Claim Investigation Specialist I

RLI Insurance • Peoria, IL

8h • Hybrid

About The Position

This is an exciting opportunity to join RLI’s Claims organization in a specialized investigative role. The Claim Investigation Specialist will assist claim examiners and managers with the timely development of facts, evidence, damages information, public-record research, vendor assignments, and claim documentation. We are looking for a proactive, detail-oriented professional who can thrive in a fast-paced claim environment, manage multiple priorities, and play a critical role in supporting the investigation, evaluation, and resolution of claims. This role is well suited for someone with claim handling, legal, paralegal, investigative, or liability experience who is interested in developing deeper claim expertise while helping improve claim outcomes across the organization. The position will partner closely with claim examiners, claim managers, defense counsel, vendors, and other internal stakeholders to ensure claims are investigated thoroughly, efficiently, and consistently.

Requirements

• 2+ years of claim handling, liability investigation, paralegal, legal assistant, insurance investigation, or related experience preferred but not required.
• Experience with auto liability, general liability, professional liability, property, casualty, litigation, or complex claim environments preferred.
• Experience obtaining and analyzing records, reports, public records, medical records, billing records, court filings, or investigative materials preferred.
• Experience working with vendors, experts, defense counsel, or outside investigators is a plus.
• Experience with umbrella, bodily injury, or litigated claims is a plus.
• Proactive approach to investigation, claim development, and problem solving.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills.
• Ability to identify relevant facts, missing information, inconsistencies, and claim exposure issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organization, time management, and follow-up skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced claim environment.

Responsibilities

• Perform rapid fact development on assigned claims, including obtaining and analyzing police reports, fire reports, incident reports, accident response letters, 911 audio, dash-camera or body-camera materials, scene photographs, surveillance materials, and other relevant evidence.
• Identify, request, preserve, and track key third-party evidence, including video footage, electronic data, event data recorder information, photographs, witness information, repair records, employment records, business records, and public records.
• Conduct targeted public-record, docket, DMV, property, licensing, corporate, and other database research to assist with liability, damages, recovery, and exposure analysis.
• Perform open-source and social media research to corroborate liability facts, claimed injuries, damages, activities, employment status, business operations, or other relevant claim issues; document search methodology and preserve findings appropriately.
• Assist with medical and damages development by requesting authorizations, ordering medical records and bills, organizing records, preparing medical chronologies, summarizing specials, and identifying prior injuries, causation issues, apportionment issues, treatment gaps, liens, or other damages-related concerns.
• Support claim examiners by preparing concise factual summaries, damages summaries, investigation timelines, witness summaries, and issue lists that identify completed work, outstanding needs, and recommended next steps.
• Monitor and document the progress of investigations handled by claimants, insureds, vendors, defense counsel, underlying carriers, or other involved parties, as applicable.
• Identify investigative gaps, delays, inconsistencies, or divergence from claim-handling best practices and escalate issues to the assigned claim examiner or manager.
• Scope, assign, and manage vendors, including field investigators, scene inspectors, nurse reviewers, medical record review vendors, accident reconstructionist, engineers, cause-and-origin experts, and other claim-support resources.
• Define vendor deliverables, timelines, budgets, and follow-up expectations, review vendor work product for completeness, accuracy, and usefulness to the claim file.
• Assist with litigation and pre-litigation file development by organizing key facts, evidence, records, timelines, and claim materials for claim examiners, managers, and defense counsel.
• Support claim quality by ensuring investigative activities, evidence requests, vendor assignments, and summaries are documented clearly and timely in the claim file.
• Communicate professionally with insureds, claimants, counsel, vendors, internal business partners, and other parties as appropriate.
• Perform other claim investigation, file development, and claim support duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Annual bonus plans
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) — automatic 3% company contribution
• Annual 401k and ESOP profit-sharing contributions (Up to 15% of eligible earnings)
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Paid volunteer time off (VTO) to support our communities
• Parental and family care leave
• Flexible & hybrid work arrangements
• Fitness center discounts and free virtual fitness platform
• Employee assistance program
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• 2x base salary for group life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary life, critical illness, & accident insurance for purchase
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Training & certification opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement
• Education bonuses

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level