Best Car Accident Lawyer in Atlanta
David M. Van Sant
Accident Lawyer
David M. Van Sant received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Kennesaw State University and received his Juris Doctor with honors from Georgia State University College of Law in 2003.
Mr. Van Sant focuses his practice on representing individuals who have suffered injuries through the fault of others, including car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, tractor-trailer accidents, nursing home neglect, wrongful death cases, and other personal injury cases. Mr. Van Sant is an experienced trial lawyer who has received many accolades and has been nationally recognized as one of the best personal injury trial lawyers in the country.
Georgia Super Lawyers identified Mr. Van Sant as one of the top attorneys in Georgia. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to the list. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a rigorous multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.
Karisa Kopaczewski Klee
Accident Lawyer
Karisa Kopaczewski Klee’s legal career has exclusively been dedicated to the field of workers’ compensation. She began her career with a large insurance defense firm and was subsequently named Partner while working for a full-service regional law firm. After a decade of representing employers and insurance companies, Ms. Klee now represents injured workers throughout the state of Georgia. She uses her prior experience to obtain compensation for her clients and helps them navigate Georgia’s complex workers’ compensation system. She has successfully litigated numerous workers’ compensation cases and has represented clients from the trial level through the appeals process. Ms. Klee regularly speaks on workers’ compensation topics at conferences and seminars.
Ms. Klee was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Business Finance from Carroll University in Wisconsin. She moved to Atlanta to work for a large insurance company prior to attending law school at Georgia State University. While in law school, Ms. Klee was President of the Business and Law Society and a member of Georgia State University’s mock trial team. She was also chosen as a Graduate Research Assistant for the law school’s Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, a Pupil in the Bleckley Inn of Court and interned with the Georgia Innocence Project.
Sarah E. Stottlemyer
Accident Lawyer
Sarah E. Stottlemyer graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001 and went on to law school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating in 2004, she received a fellowship at the Carter Center for International Peace and also began working as a Special Assistant Attorney General at the Fulton County Juvenile Court prosecuting child deprivation cases. She then worked at two large firms for several years representing insurance companies in workers’ compensation claims.
Sarah has seen firsthand time and time again how insurance companies often unfairly treat those who have injured themselves while only trying to provide for their families. With over 10 years experience in workers’ compensation, she brings that knowledge to each claim she handles and makes certain that her Clients won’t be treated that way. Sarah is a strong trial lawyer and has successfully handled countless workers’ compensation claims at the trial level as well as all appellate levels.
Sarah serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Claimant’s section of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Board of Directors for the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, the Executive Committee for the Georgia Injured Workers’ Advocates, the Board of Directors of WILG, and on the Super Lawyers Rising Star National Advisory Board. She was awarded the Client’s Choice Award by AVVO.com and was given the highest rating of AV by her peers in the legal community for her knowledge, ability, and ethical standards.
Sarah is also President of Holiday Helping Hands, Inc., a 501c3 Non-Profit she created to help the children of injured workers with presents during the holidays. Recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year since 2014, as well as Georgia Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite, Sarah has also been featured as a Fighter for Women and Injured Workers’ Families in Atlanta Attorney At Law Magazine, and The Atlantan’s Magazine Dynamic Women of Atlanta.
Robert MacGregor
Accident Lawyer
Robert MacGregor is an experienced trial attorney licensed to practice law in Georgia and South Carolina. At the Burnside Law Firm, Robert devotes his practice to protecting the rights of individuals who have been injured because of someone else’s carelessness, negligence, or recklessness and represents those who have been injured in automobile collisions or tractor-trailer accidents; because of a slip and fall; and in other general negligence actions.
Prior to joining the Burnside Law Firm, Robert worked as a Public Defender at the Augusta Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office. As a Public Defender, Robert gained significant trial experience advocating for the rights of individuals charged with serious crimes and misdemeanors, who, due to financial circumstances, would otherwise have been without an attorney to represent them.
As a lawyer with experience helping people through difficult circumstances, Robert is able to help injured individuals through the challenges that accompany an injury or catastrophic loss while navigating the legal system and coordinating available insurance benefits to maximize recovery and secure just compensation.
Robert grew up in Augusta, Georgia and attended Evans High School. Following high school, he attended the University of Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 2007 and then the Charleston School of Law, where he received a JD in 2012. Robert is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the South Carolina Bar.
James E. Butler Jr.
Accident Lawyer
James E. Butler, Jr. is a founding partner of Butler Prather LLP, a nationally known civil trial practice firm which has litigated cases in 30 states – from Massachusetts to California, Montana to Florida. Jim has been lead counsel in eight cases where the verdict exceeded $100 million, including a $1.7 BILLION verdict as of August 22, 2022, against Ford. He has won record-setting verdicts in several states. He has set the record for largest verdict in Georgia history on four separate occasions – in four completely different kinds of civil cases (medical malpractice, trucking, auto products liability, and business torts/breach of fiduciary duty). No other lawyer has done that more than once.
Jim was lead counsel in the Six Flags vs. Time Warner case, a business tort case, which is believed to be the largest collected judgment in American history ($454 million). In addition to the six verdicts over $100 million, Jim has been lead counsel in cases with verdicts of $90 million, $37 million, $30 million, $25 million, $17.7 million, $15.5 million, $13 million, $8 million. $4.7 million, $4.2 million, plus another six verdicts in excess of $1 million. In addition to verdicts, Jim has served as lead counsel in False Claims Act cases that resulted in $279 million paid by the defendants, and in class action cases that resulted in over $349,500,000 paid by defendants.
Steven I. Goldman
Accident Lawyer
Admitted to practice law in Georgia in 1986, Steven I. Goldman has been serving clients in Atlanta, Georgia ever since. Mr. Goldman attended Emory University for both undergrad and law school, where he graduated in the top third of his class. In his early days of practicing law, Mr. Goldman worked in labor law defense for large companies. After a short period of time, however, he realized it was much more rewarding to represent and help individuals fight against the big companies.
With a desire to represent the people, Mr. Goldman started The Goldman Firm in 1989. For over 30 years, The Goldman Firm’s team of legal professionals has continued to protect people who have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence. Mr. Goldman enjoys jury trials and going to court, and has gained a reputation for being willing and ready to go to trial to ensure clients get the compensation they deserve.
Mr. Goldman is an active Super Champion Member of The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and is admitted to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Georgia. Over the years he has judged moot court competitions and provided pro bono work for dog rescue organizations. In his time outside of the office and courtroom, Mr. Goldman is an avid motorcyclist and boater. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, Sandy, and their two teenage children.
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury
- Nursing Home
- Litigation & Appeals
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Products Liability Law
- Medical Malpractice
- Truck Accidents
- Premises Liability
- Animal Bites
- Slip & Fall
- Wrongful Death
- Boating Accidents
- Accidents that involve Drugs or DUI
- Serious Injuries
Glenda Mitchell
Accident Lawyer
Glenda grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. Prior to attending law school, she graduated Anderson University, summa cum laude. Glenda found herself drawn to helping the injured directly out of college. She worked as a personal injury paralegal for more than 11 years. She then pursued a law degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, graduating magna cum laude.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Personal Injury
EDUCATION
- The John Marshall Law School, Atlanta, Georgia
- Anderson University
W. Wright Gammon
Accident Lawyer
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury
- Criminal Law
- Insurance Law
- Torts Law
- Workers’ Compensation
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 1986
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, 1986
- Georgia Court of Appeals, 1986
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1988
- Supreme Court of Georgia, 1986
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1998
Education
- University of Georgia School of Law, Athens, Georgia
- J.D. – 1986
- Honors: cum laude
- Mercer University
- B.A. – 1983
- Honors: summa cum laude
Honors and Awards
- Strathmore’s Who’s Who
Having the best accident lawyer in Atlanta is essential for several reasons:
1. Expert Legal Representation: Top accident lawyers in Atlanta have extensive experience and expertise in handling a wide range of accident cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, slip and falls, and more. They understand the intricacies of personal injury law and can provide expert legal representation tailored to your specific case.
2. Maximizing Compensation: The best lawyers know how to assess the full extent of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. They will work diligently to ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.
3. Navigating Complex Laws and Procedures: Accident cases involve complex laws and procedures that can be overwhelming for individuals without legal knowledge. Skilled attorneys can guide you through the legal process, handle all necessary paperwork, and meet important deadlines to protect your rights.
4. Investigative Resources: Top accident lawyers often have access to a network of investigators and experts who can gather crucial evidence to support your case. This may include accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and witnesses who can provide valuable testimony.
5. Dealing with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies are often more interested in their bottom line than in fairly compensating accident victims. Having a reputable accident lawyer in Atlanta can level the playing field, as they can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and ensure you are treated fairly.
6. Proving Liability: Establishing fault is essential in accident cases. A skilled attorney can thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident and gather evidence to prove liability, increasing the chances of a successful claim.
7. Experience in Trial: While many accident cases settle outside of court, having a lawyer with trial experience is crucial if your case goes to court. The best lawyers are skilled litigators who can effectively present your case before a judge and jury, fighting for your rights and compensation.
8. Statute of Limitations Compliance: Each state has a statute of limitations, which sets a time limit for filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you may lose the right to seek compensation. A knowledgeable lawyer ensures your case is filed within the appropriate timeframe.
9. Protecting Your Rights: Reputable accident lawyers prioritize their clients’ well-being and rights. They will advocate for your best interests throughout the legal process and protect you from tactics used by insurance companies or opposing parties to devalue your claim.
10. Peace of Mind: Suffering injuries in an accident can be a stressful and traumatic experience. Hiring the best accident lawyer in Atlanta can provide peace of mind, knowing that you have a skilled professional handling your case, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
In summary, having the best accident lawyer in Atlanta can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. They will fight for your rights, navigate the legal complexities, and ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.