, and draft coverage letters, if requested by the client.
• Apply your intermediate level of understanding of insurance policies and policy interpretation to properly conduct an investigation, provide coverage recommendations, and draft coverage letters, if requested by the client, with minimal supervision.
• Work cooperatively with expert witnesses, attorneys, underwriting department staff, investigators, vendors, and carriers’ examiners as needed to conduct investigations, confirm findings, and support evaluations.
• Ensure the accuracy of the information collected and reported and guards against fraudulent claims, based on critical issues identified and accurate conclusions drawn.
• Follow all applicable policies, procedures, and practices, and incorporates sound judgment in formulating recommendations and completing evaluations and reports.
• Use software systems such as Xactimate as necessary to produce accurate estimates.
• Prepare accurate, clear, thorough, and concise reports and letters to insurance carriers, providing appropriate conclusions and recommendations.
• Arrange contractors’ estimates, and other specialists’ appointments as Attends trials, arbitration, ADR, and face-to-face negotiations as required.
• May handle more complex claims involving various situations, including contractor liability, products liability, and construction defects with the appropriate level of guidance.
• Identify claims whose complexity warrants escalation to a more senior level adjuster.
• Identify and addresses third party liability and tender opportunities through investigation and/or contract interpretation.
• Maintain accurate, thorough field notes, journal entries, and time and expense records as Submits reimbursement reports in keeping with organization and client policies, procedures and practices, and within accepted industry standards.
• Apply knowledge of both time-and-expense and fee-for-service procedures, according to the stipulations of the agreement with the client.

What we need from you:

• Senior experience in related claims handling preferred.
• Active license.
• Fundamental understanding of claims adjudication knowledge of commercial and residential construction industries and/or basic knowledge of automotive and transportation industry desirable.
• Basic knowledge of casualty claims law and jurisdictional issues.
• Fundamental understanding of how to perform code investigations.
• Fundamental knowledge of estimate building through Xactimate.
• Understanding of the Commercial General Liability Policy Form.
• Sound negotiating, conflict resolution, and persuasion abilities.
• Ability to draft coverage letters with some supervision.
• Research and investigative abilities have been demonstrated at an Intermediate level.
• Ability to interpret written technical information.
• Proficient written and oral communication skills.
• Time management and organizational skills.