Archives: Testimonial

Meet Noell A.

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results. Images used do not represent actual events or client.

Client Felt “Empowered” After Hiring Us1

Noell A. is a tough cookie. When she makes up her mind to do something, don’t get in her way. When she had decided she had put on too much weight and wanted to get off several medications as a result of the extra pounds, she began a faithful walking routine. Once she shed the pounds and got off those meds, she was determined nothing was going to keep her from that daily routine. Winter, summer, didn’t matter. Noell would be out walking the same route every day after work.

Until she was hit by a truck. Driven by a twenty-something driver – who was texting to boot!

Noell was severely injured. Even so, she was determined to do everything she could to heal so that she could get back to her walking routine as soon as possible. Nothing was going to stop her. Nothing.

Until she tried to get the truck driver’s insurance company to pay for her medical bills.

Here is how we helped Noell fight for the compensation she was clearly entitled to – despite the bullying tactics of the insurance company.

Life Before the Texting Truck Driver

Noell and her husband of 43 years live in a quaint North Carolina town. She has worked for the same company for 30 years. The couple enjoys what Noell refers to as a “quite life” – even with four grandchildren.

Noell said she used to be “heavy” and that she was on certain medications as a consequence of the extra pounds. One day she simply made up her mind to start exercising and lose weight so she could be healthier, thinner, and get off the medications.

“I try to walk every day – 30-40 minutes. 
Even when it’s cold, when it’s extremely hot, I still get out and I walk every day. I’ve lost the weight and I do not intend to put it back on,” Noell declared. “
I started
exercising every day, that was in August, and October is when the truck hit me.”

Noell said she came home from work like she did every day, changed into her walking clothes and began her usual route. Without warning, she felt something on the back of her leg.

“I
 felt something at the back of my leg. I thought, ‘What?’ I went out. I saw a bright light, and I was out. I came back to almost immediately and I was in the air. I got hit so hard that he sent me flying into the middle of the lady’s yard. I landed on an anthill, getting eaten alive by ants.”

Noell was conscious but unable to move. She was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, checked out with “all kinds of tests.” Eventually they gave her painkillers and sent her home.

As often happens with car accident injuries, Noell’s additional pain and injuries did not manifest themselves until days after the adrenalin and pain killers had begun to wear off. As days turned into weeks, Noell continued to be in severe pain, despite painkillers, and she returned several times to the hospital. Finally, after going back and forth, additional tests determined that Noell had broken her wrist and elbow. Yet by this time, nerve damage to her leg had also set in.

“Not Going to Let Anything Stop Me”

“I was bruised from head to toe. Completely swollen. 
I just knew that from my hand all the way up, I was aching. I took the painkiller, it would help for just a little while, and then it would come right back. For two weeks I
cried, going back and forth to the hospital because I didn’t know what was wrong. 
 My husband was scared to death that I was getting hooked on painkillers because that’s all they did, they gave me painkillers. 
The final time when I went back to the hospital, they took more X-rays and found out that my wrist and my elbow were broken and I got put in a cast, up to my shoulder.”

With her arm stabilized in a cast, Noell felt confident enough to hit the road walking again.

“I’m stubborn, I’m not going to let anything stop me. 
when I was walking, my leg was collapsing
. Went back to the doctor, they did some tests and there was nerve damage, so they put me on something to stop the progression of the nerve damage, and it did. 
Yet today, if I’m walking on an uneven pavement or the side of the road, I may stumble. It almost looks like I’m drunk because it’s the nerve damage in that leg, but I still walk. I’m not going to let it stop me.”

Recovering Was Hard

Although Noell was a very determined lady, recovery was hard for her. She was out of work for two months. She could only sleep sitting up, and had significant trouble showering and dressing. Yet she was determined to forge ahead.

“I managed. 
I was not going to let it stop me. I didn’t even ask my husband for help. 
I kept right on walking. It was difficult, it was hard, I’d stumble, but you can’t let things like that stop you. You’ve got to keep right on pushing. I didn’t go through everything I went through to stop losing weight. I was determined I was going to lose weight. My main goal in the whole thing was to get off insulin, [and] 
blood pressure [and] cholesterol medicine. I’m off.”

Dealing With the Insurance Company Was Harder

Noell was like many clients who quickly realize they may be fighting a losing battle when trying to deal with the insurance company on their own.

She had assumed that since the driver of the truck was at fault, the driver’s insurance company would simply cut her a check for her injuries, pain and suffering, time off work, with a cherry on top.

And also like many of our clients, she got a rude awakening when the insurance company tried to pin some of the fault on Noell. Because North Carolina is what is known as a contributory negligence state, if the injured victim is considered even 1% at fault in North Carolina, the insurance company could potentially get off Scott free without having to compensate the victim one penny.

Insurance “High Pressure” and “Bullying” Tactics

“The day after I came home from the hospital, I got called by the adjuster for [the at-fault driver’s] insurance company. The first thing that he said to me was that we’ll pay you a little bit for pain and suffering if it’s a viable claim. 
He started pushing really hard and I [said], ‘Whoa, wait a minute. I didn’t hit him. He hit me.’ And he said, ‘In the state of North Carolina
if you’re even 1% at fault
they do not have to pay, they do not have to take care of your medical bills or anything.” 
I said, ‘That’s it. I’m done.’
I needed to protect myself
.I called James Scott Farrin, and they took care of me right [from the] start
the first thing out of their mouth [was], ‘We’ll take care of it from here. If the insurance company calls you, direct them our way.’ That’s exactly what I did.”

“I think that the insurance company for the at-fault was not only bullying, they used super high pressure tactics. The second time they called me, after I had talked to James Scott Farrin, I said, ‘Well, I’ve contacted a lawyer.’ [They said,] ‘You don’t need a lawyer, we can handle it from here.’ I said, ‘Oh no we won’t. 
You contact him from now on. Do not call me again.’ I knew at that point
it was all about protecting themselves, not taking care of me.”

“Super Easy for Me”

Noell had seen the James Scott Farrin HurtLine TV ads. After the accident she received a personalized package in the mail from our firm introducing ourselves, offering a bit about our 20-year history, and successes in dealing with insurance companies as personal injury advocates. She was intrigued and called us.

That first phone call, Noell said, “decided it for me immediately.”

“The people that I got on the phone were super, super nice, and that decided it for me immediately. 
I got on the phone and during the weekend somebody answered the phone. 
I was really surprised. I mean a law office, they shouldn’t be at work on a weekend, but they were. 
They came out to my house and they made it super, super easy for me.”

Noell was going through a lot of pain and suffering. One of the things we try to do is take care of everything else, so the client can focus on healing and get back to their daily routine.

“
[James Scott Farrin] got every detail from the hospital that they could get. I never had to deal with [the] insurance company again, that made it easy. When I got excited they calmed me down. 
It was painless. All the pain I was going through and they made it painless.”

“Professionalism, People, Service”

“I would not hesitate to recommend James Scott Farrin to anybody, ever. 
what I liked about [the firm] was the professionalism, the people, and the service that I got. Everything was almost geared to me.

They answered all the questions, they took care of me as a person. They were concerned about my injuries, they were concerned about the pain that I was going through. They were concerned about every aspect of my life at that point and it made it…manageable.”

Noell Felt “Empowered”

“
hiring James Scott Farrin
it empowers you. I was a victim that the insurance company could have easily taken advantage of
but I learned how strong I was. 
I did need a champion, and I got [one] in James Scott Farrin.”

Meet Michael P.

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results. Images used do not represent actual events or client.

Fight for Life Leads to Fight With the Insurance Company1

One minute Michael P. was driving home from work in icy road conditions. The next, strangers were frantically loading him into an ambulance. Emergency first responders wanted to Life Flight Michael to a hospital because he had lost so much blood, but icy weather had grounded all flights.

Michael coded in the ambulance.

Here is how the future of an ordinary hard-working husband and father of two, could potentially have had a very different outcome had he not contacted the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin when he did.

Routine Day Turns Into Fight For Life

Like most people, Michael’s day started out routinely. He woke up, dressed, ate breakfast. Kissed his wife and kids goodbye, and drove his usual short commute to the office. While at work, it began to sleet, so Michael and his colleagues got in their cars to drive home before the roads got too bad.

Michael remembers the sense of urgency to get his colleagues out of the office to go home. “I made sure everybody was heading out the door. I got in the car, started to go home. [I was] driving down the road, and
 a car came across and hit me head on.”

Michael sustained multiple serious injuries, was bleeding profusely, and trapped inside his car. An ambulance arrived on the scene.

“Next thing I remember, I woke up. I was trapped in the car, and it was just chaos from there on,” said Michael. He couldn’t see his legs because the dash was on top of them. He had to hold his jaw to talk because it was shattered, and he was leaning half way out the car door.

It took the first responders 15 minutes to cut Michael out of his car. When the ambulance was finally on its way to the hospital, Michael had lost so much blood that he coded on the way.

Thankfully, Michael was able to be revived at the hospital, but he remained in intensive care for about five days. His jaw was crushed in 25 places and both jawbones were dislocated. He had a torn palette, missing teeth, a lacerated tongue and bottom lip, a broken forearm, a broken leg, shattered ankle, a foot that was jammed up into his tibia, a dislocated hip with a chipped bone, and knee lacerations.

Michael’s injuries required several surgeries and he had to be put on a ventilator and subsequently given a tracheotomy to breathe.

Fighting Insurance While Fighting to Heal

Eventually Michael began to heal while in the hospital. As he did, the reality of his medical expenses, which approached the mid-six-figure range, began to sink in. He knew that the at-fault driver carried the bare minimum coverage of only $30,000. Michael began to despair.

“I’m sitting [in the hospital and] all I’m thinking is
‘These medical bills are going to be unbelievable.’
” So Michael did what most of us would do when we want answers about insurance. He called the insurance company.”

“You’re calling them and you can’t really get the answers you want. 
You get a bill, they don’t answer your questions. 
It makes you scared because you’re not getting answers. 
And then they called me up and said, ‘We’re just checking up on you.’ I said, ‘Well, what can we do to make this proceed along?’ ‘I really don’t know. We’ll have to get that [answer from] somebody else.’ And I never heard from them again!”

Like many of our clients, Michael was unwittingly thrust into the uncharted territory of insurance tactics – known in our industry as delay, deny, and defend. And like many of our clients, Michael was dismayed when he began to realize that the insurance company was not necessarily on his side. As Michael lay in that hospital bed with wires holding his jaw together, 15 screws in his foot, plates in one leg (which was in traction), and breathing through a trach tube, he knew he was in for the fight of his life.

That fight would be against the insurance company.

“Help From Someone That Knows What They Are Doing”

Michael needed help from someone that he felt might know how to advocate for him with the insurance company. “I just said, ‘This is going to be a mess. We need to call somebody.’ And that’s when we got in touch with James Scott Farrin.”

Michael never imagined he would need a car accident attorney. Few people do. He had seen the James Scott Farrin ads on TV, so he contacted us. Michael’s wife made that initial call. They decided to hire us because they felt comfortable talking to our representatives over the phone and felt like we would try to look out for their best interests.

“They sent somebody
to the hospital room and he answered all the questions,” Michael said. “
And then James Scott Farrin got everything rolling from there. Boom, boom, boom. Everything happened. Took care of everything.”

Finally Michael was able to breathe a sigh of relief. When you’re in an accident, you’re in enough stress. 
They
took care of it and took the stress out of it. 
It was just so smooth.”

“They Just Handled It and Kept Us Posted”

Michael’s wife said, “If we had questions, we would call James Scott Farrin. They would tell us exactly what to do
[and] what not to do. 
What made it so great was you get [something] about the accident or a bill from the hospital, and
you call them, ‘Don’t worry about it. Just push it off to the side, we’ll take care of it.’ We’re like, ‘Great!’”

Michael said, “It was probably one of the best experiences we’ve had in a bad situation. 
We didn’t have to worry about the hospital bills, any legality with the case. They just handled it and kept us posted. We could just worry about getting better, healing, and trying to get back to work.”

“I would recommend James Scott Farrin because they made us feel like they were part of the family. They took all the pressure off of us, and we didn’t have to worry about anything after the accident,” Michael said.

This is what makes our day. If there’s one thing we have learned in the 20 years we have been advocating for injured victims, it is that they don’t like surprises. That is why our lawyers and paralegals go to great lengths to guide clients through the process, answer their questions, and keep them as informed as possible at every step of the way. We try hard to keep surprises to a minimum.

Meet Lois S.

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results.

How Our Firm Helped a Client with a Social Security Disability Claim1

Lois A. knows well how unpredictable life can be. She worked with 650 inmates in the Department of Correction without a single incident. Then she sat down in a chair at church and a bolt fell out. Lois fell backwards and the chair flipped back, hit her on the shoulder and tore her rotator cuff in different places.

Unable to raise her arm, she could no longer work at the Department of Correction and her physician at Duke Hospital put her on total disability.

“Well, after that, I was really, really depressed because I wanted to work and knowing that I couldn’t, I was just wondering what was going to take place from there,” she said. Knowing she could not return to work, Lois contacted the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin about the possibility of opening a Social Security Disability claim. She was put in touch with Rick Fleming, head of the firm’s Social Security Disability Department and a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability Law. Lois said she found Rick was extremely easy to deal with and dedicated.

“He was inspiring and I felt like the way that we carried on our conversation that I had been put with the right lawyer,” she said.

Impressed with the Work They Did

Lois said she was very happy with work done on her behalf.

“I just totally turned it all over to the firm here, and they handled every bit of it for me. I don’t know of any other law firm I’d rather have on my case than James Scott Farrin,” she said.

“I’ve had experience with them, and if anything was to happen in my near future, friends, family, whoever, they’d be the first ones I’d call.”

Meet Jennifer V.

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results. Images used do not represent actual events or client.

 

How We Helped Jennifer Fight Her Big Rig Claim1

When an 18-wheeler pulling two trailers swerved into Jennifer V.’s van she was luckier than some might have been. She was shaken and injured, but not as seriously as big rig injuries can potentially be. The police officer who arrived on the scene and who took the accident report told Jennifer that she shouldn’t have any problems with the trucker’s insurance company, as the crash was “clearly” the truck driver’s fault. The officer even noted this in the report.

But Jennifer did have problems with the trucker’s insurance company – and the trucker. They not only denied her claim, but tried to blame her for the accident. Denial and deflection is all too typical in accident claims and, sadly, Jennifer’s case was no different.

Jennifer knew that this was not going to be like a typical fender-bender car wreck claim and that she might be in for a much more complex and contentious fight.

Here is Jennifer’s story.

Jennifer V. is retired from a large North Carolina university. Married for nearly 40 years, she has two children, a big dog, and cats. She teaches part time and she enjoys gardening. “I like to play with my flowers. They don’t talk back. They’re not sarcastic. They stay where you put them.”

Typical Day Turns Ugly

Jennifer was on her way to teach class one day and was traveling down the I-40/I-440 in her van. The North Carolina Department of Transportation had been doing construction along that stretch of highway. She saw a sign that said “Slow Down,” so Jennifer slowed down and moved into the far left lane to allow a truck to merge onto the interstate. The truck was pulling two trailers.

“He merged, and I was in the far left lane, had the right of way, and his second trailer swung out and hit me.” Jennifer recalled.

Even though Jennifer was driving a large van, she felt the impact of the collision shift her van. “I’m lucky to have come through when I did with as little injury as I did, because if I had been driving something smaller, he would have knocked me off the road. No question. I’m just glad I had the big car.”

Adding Insult to Injury

“He got out of the car and he said, ‘What happened back there?’ I said, ‘You hit me.’ And he said, ‘Well if you think I hit you, call the police.’ And that was his attitude towards the whole thing.”

Jennifer did call the police. No one was cited for the wreck, but Jennifer knew she had the right of way and was not at fault. She recalled the police officer assuring her, “You won’t have any problems. It was clearly his fault.”

Jennifer said she was “in shock” and she drove straight to her insurance office. Her insurance representative took one look at her van and told her it would be totaled and that she would not have “any problem.”

But she did have a problem. A big one.

The truck driver’s insurance company was suing Jennifer claiming she was at fault for the wreck.

“They thought it was a real joke in my insurance office. They know me. They said, ‘Jennifer’s going around attacking eighteen wheelers.’”

Jennifer’s Injuries

But Jennifer’s painful injuries, her totaled car, time off work, and other inconveniences she suffered were no joke at all. She could not work for at least six weeks and lost thousands of dollars of business.

“I had injuries on my right side going down my right leg and right hip, and I had problems moving my leg and doing things. …I went to the doctor, they did X-rays, and then they sent me to physical therapy and they did exercises to strengthen the damage that had been done on my right side. 
I couldn’t do things that my left side could do. I couldn’t do a lot of household chores, I couldn’t vacuum. 
I really had problems getting out of the bathtub. 
I couldn’t straighten up. 
So I went to the doctor and they sent me for X-rays, and I had arthritis in my lower spine. Never had that before
but now all of a sudden, I’m having problems after this wreck…”

Trucker Blamed Jennifer

Within about a week of the accident Jennifer knew she would need to get a lawyer to represent her against the trucking company who was denying responsibility and citing her as the at-fault driver.

“I knew I had to do something because I needed a vehicle. I needed something to drive, and I was really disappointed because this car was paid for and I loved it… So that’s when I decided
 this is ridiculous. He’s going to drag this thing out. I’m going to need some help.”

Jennifer got a copy of the accident report, which showed that the truck driver was an independent owner/operator, meaning that he owned and operated his own truck and trailer. Having fought commercial truck accident cases for 20 years, we have seen the repercussions that being cited as “at-fault” can do to a truck driver’s commercial driver’s license. Sometimes their very livelihood is potentially on the line.

Jennifer believed he would try to do everything possible to try to shift the blame away from himself. She recognized that, to the truck driver, this wreck meant more to him than simply accepting fault for her totaled vehicle and her injuries. She remembers thinking “
He was going to give me a problem with it. 
I just thought it was wrong that he was trying to get out of it. 
And if I didn’t do something, he would. Plain and simple. He would.”

Insurance Company Was “A Bear”

If there is one line we have heard over and over in this business from insurance companies it’s, “It’s under investigation.” Our professional opinion is that this can be code for, “We’re going to draw this out until you are so financially strapped and desperate for money and a car to drive that you’ll take as little as possible, as long as you get something.”

This is the point at which some people decide to finally contact us. Jennifer was no different.

“His insurance company was a bear. Every time I tried to talk to them, it was…‘It’s under investigation.’ ‘It’s under investigation.’ They would never give me any clear answers, it was difficult getting someone on the phone. The insurance company home office was out of state. This guy had an address in Raleigh that had the trucking company registered in a different town in North Carolina, and had a driver’s license from Virginia.”

Like many clients who come to us after trying to deal with insurance on their own, Jennifer felt overwhelmed. “I’m not at fault here
he should be trying to accommodate me, but he’s avoiding me, and his insurance company kept saying, ‘We don’t have a report. It’s under investigation.’ And
things like that, so I knew I was going to need some help.”

TV Ads Lead to James Scott Farrin

“Never in a million years” did Jennifer consider she would need to get a law firm involved to force an at-fault driver to own up and compensate her for her injuries and totaled vehicle.

She saw our “We Mean Business” ad on TV and decided that she meant business too. She remembered, “I had seen the ads, and I liked the ads. 
I wanted somebody that could be firm with them and say, ‘Hey look. We’re not playing here. You need to step up to the plate and take responsibility.’”

With trucking claims, in particular, it is important to act quickly to try to preserve as much evidence as possible – the log books, the truck’s black box, interview witnesses, and other evidence. Jennifer didn’t contact us until about a week after the accident, so she was pleased and relieved when our firm took her case and went to work investigating it right away.

What Did Jennifer Like About Working With Us?

Jennifer was not looking for anything other than fair and just compensation for her injuries, her car and most importantly, that the responsible party would admit fault. It was as much principle with her as it was recovery for her injuries.

“I think everybody [at James Scott Farrin] was very professional and very up front. 
I was just expecting the responsibility to be taken where it should be, as a matter of principle. 
September of the following year is when he finally admitted fault. Ten months later! And do you think he would have done that if I hadn’t had an attorney’s office pressuring them? No. 
it probably still would have been dragging on.”

In the end, Jennifer was very pleased that she had seen our “We Mean Business” TV commercial and decided to contact us to for help fighting for her recovery.

“I think the name James Scott Farrin Attorneys [carries] a lot of weight, and I think when you mention this attorney group, people pay attention.”

Someone You Can Trust to Fight for You

“I think 
especially with a trucking accident, [people] really do need to seek the advice of an attorney’s office, because they know the laws
better than a common person does, and you need someone to help you that you can trust, that you feel good about, to fight for you.”

Meet Alex

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results. Client identity has been changed to protect their privacy. Images used do not represent actual events or client.

As a North Carolina police officer, Alex had been called to the scene of many accidents. He never considered that he would be involved in one – especially while riding his motorcycle.

And he certainly thought he knew enough about accident recovery and insurance companies that he would never need to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer. Yet Alex was in a motorcycle wreck. When he realized the insurance company was not going to give him fair compensation, he knew he’d need a good lawyer.

Alex thought long and hard about our well-known advertising and community presence and decided to let us take a swing.

Here is Alex’s story.

“The Crash the At-Fault Driver Didn’t See Coming”

On Alex’s way home from work one evening, a car began to head in his direction of travel. Alex was riding his “big red motorcycle,” and he was hoping the driver saw him coming. Apparently the driver did not and she pulled directly in front of Alex.

“I just hit the side of her van. I had nowhere to go. I didn’t have time to think about looking anywhere else to avoid her. [The crash was] just unavoidable.”

Alex’s body broke quite a bit of the motorcycle when he was propelled forward upon impact. Both wrists and thumbs were severely sprained. His left arm was bruised, and the skin was sheared off both shins. His lower back was sore for a while.

EMS arrived on the scene. His motorcycle was towed away, and he never saw it again.

“Next morning I felt like a train had run over me and it took a while to assess what was going on,” Alex shared.

The Insurance Wreck Alex Didn’t See Coming

Almost immediately after the wreck, the at-fault driver’s insurance company seemed eager to settle quickly.

“We’ll pencil-whip you a check,” is how Alex described their manner.

Alex was shocked when the offer came in “ridiculously low.” He tried to negotiate a better offer. “They turned cold, they wouldn’t return calls. I got some snippy adjuster that had gone out and looked at the bike – pretty rude,” he said.

It was then that Alex realized the insurance company was not trying to help him at all or look out after his interests as they wanted him to believe. They were looking out for their own bottom line.

That’s when he called us.

Let Them Take a Swing

As a police officer who has taken reports at accident scenes, Alex had developed a few preconceived notions about our firm.

“Well, I don’t want to be an ambulance chaser,” he admitted. “From being a cop, you see that all the time. Somebody gets rear-ended, they fall out into the street, holding their neck, wanting an ambulance ride.”

But when he realized that the insurance company was not willing to play nice, he thought long and hard about our well-known advertising and community presence and decided to let us take a swing.

“From the ads on TV I’d seen many times, and people would joke about the HurtLine, and I said ‘Well, it’s haha ‘til you need [them].’

“And so I called and the next morning, I mean by sunrise, there was a packet on my doorstep with a copy of the accident report and all the other pieces that are in the packet to explain what to do, what not to do.”

Alex felt like he finally had some firm direction on next steps. “It gave [me] immediate direction and it also took a lot of the burden [concerning] who to contact and what to do next.”

Insurance Company “Reevaluates” Offer

He explained that as soon as the James Scott Farrin legal team began to deal with the insurance company, he got a response within a week saying that they had “reevaluated” their compensation offer. Not only did they pay off Alex’s motorcycle, but they offered him additional compensation.

“Apparently you got their attention,” Alex acknowledged.

From day one, Alex was impressed with our timely response to his needs. “That packet on the door the next morning impressed me. And then when I called, the attorney 
 I said, ‘Well the accident report is wrong.’ And within, 24–36 hours [the police] had amended the accident report.”

Making Things Easier

When Alex first called our offices, he was amazed at how “over the top, well trained, and polite” those who answered the phones were.

“I think most people want to hear a pleasant voice at the other end of the phone,” he said.

When Alex talked to a paralegal for the first time, he was dumbfounded that she gave him a variety of ways to contact her and encouraged him to do so, as needed. The paralegal explained in detail how events might unfold during the case, and she kept Alex up to date.

“This is a difficult endeavor when you’re embarking on post-wreck
” Alex admitted. Yet he was very satisfied after he had contacted us. For Alex, his experience went from difficult before we got involved to “easy.”

Injuries, no matter the extent, can have life-altering consequences. However for an active client like Alex, it was truly difficult. He was out of work while his injuries mended. When he finally did return to the police department, he had to take it easy for a bit.

Typical in many accident cases, financial difficulties ensued but Alex never gave up. He was a model client. He heeded our advice to follow his doctor’s orders and he kept up with his medical treatment and physical therapy.

“A Burden Was Lifted”

Alex was pleasantly surprised with the final results.

“Having this much attorney at my disposal, this much law office. I would never have anticipated having a building
 right behind the Durham Bulls stadium, with a name that big on the side of it, as [my] attorney 
 an attorney of that power, that caliber, work for [me].

Alex was comforted by our strengths, which he describes as “
your history, knowledgeable staff, and the execution at each step of the process that made it all come together.”

Since hiring the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin to fight for the compensation that Alex deserved, he feels as though a burden was lifted.

“The motorcycle settlement was cleared up after I hired you guys, which took a big financial burden off, and then having some direction with my medical bills, knowing that was going to be monitored as things went. And [being] told your biggest concern was my recovery and getting well, making sure I was completely well, or the best I could be,” Alex said.

He added, “Then the monetary realization at the end helped
 It’s a lot of work, and [there are] a lot of people involved here to pull all that together.”

“I Felt Special”

Alex said that, in his opinion, the service we provide at James Scott Farrin is probably above what someone would expect.

“I would assume that an office of this size would be extremely busy
 Maybe my case [wasn’t] very big in the grand scheme of things, but you made me feel like it was a very big case, and always responded quickly.”

Alex confided that he was impressed with how he was treated.

‘”I felt special,” he said. “
I don’t know if there’s anything better that I’m aware of.”

Meet Harvey R.

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results.

How Our Firm Helped a Client with a Social Security Disability Claim1

Harvey R. had been driving trucks and buses, local and long-distance, for 36 years. He always imagined he’d work until retirement. But a bus accident in 2007 forced him to apply for social security disability.

Harvey was driving a bus for a local company, following another bus which was behind a small car. When the car suddenly made a sharp right turn without warning, the bus in front of Harvey’s was forced to stop short. The two buses collided together. After checking on the status of the buses’ passengers and the other driver, Harvey and several passengers went to Rex Hospital.

It was there that Harvey discovered he had severe arthritis in his back. What had been minor, intermittent pain was “woken up” by the accident. The pain and stiffness soon became disabling.

About a week later, Harvey was let go from work. A company representative said his newly diagnosed medical condition made it simply too expensive to pay for his increased insurance premiums. Harvey tried to find other employment, but he could no longer pass the physical exam necessary to retain his North Carolina CDL commercial driver’s license.

“I was devastated,” he said. “I mean, I’ve never spent any length of time unemployed or any length of time in hospitals or out sick. A lot of years, I didn’t take vacations.”

“I realized I needed a lawyer when I realized nobody was going to hire me,” he said.

A Call to Our Offices Gave Him the Help He Needed

He called the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin after seeing a commercial on TV. After meeting with the legal staff, Harvey said he felt great relief that he was no longer alone. “Not having any experience as to how the procedures go, again, I felt comfortable allowing people who knew what they were doing work for me,” he said. “So it wasn’t all that important that I understood how all the t’s were crossed and how all the i’s were dotted. It was important that I was comfortable with the people that were working for me.”

He attributed the outcome of his disability case on the thoroughness of the James Scott Farrin legal staff.

“And James Scott Farrin did their research because they didn’t go back to 2007, when I had the bus accident. They went further back,” he said. “They went back into the ’80s. We’re talking almost 30 years ago, ok. That’s how thorough they were.

“If there is anything I could tell people about going with James Scott Farrin, it’s that, first of all, they will take the time to hear what you’ve got to say. Second of all, they will explain the process to you in full detail. Third of all, they will tell you the truth.”

Meet Gladys A.

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results.

How Our Firm Helped a Bicyclist Struck by a Car

It was a beautiful, sunny Sunday when Gladys A. rode her bicycle down the road to get some take-out food on the way home. But the day did not turn out as she expected.

Rather, her bike was hit from behind by a car. Startled, she grabbed tightly to the bike, which dragged her down the block.

Gladys was rushed to the hospital, where she endured the removal of rocks from her legs and stitches on her knee. She was unable to walk for a week because of the knee injuries.

When she was contacted by the car driver’s insurance company, she decided she needed a lawyer of her own. At her sister’s recommendation, she contacted the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin.

Pleased with Our Legal Services

Gladys said she was not only happy with the work done on her behalf, but she also enjoyed working with her lawyer. “You don’t have to keep calling and calling and calling in order to speak to the person you want to talk to,” she said. “They were right there every time you called.”

She also appreciated the firm’s honesty.

“The best thing about the firm is that they level with you,” she said. “They don’t jive you around.”

Meet Frankie H.

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results.

How Our Firm Helped An Injured North Carolina Worker1

Frankie H. of Henderson N.C., had worked for thirteen years as an inspector at a textile mill that manufactured lace when she was seriously injured on the job. Stepping forward to wind yarn around a cone that fed a knitting machine, Frankie’s shoe caught a loose floorboard at her plant and she stumbled backwards, permanently injuring both knees.

Her injuries were serious, requiring Frankie to undergo six separate surgeries, including two total knee replacement procedures. Among her injuries were a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in one knee, and a meniscal tear in the other.

Before she contacted the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, Frankie filed a workers’ compensation claim with her company’s insurance carrier, and began receiving monthly workers’ compensation checks for knee injuries. Unable to perform the duties of her job, she was assigned a 40 percent permanent partial disability rating to one knee and a 15 percent permanent partial disability rating to the other knee. Several months after her job accident, the plant where she worked closed permanently and filed for bankruptcy, and the benefit payments she had received for nearly five years dried up.

Wasn’t Happy With the Insurance Company’s Offer

The insurance carrier offered Frankie a lump sum workers’ compensation settlement in an amount she thought was well below what she needed to manage the permanent disability and pain she was suffering.

“I thought I should get something more than what they were offering me for the pain I would always have, and for my injuries,” she said. “But I’m not really good at talking and all that.” Frankie didn’t feel anxious about calling James Scott Farrin because, she said, “I didn’t feel that my lawyers just wanted money. They did their job like they said they would.”

The workers’ compensation attorney working with Frankie told her what to expect before the mediation. “I didn’t really have to do anything, my attorney did it for me.”

Her workers’ compensation attorney referred her to Attorney Rick Fleming for her social security disability claim, “My attorney got Rick to call me because he thought I needed disability in the shape I was in,” Frankie said.

Frankie says what she remembers most about her experience with James Scott Farrin is not the result of her cases.

“They treat you like you’re somebody, you know, not like they could care less if you win your case or not.” Frankie said. “They were right there beside me the whole time. They treated me like I was one of theirs. I would recommend them to just about anybody.”

Meet Darice B.

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results.

How Our Lawyers Helped a Rear-End Accident Victim1

“If you’ve just been injured and don’t know where to come to, James Scott Farrin is the place to call.”

Initially afraid that such a “large law firm” would not take her case seriously, Darice was pleased with the respect and the service she received.

Darice B. was pregnant and traveling to church with two young children in the backseat of her car when she was rear-ended at a red light.

“I just sat there, because I was in shock. My daughter, she was just screaming,” Darice said. “It made me think to look down because I had the seat belt on my stomach, and my stomach began to cramp.”

“At that point, I felt something was wrong with the baby that I was carrying, and then my neck began to hurt.”

After arriving at the hospital, Darice was given a neck brace and told not to take any pain medication because of the pregnancy.

Accident Forced Her to Quit Her Job

By the next day, her neck was so stiff, she couldn’t move it at all. A full-time cosmetology student who worked part-time at a salon, Darice had to quit her job because she was unable to stand for long periods of time, turnaround and pick up heavy items.

Realizing that she needed help, Darice remembered a commercial she saw for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin and gave them a call. Initially afraid that such a “large law firm” would not take her case seriously, Darice was pleased with the respect and the service she received.

“James Scott Farrin is a wonderful law firm,” she said. “They contacted me on a weekly basis. The firm kept in contact to let me know what’s going on with my case.”

“They are very respectful. They take everything into consideration, and they take the time to answer your questions and don’t just leave you out there hanging and not knowing which way to go.”

Darice was pleased with the work done on her behalf.

“I really felt helpless at the beginning because no one knew, really, what to do about my situation,” she said. “They were very helpful to me; they gave me good advice and I listened to it. If I hadn’t called James Scott Farrin, I probably would be sitting home with an injury not knowing what to do.”

“If you’ve just been injured and don’t know where to come to, James Scott Farrin is the place to call.”

Meet Christopher

Posted on by Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results. Images used do not represent actual events or client.

How We Helped One Client Go From Being Fired to Being Fired Up1

Christopher was driving a contracted truck for an international courier delivery service in 2014. He was about 40 miles into his usual 300- to 400-mile delivery route. At one home delivery lived an older woman. As a courtesy to her, Christopher decided to bring the package directly to her front door.

As he climbed out of the back of the truck with the package, his right foot became wedged in the truck causing him to lose his balance and fall awkwardly onto the ground. His foot bent all the way backward before it finally dislodged itself from the truck due to the weight and force of the fall. His scream was so loud that the woman he was delivering to ran outside and found him all but immobile.

“I Had a Job to Do.”

Christopher insisted to her that it was “just a little sprain,” but thankfully accepted a pain reliever to help ease his discomfort. It wasn’t until he got back in his truck that he knew the damage to his right leg was more than a little sprain.

He could not put any pressure on the injured right foot and his knee was beginning to swell. Yet Christopher was determined to get the truck back to the shop so no one would have to drive 40 miles to pick him up. He drove all the way back to the shop using his left foot to press on the accelerator.

He told his manager about the injury and they filed a workers’ compensation report.

The workers’ compensation doctor prescribed a couple of weeks of physical therapy. Yet after two weeks, Christopher’s knee continued to give out on him unexpectedly – even in the therapist’s office. Yet his workers’ comp medical team insisted he would be able to go back to work and that his knee would “eventually” get better.

You know your own body, and Christopher knew he needed more medical attention than what his workers’ comp team was giving him. He asked for a second opinion from different doctor.

That’s when things got ugly.

“My Manager Fired Me Because I Took Too Long to Heal”

Sure enough a second opinion determined that Christopher needed additional time off work, more therapy, and different therapy altogether.

“My manager was threatening me saying, ‘This is ridiculous, my daughter had the same injury and she recovered a lot faster than you,'” Christopher recalled. “The manager was becoming more and more irritated. Finally after a few months, when the doctors released me to go back to work with certain restrictions, my manager fired me because he said I took too long to heal.”

“Mediation Was a Very Smooth Process”

“My wife and I knew then that we needed a lawyer.”

So Christopher called the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin.

His case was accepted and eventually his workers’ comp legal team took the company to mediation and helped get Christopher compensation, which helped his family through some tough times, like paying bills that had piled up while he was out of work.

“I was so pleased with how the case was handled. It was a very smooth process,” Christopher recalled. Unable to drive a truck as before, Christopher has since taken this circumstance and is using it for good to pursue his real passion – performance art, which he shares with churches in the area to bring the message of “all things work together for good” to others.

“Clarity, Transparency, Honesty”

“If you want clarity, transparency… if you want honesty, someone that’s going to fight for you, because my attorney did fight for me in reference to the amount I was given, then go to James Scott Farrin. I’d say that would be your best option.”

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