10 Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Charlotte, NC

Jurisdiction: North Carolina, Mecklenburg County

Getting hurt at work in Charlotte rarely happens quietly. It happens on an Uptown high-rise site, on the ramp at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, in an Amazon or distribution warehouse off the I-85 corridor, on a hospital floor, or behind the wheel of a delivery truck on I-77. What follows is almost always the same: medical bills, a paycheck that stops, an adjuster who sounds friendly while asking for a recorded statement, and a reporting deadline that starts running the day you are hurt.

Workers’ compensation claims in Charlotte are decided by the North Carolina Industrial Commission, not a county court. Disputed claims are heard by deputy commissioners, with review by the Full Commission. Further appeals go to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Below is a selection of workers compensation lawyers serving Charlotte, based on factors such as workers compensation experience, local presence, practice focus, attorney background, publicly available reviews, and relevant legal experience

1. The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Vernon Sumwalt, Christa Sumwalt 
• Founded: Not stated on the firm’s website; the firm cites 45+ years of experience handling disability and workers’ compensation claims 
• Headquarters: 1213 West Morehead Street, The Refinery, Suite 251, Charlotte, NC 28208 
• Phone: (704) 565-0621 
• Website: sumwaltgrouplaw.com
  Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://www.sumwaltgrouplaw.com/charlotte-workers-compensation-lawyer/ 
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Denied Benefits, Repetitive Stress Injuries, Construction Accidents, Spinal Cord Injuries, Amputation and Burn Injuries, Death Benefits, Third-Party Claims, Healthcare Worker, First Responder and Aviation Worker Injuries 
• Firm Size: Boutique, attorney-led, single Charlotte office; licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina 
• Google Rating: 5.0 ★★★★★ (217 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm: The Sumwalt Group is a workers’ compensation and trial practice built around Vernon Sumwalt, who has handled roughly 250 to 300 workers’ compensation hearings and about 100 appeals, many from cases he tried himself. The firm’s credentials are unusually deep for a two-lawyer office: Super Lawyers recognition, Best Lawyers in America (including a Charlotte workers’ compensation claimants “Lawyer of the Year” designation in 2018), an AV Preeminent rating, and a North Carolina State Bar board-certified specialist badge in appellate practice.

What sets the firm apart is its appellate and litigation reach. It filed an amicus brief for North Carolina Advocates for Justice in Cunningham v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., a 2022 North Carolina Supreme Court decision, and it lists Peacock v. Panthers Football, LLC, a case that settled during appeal in 2022, among its appellate matters. The practice is also refreshingly candid: the firm’s own FAQ says most callers do not need a lawyer and that it tells them so up front. For cases that are denied, involve surgery or permanent impairment, or overlap with Social Security disability, long-term disability or a third-party claim, the firm offers the kind of coordination work that many general injury practices skip. Initial consultations are free.

2. Ayers, Ayers & Dressler

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Christian R. Ayers, John F. Ayers III, Brett E. Dressler, Robert A. Whitlow 
• Founded: Not stated on the firm’s website 
• Headquarters: 301 South McDowell Street, Suite 410, Charlotte, NC 28204
• Phone: (704) 377-5050
• Website: ayersandwhitlow.com
• Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://www.ayersandwhitlow.com/charlotte-workers-compensation-lawyer/
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, Social Security Disability, Long-Term Disability, ERISA, Amputation and Brain Injuries at Work, Lump-Sum Settlements, Death Benefits, Third-Party Claims 
• Firm Size: Small firm, 4 attorneys, single Charlotte office
• Google Rating: 4.8 ★★★★★ (47 reviews) – View on Google 

About the Firm: Ayers, Ayers & Dressler combines three practice lines that tend to overlap for injured workers: workers’ compensation, personal injury and disability benefits. That matters in practice. A worker with a serious injury often needs a compensation claim, a possible third-party lawsuit and a Social Security or long-term disability application all moving at once, and having one firm coordinate them reduces the risk of a settlement in one lane damaging the others.

The firm reports a $3.1 million recovery for a bilateral amputee in a 2024 workplace injury case, and its client testimonials repeatedly describe catastrophic injuries, including paraplegia and quadriplegia. Christian Ayers has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year from 2019 through 2026, the firm displays Martindale-Hubbell, North Carolina Advocates for Justice and Expertise.com recognition, and John Ayers appeared in a Masters of Workers’ Compensation interview series. The practice takes cases on contingency and collects fees only if benefits are obtained. Consultations are free.

3. The Bollinger Law Firm, PC

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Bobby L. (Bob) Bollinger Jr. and associated attorneys
• Founded: 1999
• Headquarters: 301 South McDowell Street, Suite 1000, Charlotte, NC 28204
• Phone: (704) 377-7677
• Website: bollingerlawfirmnc.com
• Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://www.bollingerlawfirmnc.com/workers-compensation/
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Third-Party Workers’ Comp Cases, Workplace Death, Spinal and Back Injuries, Amputation, Meat-Packing Industry Injuries, Flight Attendant Injuries, Delivery Truck Driver Injuries, Car Accidents, Unemployment Hearings, Mediation
• Firm Size: Boutique, attorney-led, single Charlotte office; represents injured employees only in workers’ compensation
• Google Rating: 4.9 ★★★★★ (97 reviews) – View on Google 

About the Firm: The Bollinger Law Firm has represented injured North Carolina workers since 1999, and Bob Bollinger is a North Carolina State Bar board-certified specialist in workers’ compensation law. Before becoming a lawyer he held physically demanding jobs, including work in a foam rubber factory and a furniture plant, and he says watching coworkers get hurt and treated as expendable is what pushed him toward this work.

The firm states that it handles at least 100 workers’ compensation cases a year, represents only injured employees, and that decisions in more than 90 cases Bollinger has tried are posted on the Industrial Commission’s website, a rare public record that prospective clients can actually read. It is also unusually transparent on fees: it charges a 25 percent contingent fee on workers’ compensation cases, and notes that fees must be approved by the Industrial Commission. New clients receive a free strategy session, and the firm sends a written summary of the strategy discussed. The firm also serves clients in Concord, Gastonia, Hickory, Monroe, Statesville, Shelby and Albemarle.

4. Bridgman Gantt Law Offices

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Daniel A. Bridgman, David Gantt, Stephen Dimmick 
• Founded: 1981, serving Western North Carolina 
• Headquarters: 2125 Southend Drive, Suite 453, Charlotte, NC 28203; additional offices in Asheville, Greensboro and Columbia, SC 
• Phone: (704) 815-6055 
• Website: bridgmanganttlaw.com 
• Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://www.bridgmanganttlaw.com/charlotte-workers-compensation-lawyer/ 
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Workers’ Compensation Denial Appeals, Construction Accidents, Amazon Warehouse Workers’ Comp, Truck Driver Workers’ Comp, Death Benefits, Catastrophic Injury, Social Security Disability, Personal Injury 
• Firm Size: Small firm, 3 attorneys across four offices in North Carolina and South Carolina
• Google Rating: 4.9 ★★★★★ (190 reviews) – View on Google 

About the Firm: Bridgman Gantt Law Offices has represented injured and disabled workers since 1981 and describes its practice as focused on people hurt at work, in accidents, or unable to work and in need of Social Security Disability benefits. For Charlotte workers, the firm’s workers’ compensation pages cover denied-claim appeals, construction and Amazon warehouse injuries, truck driver claims, catastrophic and spinal injuries, repetitive stress and death benefits.

The firm’s awards wall is long: Best Lawyers recognition across multiple years, U.S. News Best Law Firms listings from 2016 forward, Lead Counsel and other peer recognition, and a Google rating the firm describes as five-star. The overlap between workers’ compensation and Social Security disability is the practical strength here. When a worker cannot return to a prior job, the disability application and the compensation claim need to be coordinated, and this is a firm built around that handoff. Consultations are free.

5. Butler, Quinn & Hochman, PLLC

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Bradley W. Butler, Matthew Quinn, Brian R. Hochman and others
• Founded: 2006
• Headquarters: 4801 E Independence Blvd, Suite 700, Charlotte, NC 28212
• Phone: (704) 569-9800
• Website: butlerandquinn.com
• Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://www.butlerandquinn.com/charlotte-workers-compensation-lawyer/
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Undocumented Workers’ Compensation, Truck Driver and Factory Worker Injuries, Amazon Worker Injuries, Aviation Worker Injuries, Occupational Disease, Death Benefits, Third-Party Work Injury, Immigration, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Family Law
• Firm Size: Mid-size; the firm has reported 6 attorneys and 24 support staff
• Google Rating: 4.6 ★★★★★ (432 reviews) –  View on Google 

About the Firm: Butler, Quinn & Hochman has served Charlotte’s Latino community since 2006, and that focus shapes its workers’ compensation practice. It maintains a dedicated page for undocumented workers’ compensation claims, a topic many firms avoid, and offers full Spanish-language service, including a Spanish version of its website. Workers’ compensation sits alongside immigration, criminal defense, family and personal injury work, so it is well suited to injured workers whose cases also raise immigration questions.

The firm’s workers’ compensation pages cover truck driver, factory, Amazon and aviation worker injuries, amputation, back and knee injuries, vision and hearing loss, occupational disease and death benefits. It offers free consultations and meets by appointment on Saturdays, a practical advantage for workers who cannot take time off during the week. The firm notes it has been receiving a high volume of calls and that walk-in consultations are welcome at its office if phone lines are busy.

6. Stewart Law Offices

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Brent Stewart (founding attorney, South Carolina), Elizabeth VonCannon and Christian Gerencir (North Carolina managing attorneys), Tyler Bathrick, Sam Bass, Stephen Vicari, Marcus Spake (of counsel), Brett Lonadier, Drew Smith, Chase Thompson
• Founded: Over 30 years of practice; principal office in Rock Hill, SC
• Headquarters: 2427 Tuckaseegee Road, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28208 (North Carolina office); principal office at 1242 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732
• Phone: (704) 521-5000
• Website: stewartlawoffices.net
• Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/charlotte-personal-injury-lawyer/workers-compensation/
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Accidents, Car Accidents, Wrongful Death, Personal Injury, Nursing Home Abuse, Rideshare Accidents
• Firm Size: Large regional firm, 10 attorneys, offices across North and South Carolina
• Google Rating: 4.9 ★★★★★ (337 reviews) –  View on Google 

About the Firm: Stewart Law Offices is a regional personal injury and workers’ compensation firm serving both Carolinas. Its Charlotte office on Tuckaseegee Road is staffed by North Carolina-licensed managing attorneys Elizabeth VonCannon and Christian Gerencir, which matters because founding attorney Brent Stewart is licensed only in South Carolina. For a Charlotte worker, that means the North Carolina Industrial Commission work is handled by the NC-licensed team.

The firm reports 30+ years in practice, 1,300+ client reviews and results including a $9.8 million car accident recovery, a $3.8 million wrongful death result and a $3.5 million tractor-trailer case. Because the practice includes serious injury litigation, it can be a strong option for workers hurt in a vehicle or by a third party, where a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit can run side by side. The firm answers its phones 24/7, offers to meet clients at home or in the hospital, and says clients meet with an attorney rather than a staff member. Contingency fees apply, and attorney fees are computed before expenses are deducted.

7. Ramsay Law Firm, P.A.

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Martha L. Ramsay, Brian C. Hunt, Scott G. Galiger
• Founded: Not stated on the firm’s website; Martha Ramsay has practiced for more than 25 years
• Headquarters: 10610 Metromont Parkway, Suite 205, Charlotte, NC 28269
• Phone: (704) 376-1616
• Website: ramsaylawfirm.com
• Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://www.ramsaylawfirm.com/
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Denied Claims, Wrongful Termination and Retaliation, Law Enforcement and Professional Athlete Injuries, Airline Worker Accidents, Amazon Warehouse Accidents, Construction Accidents, Fatal Workplace Accidents, Personal Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Wrongful Death
• Firm Size: Small firm, 3 attorneys, single Charlotte office; 60+ years of combined experience
• Google Rating: 4.9 ★★★★★ (131 reviews) –  View on Google 

About the Firm: Ramsay Law Firm is built around Martha Ramsay, a North Carolina State Bar board-certified specialist in workers’ compensation law who has represented injured workers for more than 25 years. She is also one of only two NFLPA workers’ compensation attorneys in North Carolina, which gives the firm a distinctive niche among professional athletes. The firm lists successful outcomes against employers including Amazon, American Airlines, Bank of America, FedEx Ground, UPS, Walmart, Target and the City of Charlotte.

The practice covers the full range of comp work, from denied claims and retaliation to airline, warehouse, construction and healthcare injuries. It addresses wrongful termination directly, noting that North Carolina’s Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act requires a complaint to be filed with the state Department of Labor within 180 days. Attorney credentials include Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership, North Carolina Advocates for Justice and an Avvo 10.0 rating. The firm’s slogan is that it does not get paid until you do, and consultations are free.

8. DeMayo Law Offices, LLP

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Michael A. DeMayo (CEO and Managing Partner), Kurt B. Aktug, Samantha Clark Aktug (Workers’ Compensation Attorney), Adrienne S. Blocker, and a large trial team
• Founded: 1992
• Headquarters: 1211 E. Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28204; additional offices in Hickory and Monroe
• Phone: (704) 508-9266
• Website: demayolaw.com
• Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://demayolaw.com/charlotte/workers-compensation-lawyer/
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Catastrophic Injury, Wrongful Death, Nursing Home Negligence, Motorcycle Accidents, Product Liability, Class Actions and Mass Torts, Camp Lejeune
• Firm Size: Large regional firm, multiple North Carolina offices, 24-hour intake
• Google Rating: 4.9 ★★★★★ (1,716 reviews) –  View on Google 

About the Firm: DeMayo Law Offices has been protecting injured clients since 1992 under its “People Over Profits” motto and reports more than $1 billion recovered in settlements and verdicts. It is the largest practice on this list by volume, with a 4.9 Google rating across more than 1,600 reviews, a 24-hour intake line and offices in Charlotte, Hickory and Monroe. Samantha Clark Aktug is the firm’s designated workers’ compensation attorney within a deep trial bench.

The firm’s recognition list is extensive: Best Law Firms, Avvo Clients’ Choice, Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent and Client Champion Gold, Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, the American Board of Trial Advocates and North Carolina Advocates for Justice. The scale matters when a workplace accident also involves a third-party defendant such as a trucking company, a contractor or a manufacturer, because the firm has the resources and trial depth for a combined workers’ compensation and injury case. Fees are contingent: no attorney fee or costs unless the firm recovers money for you.

9. Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC

Firm Details

• Attorneys: Jon R. Moore, Matthew C. Berthold, Helen S. Baddour, Courtney E. Mann, Jenny L. Maynard, R. Kent Brown (of counsel)
• Founded: Not stated on the firm’s website
• Headquarters: 930 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203
• Phone: (704) 335-1500
• Website: brownmoorelaw.com
• Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://brownmoorelaw.com/practice-areas/workers-compensation/
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Construction and Crane Accidents, Scaffolding and Ladder Accidents, Fatal Workplace Injuries, Third-Party Liability, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Birth Injuries, Premises Liability, Product Liability
• Firm Size: Small firm, 6 attorneys, single Charlotte office; licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina
• Google Rating: 4.5 ★★★★★ (57 reviews) –  View on Google 

About the Firm: Brown Moore & Associates is a trial-oriented Charlotte plaintiff firm that reports $122 million in recoveries and verdicts of $15.7 million, $7.5 million and $6.1 million. Those headline results come from its broader injury and malpractice docket rather than workers’ compensation alone, so the firm is best understood as a serious-injury practice with a strong workplace-injury arm.

That arm covers back injuries, shoulder, knee and joint injuries, brain injuries on the job, vehicle accidents at work, construction, crane and scaffolding accidents, vision and hearing loss and fatal workplace injuries, with a dedicated page for third-party liability. The firm says it keeps its caseload low so clients work directly with an attorney, offers on-site visits to clients who cannot leave home or the hospital, and charges no fee unless there is a recovery. Recognition includes Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, North Carolina Advocates for Justice and the American Association for Justice, plus a 2025 Power List listing in personal injury. If your workplace injury involves a negligent outside party or a medical error in treating the injury, this is a firm to call.

10. Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Firm Details

• Attorneys: James S. Farrin (Founder, President and CEO), plus 60+ attorneys firmwide. Named partners include Stan Abrams, Douglas Berger, Ryan Bliss, Coleman Cowan, Rick Fleming, Matt Harbin, Matthew Healey, Daniel Lehrer, Ali Overby, Michael Roessler, Susan Vanderweert and Tom Wilmoth.
• Founded: 1997 (first office opened in Durham, NC)
• Headquarters: 555 South Mangum Street, Suite 800, Durham, NC 27701
• Phone: (919) 688-4991
• Website: farrin.com
• Workers’ Compensation Law Page: https://www.farrin.com/locations/charlotte-nc/workers-compensation-lawyers/
• Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, Car Accidents, Commercial Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents, Wrongful Death, Catastrophic Injuries, Burn Injuries, Dog Bites, Social Security Disability, Civil Rights, Class Actions, Complex Litigation, Whistleblower (Qui Tam), Eminent Domain, Defective Drugs and Products, Medical Malpractice (SC)
• Firm Size: Large, with 60+ attorneys and 150+ professional staff. It has 14 North Carolina offices and one South Carolina office (Greenville, SC). Attorneys are licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina.
• Google Rating: 4.7 ★★★★★ (1,061 reviews) –  View on Google 

Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Charlotte

How long do I have to file a workers’ compensation claim in North Carolina?

Two deadlines matter. You should give your employer written notice of the injury as soon as possible and generally within 30 days, and you must file your claim with the North Carolina Industrial Commission within two years of the date of the accident. See N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 97-22 and 97-24. Occupational disease claims and death claims follow different starting points, and the notice period for a disease generally begins when a doctor tells you your condition is more likely than not work-related and disabling. Because late notice and missed filing deadlines are among the most common reasons claims are lost, confirm your specific deadlines with an attorney quickly rather than assuming you have two years.

How much does a workers’ compensation lawyer in Charlotte cost?

Workers’ compensation lawyers in North Carolina almost always work on contingency, meaning no fee unless benefits are recovered. Attorney fees in these cases must be approved by the North Carolina Industrial Commission, which is why fees tend to be similar across the state, commonly 25 percent of the benefits or settlement obtained. Case expenses such as medical records, depositions and expert opinions are often charged in addition to the fee. Ask for the fee agreement in writing and confirm how expenses are handled before you sign.

What benefits can I receive?

North Carolina workers’ compensation generally pays for authorized medical treatment related to the injury, partial wage replacement while you are out of work or on restricted duty (generally two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a yearly statutory maximum), payment for permanent impairment, and death benefits for families of workers killed on the job. There is typically a seven-day waiting period before wage benefits begin, and those first days are paid back only if your disability lasts more than 21 days. No honest attorney will quote a number at the first meeting, because the value depends on your injury, your wages, your recovery and whether you can return to work.

Can I choose my own doctor?

Usually not at first. In an accepted claim, the employer and its insurance carrier generally direct your medical care, but you can ask the Industrial Commission to approve a change of physician if the care is not working. If your claim has been denied, or if the insurer has not accepted a particular body part or condition, you can generally see your own doctor, although the bills may then be your responsibility until the claim is resolved. The details depend on exactly what the carrier has accepted, so it is worth getting advice before changing doctors.

Can I sue my employer or be fired for filing a claim?

In most cases you cannot sue your employer for negligence, because workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy against an employer. If someone other than your employer caused the injury, such as a negligent driver, a contractor or an equipment manufacturer, you may also be able to bring a separate third-party lawsuit in addition to your workers’ compensation claim. Be aware that North Carolina follows pure contributory negligence in those cases, so being even partly at fault can bar recovery. It is also illegal for an employer to retaliate against you for filing a claim under the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act, and a complaint generally must be filed with the North Carolina Department of Labor within 180 days.

What if my employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance?

Most North Carolina businesses with three or more employees must carry workers’ compensation coverage or qualify as self-insured. If your direct employer is uninsured, other parties such as a general contractor or related business may be responsible, and the Industrial Commission can penalize employers that fail to carry required coverage. Report the injury in writing, get medical care, and speak with an attorney quickly, since coverage questions can be complicated.

Do I need a lawyer for a workers’ compensation claim?

Not always. If your injury is minor, your employer and its insurer accept the claim, you recover quickly and you lose little or no time from work, you may reasonably handle it yourself. Get a lawyer involved when any of the following are true: your claim is denied, you need surgery or ongoing treatment, you are being pushed back to work before you are ready, you have a permanent impairment, the insurer offers a settlement, an outside party may have caused the injury, or you are also dealing with Social Security or long-term disability benefits.

What should I do right after a workplace injury in Charlotte?

Get medical attention first and tell the provider the injury happened at work. Report the injury to your employer in writing and keep a copy. Write down what happened, who saw it and when, and photograph the scene or equipment if you safely can. Be careful with recorded statements to the insurance adjuster, and consider speaking with a workers’ compensation attorney in Charlotte, NC before giving one, because questions about whether you were doing your normal job in the normal way can be used to deny a claim.

Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, a formal attorney referral, or the formation of an attorney-client relationship. It is not a ranked, sponsored, or endorsed list; inclusion here does not imply an affiliation with or recommendation by the publisher. Law firm details, including attorney credentials, office locations, contact information, Google ratings, and practice areas, are subject to change and should be independently verified with the respective firm or the North Carolina State Bar before making a hiring decision. Past case outcomes, such as favorable settlements or approved benefit awards in Mecklenburg County and North Carolina Industrial Commission proceedings, do not guarantee, warrant, or predict similar results in any future case.

Furthermore, a workplace injury in North Carolina triggers strict statutory deadlines, including the requirement to give your employer written notice of the injury within 30 days and to file a claim (Form 18) with the North Carolina Industrial Commission within two years of the injury date. Reading this guide does not fulfill or toll any legal deadlines. Please consult directly with a qualified attorney regarding your specific workers’ compensation and related matters.