(704) 371-5059
(704) 371-5059

Case Results

$100,000 Recovery For Truck Driver With Injured Elbow

June 2019

James worked as a truck driver in Gaston County, North Carolina.  He injured his elbow at work and initially tried to handle his case alone.  James became frustrated with how the insurance adjuster treated him.  He found the workers' compensation process to be very difficult.  The adjuster failed to act in a reasonable manner, and James suffered without proper medical care.  He eventually sought my help. 

Our first goal was to get James the recommended medical care.  I immediately addressed that issue with the insurance company.  The Defendants decided to change course, and James' medical care went much better throughout the rest of his case.  

At the time I was hired to represent James, I feel confident the insurance company valued his case at approximately $20,000 for settlement purposes.  I concluded this because of my prior experience representing insurance companies as defense counsel: I understand exactly how the operate and defend cases.  The adjuster looked at James' case and thought she could get out relatively cheap (all things considered for his case).  

However, I carefully reviewed James' case and saw a real potential problem.  I was immediately concerned whether this particular injury would cause James a problem with his type of employment (truck driver) in the future.  If so, he was possibly entitled additional compensation.  I prepared for this issue.  We were patient; we waited to even consider resolving James' case until he reached an appropriate point in his recovery.  I then got the doctor's opinion about James' future work abilities.  It turned out I was correct.  James case was worth significantly more than the Defendants were going to offer him initially.  

As a result of the work per our strategy, we obtained a significantly higher recovery for James.  He was able to go forward in a different direction with confidence.  I always enjoy the satisfaction of stopping an injustice and genuinely helping someone.  

Practice area(s): Workers Compensation

Christopher Shumate

 Mr. Chris Shumate is a native of Gastonia, North Carolina, and worked various jobs while pursuing his undergraduate and Juris Doctor education, including several heavy manual labor and skilled trade positions. In his practice, Mr. Shumate often encounters circumstances where these prior experiences are helpful in representing you. Upon graduating law school from the University of South Carolina, Mr. Shumate joined one of the Carolinas' larger defense firms, where he represented a diverse set of employers and insurance companies in civil cases and workers' compensation claims across the Carolinas. Chris utilized this experience to obtain a working knowledge of the insurance industry, and build personal contacts used today in representing you. Mr. Shumate ultimately decided he wanted to focus his law practice on assisting those who have been injured, and doing so with the focus on a personal relationship that is uncommon in the bigger firms. Mr. Shumate's also has a passion for assisting those facing the challenges of the criminal legal system. By representing individuals in a variety of criminal and traffic matters, Mr. Shumate works to achieve the best possible result for each client regardless of the charges levied by the prosecution. Chris has tirelessly pursued his mission of helping people from all walks of life throughout the Carolinas with a variety of legal matters. If you are interested in learning more about Chris Shumate and The Shumate Law Offices, please contact us at 704.371.5059. We look forward to assisting you to achieve a positive result in your legal concern. Education J.D., University of South Carolina B.S., University of South Carolina Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice N.C. State BarS.C. State BarU.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina Professional & Bar Association Memberships N.C. Bar Association S.C. Bar Association Mecklenburg County Bar N.C. Academy Of Trial Lawyers American Association For Justice