At Hammack Law Firm, we take pride in our diligence and attention to detail when pursuing a case for our clients—like for Sherry H, who sought our help after being disappointed with the care of another lawyer.
The Accident and Background Details
Sherry suffered a T-12 vertebral fracture in a motor vehicle accident after being broad-sided by a trucker running a red light in North Carolina. After plowing through Sherry’s vehicle, the truck struck a guardrail and then burst into flames, and he barely made it out. That showed the force of the collision. Due to her injuries, however, she found herself unable to continue her work as a housekeeper—a job that she loved and had been performing for the past 20 years.
Sherry’s previous counsel neglected to perform their own scene investigation, or any investigation of the trucking company or its driver, causing them to request a settlement far below the value of her case. They rationalized that she may be found 1% negligent for failing to observe the truck barreling through the red light. North Carolina has something called “contributory negligence,” which means that if Sherry is found to be even 1% negligent, it would bar any recovery. Given all of this, the insurer offered only $56,000 to settle the claim and indicated that it had little room to negotiate.
How We Helped
When we took over the case, we withdrew all prior negotiations and got to work. Shortly after our involvement, we received an unsolicited offer of $75,000 as their “top offer,” or else we should file suit. After a thorough investigation, we learned that the driver had prior accidents and speeding tickets, and he likely should not have been driving the truck at the time of the collision.
We also conducted a full scene investigation and found that the driver had an unobstructed view of the intersection for approximately ¼ mile and that he also had at least 8 seconds to react to the red light before entering the intersection.
The Settlement Result
Despite relatively low medical bills and difficult North Carolina law, we were able to obtain a multiple six-figure settlement on behalf of our client. We were also able to negotiate her medical liens down to a point where she netted a substantial six-figure settlement.
In the end, Sherry walked away with many times over her original “top offer.” Needless to say, she was thrilled with those results and even brought in brownies to the closing!
Final Thoughts
At the Hammack Law Firm, our goal is to always do our best to provide the highest quality counsel possible to ensure the best settlement and a happy client. While we cannot guarantee these exact results for every case, this case does stand to prove that hard work, thorough investigation, and perseverance can really pay off for our clients—and that effort is something we absolutely can guarantee.
A huge thanks to the entire team for caring for our client and bringing this home!
Paul E. Hammack
With over 25 years of legal experience, Paul Hammack provides his clients with a level of trial expertise and strategic insight rarely found in personal injury litigation. Having spent the first eight years of his career working within major insurance defense firms across Georgia and South Carolina, Paul gained an intimate understanding of the “other side’s” playbook. This insurance industry background serves as a unique differentiator for his clients; he knows exactly how insurance carriers evaluate risk and what motivates them to pay top dollar for a claim.
In 2008, Paul founded Hammack Law Firm to move away from the “plaintiff mill” model and focus on building personal relationships with those he represents. As a seasoned litigator, he has tried dozens of first-chair cases to verdict, specializing in high-stakes litigation involving catastrophic injuries and complex truck accidents. His dual-state practice allows him to provide aggressive representation across both South Carolina and Georgia, ensuring victims of negligence receive the maximum financial compensation possible regardless of which side of the state line the accident occurred.
Paul’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his record of significant achievements, including a $10 million tractor-trailer wrongful death settlement and a $3.9 million moped-versus-truck recovery. His credentials and bar admissions in both South Carolina and Georgia underscore his deep roots in the regional legal community. Beyond the courtroom, Paul is a dedicated advocate for his local community, contributing his time and resources to organizations such as the United Way, Red Cross, and Hands On Greenville, all while working to make South Carolina a safer place for everyone.
