Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
5.0 /5.0
25 Client Reviews
PRO
John F. Ayers III
Virtual Consultation Available
About John
Biography
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 .
If you are not getting the medical treatment you deserve and wage loss benefits you need we can help. We have been helping people get medical treatment denied by the insurance company for over 30 years.
Not receiving fair treatment from the Employer's insurance company? We can turn things around. You may be entitled to weekly benefits wrongfully denied by the insurance carrier.
Practice Areas
1
Practice Area
Workers Compensation
100%
40 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Contingency
25%-25%
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Awards
2016 2015 2014
Licenses
Licensed in North Carolina for 39 years
State: North Carolina
Acquired: 1986
No misconduct found
Location
Sellers Ayers Dortch & Lyons, P.A.
410 Cameron Brown Bldg., 301 S McDowell St, Charlotte, NC, 28204-2623
ayersandwhitlow.com/attorneys/ayers-john-f-iii/Online Presence
Other places you can find John online.
John F. Ayers III's Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 21 - 24 of 24 reviews
Posted by Denisa and William | April 14, 2014 | Workers Compensation
Mr. Ayers is THE MAN
Mr. Ayers is the best!!!!!, He is very knowledgeable of Workers' Compensation. He has taken a lot of stress of me which has made it easy for me to focus on caring for my husband. He reply to my calls and emails timely and keep me posted on everything,
Posted by anonymous | May 21, 2013 | Workers Compensation
"From Stressed to Blessed"
From Stressed to Blessed! My husband worked for a very large corporation and was injured on the job. He was immediately denied Workers Comp because the company placed all kinds of obstacles in his way. To make a long story short, my husband needed surgery and we were advised to hire an attorney. ...
Posted by Brian | May 17, 2013 | Workers Compensation
Workers Comp Claim for Brian Herbstreit
When I went to see John the company Lawyers had offered me $26K for an on-the-job injury that resulted in leaving me a paraplegic. We met and John immediately put me at ease. He explained the process and that this was going to be drawn out due to all the parties involved. John was with me every st...
Posted by Kim | May 08, 2013 | Personal Injury
An Angel Attorney
Mr. Ayers is the best attorney I've ever had the privilege to work with. Not only is he a knowledgeable professional, but he's honest and truly cares about his clients. He was a crucial part of my learning to deal with the accident, healing and accepting my new normal. He played a vital role in refer...
John F. Ayers III's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer. John is a phenomenal advocate with a track record of working difficult cases to successful conclusions."
"I have known John Ayers for many years. John has an outstanding reputation in the legal community - and a personable nature that makes him endearing. Those are the reasons why I left a great practice with a firm I really liked working for and came to work with John at his firm! Even before I started working at the same firm, I had actually referred John to many potential clients. That is how much I respect and admire his work."
"Well respected in the legal community"
"I strongly endorse this lawyer. John is dilligent, ethical and dedicated to representing his clients to the best of his abilities. He has always been very professional and courteous in my dealings with him and is an excellent representative of the legal community."
"I endorse this lawyer.I have had the chance to work with John on numerous occasions. Not only is he extremely well prepared but also he has excellent communication skills. He is very well respected in the entire legal community."
"I No attorney takes a greater personal interest in helping his clients than John Ayers III. He stays up on the the latest developments in the law and is always thinking of ways to better represent his clients. He has an excellent representation in the worker's compensation area of the law."
"I have had the privilege of working with John Ayers for 14 years. He is the kindest, compassionate and most capable lawyer any client could want. He puts his clients first and goes well above and beyond for each of them. His character and expertise are superior to any other in his field"
"I endorse this lawyer. John has a high professional character and knowledge of workers compensation law."
"I endorse this lawyer. I've never worked with a lawyer who had as many clients as John remember him and think of him years (and sometimes decades) after he has represented them. John will become like family to you!"
"I endorse John. I have known him since college. He is very dedicated to his clients and he works hard to get his clients the best possible outcome. He is well-versed in workers' comp law and has plenty of relevant experience. And he is a great person whom you can trust and rely upon."
Vernon Sumwalt
Workers compensation lawyer
Nicholas Valaoras
Workers compensation lawyer
Michelle Massingale
Employment and labor lawyer
Brett Dressler
Personal injury lawyer
Edward Hedrick
Mediation lawyer
Robert Whitlow
Social Security & Disability lawyer
Lauren Citrano
Mediation lawyer
Mark Crowther
Workers compensation lawyer
Bobby Bollinger
Workers compensation lawyer
Ralph Meekins
Personal injury lawyer
Experience
Honors
2021
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2020
Distinguished, Martindale--Hubbell
2019
Distinguished, Martindale--Hubbell
2018
Distinguished, Martindale--Hubbell
2017
Distinguished Attorney 2017, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Member of the Bar Thirty Years, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Top Contributor 2016, Avvo
2016
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
America's Most Honored Professionals Top 5 Percent, The American Registry
2016
TOP ten Attorney Award North Carolina, North Carolina Art of Law
2015
Nations Top One Percent, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2015
Top Contributor, avvo
2015
Top Ranked Law Firm 2015, American Lawyer Magazine
2015
Client Distinction Award, Martindale-Hubbell
2012
BV Distinguished Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
Member of the Bar Anniversary 25 years, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
Recognized in the Area of Workers' Compensation, North Carolina Law and Politics Magazine
2006
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
Work Experience
2000 - Present
Partner, Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler, the Workers Compensation and Personal Injury section of Sellers Ayers Dortch & Lyons, P.A.
1988 - 1999
Partner, DeLaney & Sellers, P.A.
Associations
1989 - Present
North Carolina Advocates For Justice, Workers' Compensation SectionMember
Sample of Legal Cases
L. Miller v Auria Solutions
Plaintiff won at the Deputy and Full Commission Hearings, and at the NC Court of Appeals
W. Sturdivant v Atrium Health
Deputy Commissioner granted Plaintiff a second opinion as to his Back.
Davis v Ameriserve
Initial settlement of $1,626,185.57 reduced after death to $783,626.57
Brian B. v Pepsi Bottling Company
Settlement of $400,000.00 and a Medical Account for future medical expenses.
Settlement of claim for permanent injury to Hand
Case settled for $1,054,000.00
Bellamy v Smithfield
Total claim settlement value was $3,313,500.00
Ajsic v Aramark/Sedgwick Claims
Case was settled
Time Warner Cable Technician Shoulder deemed compensable
Case settled
Nurse permanently disabled
settled
Larrimore v Dillard's Dept Store (NC Industrial Commission)
Employee awarded increase in weekly benefits
Charles Foster v Lowe's Home Improvement Centers (NC Industrial Commission)
Plaintiff prevailed on claim for shoulder injury
$600,000 settlement
successfully settled in claimants favor
Herbstreit v Spherion Corp. (NC Industrial Commission)
Plaintiff awarded handicapped accessible housing
Scarboro v. Emery Worldwide Freight Corp. (NC Ct. of Appeals)
Plaintiff prevailed on Costs of Life Care Plan
$1.2 Million Dollar Claim
We Won
Education
1986
Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1982
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2009
Workers Compensation Mini-Seminar
Workers Compensation issues for Nurse Case Managers
1994
HOA Planned Community Seminar for Mecklenburg County Associations
HOA planned communities remedies for violations of restrictions
Languages
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Top Contributor
John earned significant contribution points in 2016.
Legal Answers
Q&A
Can you use you accident insurance an get worker compensation at the sametime in north Carolina?
21 Jun 2025
Q&A
I have been out work on work comp for 28 day as of today I have not received any check for be out work or any calls from work
27 May 2025
Q&A
Why would Sedgwick send me a Workman’s comp settlement offer after I was injured at work ?
24 May 2025
Legal Guides
Legal Guide
Is the Doctor that Worker's Compensation provided me working for me or the insurance company?
05 May 2014
Legal Guide
Should you represent yourself in a Worker's Compensation Claim?
09 Apr 2014
Legal Guide
Having trouble getting information or medical treatment after an injury?
22 Mar 2014