Top best Workers Compensation Lawyers in Charlotte | 125 available

Viral Mehta has called Charlotte his home for over 30 years. He attended and graduated from Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools. He then graduated from nearby Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Mr. Mehta obtained his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and then returned home to Charlotte to begin his legal practice.. Mr. Mehta spent the first decade of his legal career defending employers and large insurance companies in workers’ compensation claims. Mr. Mehta developed expertise in workers’ compensation law, but he felt a lack of fulfillment in representing insurance companies against injured workers.. Mr. Mehta began representing injured workers when he founded the workers’ compensation practice group at a local law firm. Mr. Mehta then co-founded Mehta & McConnell PLLC.. Mr. Mehta’s previous experience representing insurance companies gave him the insight necessary to effectively represent injured workers. He knows how insurance companies and adjusters handle workers’ compensation claims.. Mr. Mehta is a North Carolina State Bar board-certified specialist in workers’ compensation law. He has obtained favorable decisions before all levels of the North Carolina Industrial Commission, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court.. Viral Mehta was a contributing author of the 2017 edition of the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation LexisNexis Practice Guide, and he was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2019, 2020, and 2021.. Mr. Mehta is certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission as a Superior Court mediator. He enjoys mediating cases, especially workers’ compensation claims. In addition to practicing workers’ compensation law, Mr. Mehta also handles personal injury cases.. Mr. Mehta is married with one son and a dog named Alfred. He enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, sports, and reading.

Vernon Sumwalt has handled approximately 250 workers’ compensation hearings, 100 appeals—mostly from cases he has tried—and many other cases before juries and our courts of general jurisdiction in both North Carolina and South Carolina. He is the current President of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (formerly the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers) and has taught almost 140 state and national classes for lawyers and other professionals. He has also written over 45 books, chapters, and other articles on different aspects of workers’ compensation and trial law.. Since 2005, Vernon has been a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. To research some of the workers’ compensation cases he has tried to a decision from the North Carolina Industrial Commission, please follow this link to the Industrial Commission’s website. Put “public” as both the “user name” and “password” to sign in. Once there, search for “Vernon Sumwalt” in the Full Text search to pull up decisions in his cases.. Since 2014, Vernon has also been a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Law. To research some of his experience in appeals, please follow this link to Google Scholar, select “case law” for “North Carolina courts” and then search for “vernon sumwalt” (in all lowercase).

Throughout his 28 year legal career, Chris’s passion has been to provide each of his clients with effective, aggressive and personalized legal representation. Chris brings a vast array of legal knowledge and experience to each and every case he handles, including  motor vehicle accidents, medical negligence, nursing home neglect, catastrophic injuries (severe burns, brain and spinal injuries, etc.), construction accidents,  workers’ compensation and wrongful death.. Chris’ extensive and diverse work history in the legal field provides him with a unique perspective on how to successfully litigation cases against large corporations and insurance companies to obtain maximum compensation for victims of negligence. Chris moved to Charlotte in 1987 and began his legal career at Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein, LLP, one of the state’s largest law firms, defending companies in litigation matters in both state and federal courts. In 1993, he accepted a position as in-house counsel at First Union Corporation (now Wells Fargo), handling complex litigation cases across the country. As Vice-President and Assistant General Counsel of First Union, Chris was also responsible for overseeing and defending the personal injury and risk management cases against the company.. In 1997, Chris joined with his law partner Jeff Warren to form Warren & Kallianos, a personal injury law firm exclusively focused on protecting the rights of those injured by the negligence of others. His skill, reputation and accomplishments as a trial attorney have been recognized by numerous state and national legal organizations and associations.. In addition to practicing law, Chris believes in public service and the need to support organizations that protect access to justice and the right to a jury trial. Chris has served on the Board of Governors for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ), an organization dedicated to protecting the legal rights of those injured by the negligence of others, as County Captain of the NCAJ, and as a member of the Mecklenburg County Bar Fee Dispute Committee and Public Information and Education Committee. For six years, Chris also served as a Commissioner and Mayor-Pro-Tem on the Matthews Town Council.. Chris is a lifelong native of North Carolina, having been born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. Chris attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) where he studied psychology and business.  He received his undergraduate degree and was awarded Phi Beta Kappa from UNC in 1984.  He also attended law school at UNC where he received his law degree with honors in 1987.  While in law school, Chris served as a member of the North Carolina Law Review and was appointed to the Board of Editors of the North Carolina Law Review.  Chris is a published author on topics ranging from bad faith insurance practices to medical negligence. He is admitted to practice in all North Carolina federal and state courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and is a Certified North Carolina Superior Court Mediator.. Chris has an active life outside of the practice of law. He has three wonderful daughters who are all married. He is a proud grandfather of three and enjoys spending as much time with his family as possible. Chris is an avid golfer and tennis player, having competed in various golf and tennis events throughout Charlotte.

Since becoming a member of the North Carolina State Bar, I have immersed myself into the area of Workers' Compensation law and have dedicated my career to learning the ins-and-outs of the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act.  I have spent the better part of my career representing individuals involved in work place accidents, avidly fighting to ensure my clients receive all of the benefits they deserve under the Workers' Compensation Act.  However, I have also obtained valuable experience on the other side of things by representing employers and carriers in defending Workers' Compensation claims.  The experience I had defending Workers' Compensation claims has, and will, continue to help tremendously in my practice and zealous representation of injured workers.. Prior to law school, I attended Eastern Michigan University where I majored in Criminal Justice and was an active member of the school’s Honor’s College. After receiving my undergraduate degree, I continued my studies at Charlotte School of Law, graduating in 2016 with Cum Laude honors.. During my time in law school, I had the privilege of interning for multiple Fortune 500 companies. These experiences provided me with valuable insight into my current practice and am able to apply to cases involving companies of all sizes.

Since 1993, Richard "Rick" Anderson has been an attorney in Charlotte, NC, representing clients in upholding justice pertaining to medical negligence, workers’ compensation, and catastrophic injury. He has earned a spot in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum after successfully litigating settlements over $1 million. Rick has been associated with significant cases involving medical negligence and malpractice. When he accepts your case, Rick makes a personal commitment to you and uses his 27 years of knowledge and experience to advance your lawsuit to achieve a successful outcome.. Rick is a native Charlottean. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1990 and his Juris Doctorate law degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 1993.. In 1993 Rick began his law career as an associate with Price & Smith Attorneys at Law in Charlotte, NC. After six years, in 1999, he was named as a partner with the firm. In 2017, Rick founded Price Petho & Anderson Attorneys at Law, where he practiced until 2020. In September of 2020, Rick merged with Attorney, Mark Sumwalt founding the Sumwalt Anderson Law Firm.

Shepard Smith is a managing attorney for the Charlotte office of Stewart Law Offices. Born and raised in Charlotte, Shepard became a lawyer because he wanted to be able to advocate for those who found themselves in overwhelming legal circumstances.. As the youngest of five siblings, Shepard learned the value of hard work at an early age while spending summers earning money as a landscaper and warehouse laborer. He knows how important a paycheck can be to a family, and how an injury can forever change a person’s life.. Shepard brings a unique perspective to personal injury cases and workers’ compensation claims because of his previous experience as a defense attorney for large insurance companies. “I used to represent and defend large insurance companies in workers’ compensation and general litigation matters. I found it to be quite troubling how insurance companies would often treat injured individuals as numbers rather than people with hardly any sympathy,” he says. “My experience as an insurance defense lawyer has allowed me the opportunity to gain special knowledge of the inner-workings of insurance companies and their tactics, and I am able to apply this knowledge to my law practice for the benefit of my clients.”. Shepard has represented many clients and argued cases to verdict in front of the North Carolina Industrial Commission as well as North Carolina Superior Courts. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, and the Mecklenburg County Bar Association.

Samantha Clark Aktug has practiced Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability Law for over 20 years. Her skill and knowledge of the law is apparent in her track record. She has helped thousands of clients with multi-million dollar settlements, developing a reputation that speaks for itself.. Ms. Clark Aktug's work is now solely dedicated to Workers' Compensation claims. Helping victims of workplace injury is more than just her profession; it's her passion. Her attention to detail and commitment to justice is evident in how she maximizes her clients' compensation.. Clark Aktug graduated with a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned her J.D. from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.

Practice areas include Social Security Disability, and Workers Compensation

Melissa L. Garcia is licensed to practice law in North Carolina.  She is a member of the Social Security Disability Advocacy Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. Prior to becoming an attorney, Melissa worked as a paralegal for nine years managing a Social Security Disability practice, and assisting with workers' compensation cases.. Melissa received her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2012, where she majored in History and Secondary Education.  She attended law school at Charlotte School of Law, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2015.  During law school, Melissa was Articles Editor for Charlotte Law Review, and a member of the Order of the Crown honor society.  In addition, she worked as a volunteer judicial law clerk at the Charlotte Immigration Court, where she drafted decisions and performed research for cases before the court.. Melissa grew up in the Charlotte, NC, but also lived in Venezuela during her childhood.  She is a product of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and is proud to have attended the first German Immersion magnet school in Charlotte.  She is fluent in Spanish and conversational in German. After undergrad, Melissa joined Teach For America and taught Spanish at two high needs schools in Charlotte, NC. From her experience as a teacher, she learned that she could make a greater impact through the law and decided to attend law school.. Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and her dog.  Her many hobbies include traveling, hiking, dancing, learning new languages, and studying new cultures.

Marcus Spake, Of Counsel (Licensed in NC, Located outside of the US), was born and raised in western Lincoln County, North Carolina, where his family has deep roots. He is fluent in Spanish, dedicated to his craft, and fights aggressively for his clients’ best interests.. During his legal career, Marcus has represented both injured workers and defendants in workers’ compensation claims, giving him an insider view on how to pursue justice for his clients. Before law, Marcus worked in construction, on a farm, as a chef, and teaching high school Spanish, which taught him the pride of working hard for a common goal– a value he brings to his cases. Marcus graduated from Appalachian State University before getting his law degree at Charlotte School of Law. He completed the prestigious E. A. Morris Fellowship for Emerging Leaders through the John Locke Foundation and was named a 2020 Super Lawyers Rising Star in Workers’ Compensation.. Marcus is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the Mecklenburg County Bar Association, and, the Hispanic National Bar Association. When he’s not practicing law, Marcus can be found spending time with his wife and their two cats or out in the woods camping.. *Prior results do not guarantee any future outcomes. After recovery is made, attorney fees will be computed before deduction of incurred expenses. For more information on criteria for selection, please click the links of awards.

Lou was raised in Fayetteville. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his law degree from Campbell University. He served as an assistant district attorney in Mecklenburg County. Lou then moved in the private sector, joining a civil litigation defense firm handling workers’ compensation cases representing employers and insurance companies.. Eventually, he moved into plaintiff's work joining a personal injury firm, he helped open in Charlotte, representing injured employees as they pursued their workers’ compensation claims against their employers and the insurance carriers.. In 2014, he opened his own firm with the goal of using his years of experience in both plaintiff and defense work to continue advocating for injured workers as they navigate the workers' compensation system.. Lou is active member of his church, a member of the Mecklenburg County Bar's Grievance and Fee Dispute Committee and volunteers as a coach for youth sports.

Jon Moore grew up in the Kansas City, Missouri area where he earned his Eagle Scout badge and graduated as valedictorian of his high school class. He attended college at Northwestern University outside of Chicago, where he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies. Following his graduation from Northwestern University, Jon got accepted to Georgetown University Law School, but elected to defer his acceptance for a year. During that year, Jon returned to his hometown where he taught English and Debate at a local high school. Jon continued to pursue his interest in teaching while at law school, by teaching a practical law class to students at an inner-city high school in Washington, DC.. Following his graduation from law school, Jon moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he worked at a small law firm in Springfield which specialized in a nationwide practice involving automotive crashworthiness. This experience led Jon to realize the joys of working for a small law firm, and working for individuals rather than corporations or insurance companies.. In March 2002, Jon moved with his wife Laura to Charlotte where he began working for The Law Offices of R. Kent Brown as an Associate Attorney. In 2012 Jon was named as a Rising Star by North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine and then again in 2013 and 2014; and is the only Charlotte lawyer to be named on this list for each of those years for the field of Personal Injury.  Jon has also been listed on the 2014 and 2015 editions of Best Lawyers for his practice in Workers' Compensation and is aslo AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell.  Jon serves on the Litigation Section Council for the North Carolina Bar Association, and is also on the Amicus Curiae committee for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. In his spare time, Jon likes to read, hike, run and play the piano.

John grew up in Charlotte attending High School here and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC 1982) where he majored in Political Science and Criminal Justice. He played on the Varsity Soccer team for UNCC. After College, John worked for a year as a Fire Tech for a alarm company before going to law school. He saw how hard people work for their money only to lose it all when a workplace injury happened.  It was there that he decided to go to law school so he could help injured workers who he saw being treated unfairly.  He attended and graduated from Campbell University School of Law (now in Raleigh, NC) and obtained his Juris Doctorate degree in 1986.  John has been practicing Worker's Compensation since that time and practices in the area 100% of his time.  He was recognized as a NC Worker's Compensation SuperLawyer in 2006.  SuperLawyer's are outstanding lawyers in their field chosen by independent research.  A SuperLawyer has been designated as someone with a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. He is dedicated to helping those injured worker's who find they cannot get fair treatment from large insurance companies. Having been hurt himself at the alarm company he knows first hand the challenges that exist for injured workers.  Most people have no idea what their rights are in the face of an injury.  And the Company doesn't seem very interested in helping many times. After an injury on the job, it seems the Company starts treating workers differently. He is committed to making sure injured worker's rights are protected.  And he enjoys helping out the hard working people of North Carolina.. John has extensive experience advancing worker's rights before the Industrial Commission in Raleigh, both at the initial Hearing level and before the Full Commission.  He has argued cases before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court in worker's compensation. Recently, the Firm won the case of Griffin v Absolute Fire Control (2021) before the NC Supreme Court on the issue of futility of looking for work after disability and the issue of makework provided by the Employer to avoid payment of disability benefits.. John has concentrated knowledge of the special needs of handicapped individuals and what the law provides for protection of such people. He has been successful securing handicapped accessible housing and transportation for his clients when the insurance companies denied those rights to his clients.  He also has extensive experience representing those with Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) or Reflex Sympathetic Disorder (RSD) and knows how to get clients specialized medical treatment for such clients. Some of those are cutting edge treatments many physicians don't provide and most insurance companies routinely deny.  John has fought big insurance companies and successfully obtained these treatments for CRPS patients for 22 years.  If you have a injury that develops into CRPS or RSD, John can assist you in obtaining medical treatment which has a fighting chance of alleviating the problems you experience and making your life more livable.  You can find out more information about this disease at .

Jason spent the first twenty years of his career defending insurance companies and employers in disputes with injured workers. During this time, he saw firsthand the strategies insurance companies use to try to limit their liability to their injured workers.. After deciding to leave the world of insurance defense litigation, Jason is now ready to use those same strategies and the insight he gained by helping injured workers receive the full extent of the compensation they deserve. Having been both a lawyer and a client, Jason understands firsthand the significant impact the right lawyer can have on someone’s life as an advocate, a counselor, or simply as a caring listener.. The law offices of Mehta & McConnell, PLLC, were formed with those principles in mind.. Jason is a Board Certified Specialist in the area of Workers’ Compensation law, having earned that distinction from the North Carolina State Bar, a designation enjoyed by less than 1% of his peers.. Jason has handled numerous cases before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, North Carolina Court of Appeals, and the North Carolina Supreme Court.. In addition, Jason has participated in hundreds of mediations and arbitrations in workers’ compensation as well as civil litigation disputes over his more than a twenty-year career.. Jason was named a Rising Star by North Carolina SuperLawyers in 2010.. Jason resides in Charlotte, NC, with his three children. In his free time he enjoys playing golf, cooking, traveling and following the UNC Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers. Jason also has an affinity for Appalachian State University athletics due to the fact that his father and brother are both graduates of that institution and are ardent supporters of the Mountaineer football team.

I have been fighting for injured workers and accident victims for more than 25+ years.  I have settled complicated personal injury claims, litigated denied workers' compensation claims, and won monetary damages.  Call today to see if I can help you.. Education: Bachelor of Arts Economics. University of Potsdam, summa cum laude. Juris Doctorate. The University of Buffalo, cum laude.. Professional Honors and Memberships: 2022-Inducted into the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers; Board Member of WILG (Workers' Injury Law and Advocacy Group) since 2017; 2021 Lawyers of Distinction; 2020 AVVO Top Rated Lawyer; Member of N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers / Advocates for Justice; Selected as NFL Players Association Workers' Compensation Panel Attorney since 1996; 2015 Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum; 2019 Women Lawyers of Charlotte.

I currently manage all aspects of workers' compensation claims including but not limited to motions practice, discovery, and settlement negotiations. I also handle all aspects of social security disability claims including but not limited to filing appeals, drafting briefs, and attending hearings.. I am committed to helping clients navigate the legal process and work hard to find cost-effective and practical solutions with counseling and negotiations. I am bilingual in Spanish and English, which allows me to represent Spanish-speaking clients much more efficiently.. I am very active in the local and state Bar, and especially enjoy volunteering to work on pro bono matters.

I am originally from Gastonia, NC.  Thus, I have lived in the Charlotte area the majority of my life.  I thoroughly enjoy the many things this city, and the surrounding suburbs have to offer.. In my sparse spare time, I enjoy competitive sports.  My primary interests are basketball and golf personally, though I'm a big football fan.  My family is a big part of my life.. My practice is a large part of my life.  I started my firm because I'm independent, and I wanted to do things my way.  I personally interact with each client on a direct basis.  I believe the results of my cases indicate there is a part of me in each file.  I work hard at what I do.

Highly-Rated Accident Lawyer in CharlotteAttorney Douglas A. Petho is a native of the Charlotte area who joined the firm in 1993. Since joining the firm in 1993, attorney Petho’s primary focus has been the litigation of plaintiff’s personal injury suits.. He has successfully tried hundreds of cases to jury verdict involving automobile accidents, trucking accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall accidents, animal attacks, intentional torts, and work-related accidents. He has served as a representative of the plaintiff’s bar on the Mecklenburg County District Court Rules Committee and has served as an arbitrator in numerous insurance disputes.. Mr. Petho began his trial career as an Assistant District Attorney for the 1st Judicial District of North Carolina serving under the Hon. H.P. Williams, where he was tasked with the prosecution of both misdemeanor and felony charges in a seven-county district in Eastern North Carolina.. EducationUniversity of North Carolina Chapel Hill, B.S. in Administration of Criminal Justice, 1988University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, J.D., 1991Awards“AV Preeminent” Rating. Martindale Hubbell, 2011Bar AdmissionsNorth Carolina, 1991U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina, 1991Professional & Bar AssociationsMecklenburg County Bar AssociationNorth Carolina Bar AssociationAmerican Bar AssociationNorth Carolina Academy of Trial LawyersNorth Carolina Advocates for JusticePersonal Injury and Workers Compensation Division

Growing up in rural West Virginia, Christian Gerencir found his calling to help others early on. He rebuilt homes with Habitat for Humanity and developed a deep sense of community responsibility. He brings this sense of personal responsibility and dedication to every case he works on.. Christian received his undergraduate degree from High Point University and his law degree from Charlotte School of Law. He has since been admitted to the North Carolina and West Virginia Bar and is currently in the process of working towards his Bar Admission to South Carolina.. Christian is passionate about helping victims and their families receive the compensation they deserve. Christian represents victims of vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation claims, and other personal injury claims. When Christian is not managing our Charlotte office, you can find him rooting for the Carolina Panthers or spending time outdoors with his wife and dogs.. *Prior results do not guarantee any future outcomes. After recovery is made, attorney fees will be computed before deduction of incurred expenses. For more information on criteria for selection, please click the links of awards.

Gene Riddle is founding and managing partner at Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers, a North Carolina law firm focused on personal injury, workers' compensation, Social Security disability, veterans' benefits, wrongful death, product liability, and eminent domain. The firm also serves clients in a wide variety of mass tort and class action cases.. Riddle earned his J.D. from Wake Forest University in 1985 and has practiced law in North Carolina for more than three decades.. In addition to being a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Riddle is also a member of Million Dollar Advocates and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates, the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Super Lawyers, and North Carolina Advocates for Justice. He also has a high AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and received the 2014 Litigator Award.. In 2009, Riddle was awarded the Old North State Award by the Governor of North Carolina. The Old North State Award is the state's second-highest civilian honor and recognizes individuals who who have provided exemplary service and commitment to the State of North Carolina.. For more information on membership criteria in the above-listed organizations and associations, please visit our website:

For the past thirty-five years I have successfully represented thousands of deserving individuals in social security disability cases. For the past twelve years, I have expanded my practice to assist inidiviuals in long term disability claims. Each case receives my personal attention. I work closely with my clients and their medical providers to present the strongest case possible. I do not charge for an initial consultation and would be glad to discuss your situation with you.

David Galbavy is a personal injury attorney and a board-certified workers' compensation specialist.  He handles cases where people are injured. These are accidents that occur at work, on the road, or while on someone’s property. His cases generally involve orthopedic injuries, injuries that require surgery, or injuries that result in permanent limitations or disfigurement. Navigating the medical treatment after an injury is one of the most important factors that David focuses on, not just for helping the case, but for prioritizing his client's recovery, because your health is priceless. Let us work on your case so that you can focus on your recovery.. David is no stranger to the courtroom, as he has litigated numerous cases to final opinions and through appeals. David’s detailed approach includes exploring all issues in your case to help maximize your recovery and apply the appropriate amount of pressure on the insurance companies that are handling your case. If you are denied benefits that you should be getting, he will turn up the pressure and develop a tactical plan to fight back. Don’t let an insurance company take advantage of you, hire an experienced lawyer liked David to fight for you and help you get what you deserve.

Bradley H. Smith, a North Carolina native, founded The Law Offices of Bradley H. Smith after over two decades of experience in workers’ compensation law. Raised in Eden, North Carolina, Brad graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as the first in his family to attend college. Early in his career, he gained unique insights into the field by working as a defense attorney for employers and insurance companies, ultimately switching to advocate for injured workers. This background allows him to bring a strategic perspective to his clients’ cases.. Brad’s journey to law was shaped by diverse experiences, including work abroad in Scotland and early sales experience, which taught him the importance of clear and effective communication. After completing law school at the University of Memphis, where he served on the editorial board of the Law Review, he began practicing in Charlotte, obtaining licenses in both North and South Carolina. He is one of a select number of attorneys in North Carolina to be board-certified in workers’ compensation law.. In 2024, Brad fulfilled a career goal by establishing his own firm, where he is dedicated to guiding clients through the complexities of workers’ compensation claims. Outside of his practice, Brad is involved in community programs such as Habitat for Humanity and enjoys spending time with his family and following the Carolina Panthers and Tar Heels.

Board Certified Workers' Compensation attorney with a focus on obtaining you the medical treatment you require. Call For A Free Consultation..

BOARD CERTIFIED SPECIALIST in NC WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW.. If talking to a lawyer who is friendly and respectful to you is important, then call me.   I grew up in a blue-collar household, in a blue-collar town, and I know I am not any better than anyone else.  I am not going to talk down to you--I was raised better than that.   If you have questions about your on-the-job injury, call me.  I am an expert in workers' compensation law and I will give you a free, unlimited consultation over the phone or in person.. If you are looking for an attorney to help you with your case, be sure to choose a "Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law."  Attorneys are are NOT all the same!  Relevant experience and specialized skills matter.. I also have a FREE Workers' Compensation Information Package I can send you.  Just ask for it.  And I will be happy to talk to you over the phone, over ZOOM video conferencing, or by email or by text message.  Or contact me through the "chat" window on this page.    All workers' comp, personal injury, and SSDI consultations are free.. Remember, the insurance company is NOT on your side.   It is your adversary.  Heck, let's be blunt.  The insurance company, and their claims manager or adjuster, are your enemies.  The adjuster may be nice to you, but her job is to take money out of your pocket, money that you need to take care of your bills and your loved ones.    But I am on your side!  You need to know how to deal with the insurance carrier.   So call or email me now for your free workers' compensation consultation -- with me personally, not a non-lawyer, minimally trained "intake specialist" -- and also ask for your free information package.. If you end up hiring me as your lawyer, you will get my personal attention.  Unlike some larger firms that advertise heavily, you will not have virtually everything in your case done by a person who is NOT a lawyer.   Everyone's case is unique, and the "assembly line" approach that is used by some big firms just, in my opinion, does not produce the best results for clients.   And my goal for every single client is to get you the best possible outcome on your case.. You will have my personal email address, that I personally monitor and use, and you can send me your questions and concerns anytime by email.  And I will respond.  It may be one o'clock in the morning, but I will answer your email.. I will be doing the legal work on your case---unlike some law firms, I do not have a big staff of paralegals to whom the lawyer work is delegated.   You will typically deal with only one paralegal in addition to me.  At this firm we have three (3) attorneys and two (2) paralegals.   Check the lawyer to support staff ratio at some of the big firms, and you might be surprised at how few attorneys there are compared to all the support staff.  Why is that?  Well, with all those employees, who do you think is doing the work on your case?. I want to protect your rights and add value to your claim.  I want you to be better off for having hired me to handle your case.. When your case is finished, I want you to feel that I did a great job.  I want to earn your "Five Star rating" here on the AVVO client reviews.. Many people need a good attorney for their workers' comp cases, because the insurance company does not have the workers' best interests at heart.   The NC Court of Appeals has stated that: "In contested Workers' Compensation cases today, access to competent legal counsel is a virtual necessity.....  Leaving injured employees without the representation they need to obtain the complete and total amount of their workers' compensation award would defeat the purposes of the [Workers' Compensation] Act.  In fact, employers would be encouraged to contest liability and meanwhile make voluntary payments less than that required by the Workers' Compensation Act."  Church v. Baxter Travenol, 104 N.C. App. 411, 416 (1991) (bold emphasis added).. I have practiced workers' compensation law since 1991 and have been a Board Certified Specialist in NC Workers' Compensation Law since 2000.  I am now a member of the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization committee that grades the exams of the lawyers who are trying to become certified as specialists in workers' compensation law.. .    As the Court of Appeals said in Church, an injured employee needs a "competent" attorney on a workers' compensation case--not a traffic ticket lawyer who just takes on your workers' comp case hoping for a quick fee, and certainly not a "case manager" or legal assistant handling your case at the big firm.  An injured worker can be assured that a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law is indeed competent to handle the case properly.   My paralegal helps me with the paperwork and phone calls, but I am the one handling your case and making the judgment calls on your behalf.  I am putting my 30+ years of experience and expertise to work for you.. I grew up in Newton, North Carolina, which was primarily a furniture and textiles town at the time.   I enjoy handling workers' compensation cases for injured workers, partly because I worked in "blue collar" jobs as a young man.  I worked in retail stores, in a furniture factory (tailing the rip saws), in a foam rubber factory (on the "Baumer slitter" cutting carpet cushion) and for a plant nursery and landscaping business.  I also taught tennis lessons in Hickory.  I have loaded and unloaded semi trailers and dug holes in hard ground with a mattock and shovel.  I understand hard, physical work and I have seen with my own eyes how employees are sometimes mistreated by management.  That mistreatment has always made me angry.   Now, as a workers' compensation specialist lawyer, I have the skills and credentials to do something about it for my clients.  I can level that playing field for the working man or woman.  I can usually make that big company treat you right.  And I love doing that for my clients!. Workers' Compensation is a complex and complicated area of the law.  I give injured workers a strong and aggressive voice against the rich and powerful insurance company.   That insurance carrier has entire law firms at its disposal to use against injured workers.   The insurance company just wants to make money--it does not care about you or your family.  There is nothing I enjoy more than taking on the big insurance company and winning a good award, or negotiating a good settlement, for a client who has been injured at work and still has children to feed and bills to pay.  My goal as a lawyer is always to protect your rights and to add value to your claim.  At the end of the case, I always want to leave you better off for having hired me to help you.  And hopefully, I will leave you a lot better off!. Without a good lawyer, an injured worker is at the mercy of the insurance company and its lawyers.  There are dozens of lawyers in the workers' compensation defense law firms who only represent insurance carriers and employers.   Who is going to be your legal advocate?   Me, that's who!   I enjoy being the attorney for all the hard-working people of North Carolina who need my help.  If you need my expertise, I would like to help you.. As I mentioned earlier, I am certified by the NC State Bar as a "Specialist" in Workers' Compensation Law.  Unlike some lawyers, I do not dabble in workers' comp law; it is the main area in which I work.  Those lawyers who lack my experience charge you the same fee percentage that I do.  Why would you hire someone less skilled and less experienced if the fee percentage you pay is the same?. In addition to my Specialist certification, I have also earned the respect of the defense lawyers that I go up against.   My professional peers have rated me highly.  I have been listed as "AV Preeminent" (Top 5% of rated lawyers in the nation) in Martindale Hubbell every year since 2005.   I have also been selected as a North Carolina "Superlawyer" every year since 2007.  And I have been named in the "Best Lawyers in America" every year since 2008.  Best Lawyers named me the "Lawyer of the Year" for 2017 in the area of "Workers' Compensation Claimants' Lawyers" for the Charlotte area.. In 2015 I was inducted as a "Fellow" into a national workers' comp lawyer honorary organization, the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers.  Less than two dozen North Carolina lawyers who represent injured workers have been inducted into the College, and of those, less than six of us are located in Charlotte.   My peers in the Plaintiffs' bar, who also represent injured workers, elected me to be the Chairman of the Workers' Compensation Section of the NC Advocates for Justice, our statewide lawyer group, for the fiscal year of 2009-10.   All these peer endorsements mean that I know what I am doing.   Fortunately, I can use that knowledge to help you get what you need from your workers' comp claim.. If you have a question about your North Carolina workers' compensation claim, then get in touch with me.  Consultations are always free.  I will answer your questions in person, on the phone or by email or text.  There is no obligation on your part.  I am happy to answer questions because I know that if you need a good attorney to represent you, then you will likely allow me to do that job for you.   So don't hesitate to get in touch with me for a free discussion and free legal advice about your workers' compensation case!