Joshua W. Branch
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Athens, Georgia
The Law Office of Joshua W. Branch, LLC
Practice Areas: Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in Georgia since: 2005
Education: Florida Coastal School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2025 Call today:
706-850-4994
Free Consultation The Law Office of Joshua W. Branch, LLC
648 South Milledge AvenueAthens, GA 30605 Visit website
Details
Joshua W. Branch is a personal injury attorney in Athens, Georgia. As the managing partner of The Law Office of Joshua W. Branch, LLC, Mr. Branch focuses his practice on serious personal injury and wrongful death matters involving car accidents, truck accidents, brain injuries, and spine injuries. He has offices in Athens and Atlanta and proudly serves clients throughout Georgia.
Mr. Branch has about 20 years of experience. Over his time in practice, he has litigated and settled numerous complex cases for injured Georgia residents. He began his legal career in Pensacola, Florida, practicing insurance defense, later relocating to Georgia and starting his personal injury practice. He is committed to helping his clients achieve fair and adequate compensation.
Mr. Branch is the recipient of various honors for his achievements. He is AV Preeminent* peer-review rated by Martindale-Hubbell and the National Trial Lawyers named him one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” multiple years in a row.
In addition to managing his practice, Mr. Branch is an active member of his legal and professional communities. He belongs to the State Bar of Georgia, the Florida Bar, the Athens Area TLA, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Western Circuit Bar Association and the American Association for Justice. He gives back to his community through participating in the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity and Make-A-Wish America., as well as numerous other charitable organizations.
Mr. Branch earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and received his law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law. He holds a license to practice law in the state and supreme courts of Florida and Georgia, as well as before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 100% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2004, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.thegeorgiainjuryattorney.com/about-us/joshua-w-b...
Bar/Professional Activity:
- U.S. District Court Middle District of the State of Florida
- State Bar of Florida
- State Bar of Georgia
- U.S. District Court Middle District of the State of Georgia
- U.S. District Court Northern District of the State of Georgia
- Court of Appeals - State of Georgia
- Supreme Court of Florida
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- Member of the Athens TLA, 2013
- Member of Southern Trial Lawyers Association, 2016
- Member of the Athens TLA, 2013
- Champion Member of Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, 2013
- President of the Athens Trial Lawyers Association, 2013
- Member of American Association for Justice, 2013
- Member of Western Circuit Bar Association, 2013
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- $2,500,000: Horrific car crash wherein our client suffered serious injuries and had to be hospitalized for an extended amount of time. All insurance policies were recovered., 2023
- $2M case result for terrible car crash with severe internal injuries., 2023
- Jury Verdict of $1.3m. Policy limits were $250k which State Farm refused to tender. Horrible car wreck case with multiple surgeries and about $169k in past medicals. The verdict was paid., 2023
- $1,600,000: Tragic car wreck that left our client with extensive injuries and in-patient treatment for many months. All policies of insurance were recovered for this deserving client., 2023
- $1,250,000: Client was seriously injured in a car crash that required extensive hospitalization and treatment. All policies of insurance were obtained., 2023
- Policy limits tender of $300,000 for gruesome dog bite case, 2021
- $1,100,000.00 resolution for car crash case with severe injuries. All policies of insurance were obtained. , 2022
- Client was injured while struck in a cross walk by a motor vehicle. The case resolved for the full total of all insurance policies available in the weeks before trial for $300,000, 2022
- Jury Verdict for $150,000. Client had a car crash but did not have any documented shoulder complaints until about 9-10 weeks after the crash though she had been to about 20 medical appointments and even had medical documentation that indicated good range of motion and no shoulder complaints. Little to no property damage. The shoulder did become surgical but the facts were challeging. , 2022
- $1,400,000 against the Georgia Department of Transportation for failure to inspect and repair and severely unsafe edge of pavement drop off that resulted in the tragic loss of our the life of our client's wife. The Georgia Tort Claims Act has a maximum recovery of $1,000,000.00/claim., 2022
- $1,500,000 on a $250,000 policy after State Farm blew a Time Demand. Case resolved in the midst of litigation. Client had several serious injuries after a car crash. , 2021
- $340,000 for cervical fusion car wreck case, 2021
- Outcome: $325,000. Case involved a car wreck and a client with a surgical component. The liability insurance carrier only had $100,000.00 in their policy but they blew the Time Demand. Case resolved for over three times the amount of the liability limits, which the liability carrier paid., 2019
- $325,000 in resolution for the seriously injured client. This sum reflects the tendering of all insurance policies available for this case. The client had to undergo surgery for her injuries from the subject automobile collision., 2020
- $700,000 resolution on a complicated trucking case. The client was seriously injured but thankfully for him he never required surgery for any of his maladies. Experts were used from around the country. The case resolved at mediation with a very happy client., 2020
- $1,050,000 resolution for a seriously injured passenger in a vehicle. Myriads of legal issues and intricacies revolved around the case. The client was extremely satisfied with the result., 2020
- JB client v. MZ Berger Co. et al Practice Area: Personal Injury Date of Loss: February 10, 2015Outcome: $230,000.00Description: After this incident, which was based upon a defective watch causing a chemical burn to a child, was turned away by a very reputable law firm The Law Office of Joshua W. Branch, LLC was able to place the company that distributed these watches in a precarious setting forcing them to settle the case at an amount that was significantly higher than what was thought possible., 2016
- Trucking case: $350,000.00, 2019
- Jury Verdict for $330,000.00 in Rabun County, Georgia for car wreck requiring cervical fusion, 2011
- Eric Kenney v. Dr. Dewitte; Superior Court of Oconee Co., State of GA; Civil Action No.: 201x-CV-xxxx-SWPractice Area: Automobile Wreck Outcome: $650,000.00 in 2016. Description: A collision between a negligent driver and our client resulted in serious injuries for our client. , 2015
- Peggy Shealy vs. Mary Stark; Superior Court of Walton County; State of GA Practice Area: Car wreckDate of Resolution: Oct. 6, 2017Outcome: $550,000.00Description: The client sustained a severe injuries and then had additional complications. As trial was on a Monday, this case resolved on the Friday before we started trial. We were looking forward to trying this case, but the resolution was fair and just and the client is satisfied, which is the most important aspect of it all., 2017
- JB client v. K. Smith, Superior Court of Glynn County, Georgia; Civil Action No.: CE2014-00209-063Practice Area: Personal Injury Date of Loss: April 23, 2013Outcome: $215,000.00Description: Car wreck case with no visible property damage to the plaintiff's vehicle but with a surgical component. The initial offer on the case was $6,000.00. After lengthy litigation and on the precipice of trial the case was resolved., 2016
- Ricky Appling v. Jonathan Rufus Benton; Superior Court of Madison Co., State of GA Practice Area: Personal InjuryDate of Verdict: Sept. 22, 2017Outcome: Jury Verdict for the Plaintiff for $192,000.00Description: Automobile collision case tried to verdict in Madison County for a client who had to undergo a cervical fusion surgery. There were zero offers before the trial, and the trial was against my client's own underinsured motorist carrier. The defense even brought a high-price expert to trial, but justice prevailed. Appeal was heard in 2018 at the Georgia Court of Appeals regarding a UM set off issue., 2018
- Outcome: $650,000.00 in 2015. Description: A collision between a texting pizza delivery driver and our client's spouse occurred which ultimately caused the death of our client's spouse. The defense argued that the decedent was traveling at excessive speeds and hired an expert to support the same, but aggressive litigation tactics revealed many damning facts for the defendant. , 2015
- Outcome: $250,000.00 in 2017. Description: Our client was driving his motorcycle when he was in a collision with a negligent driver. Our client sustained severe injuries but with aggressive legal representation we were able to obtain every penny of the liability policy at issue., 2017
- JB client v. Hunter Practice Area: Motor Vehicle Collision Date of Loss: November 11, 2013Outcome: $230,000.00Description: A serious car wreck occurred wherein the client received two shoulder surgeries and the defendant denied liability. After years of litigation and aggressive representation for the injured victim, a resolution was obtained that resulted in a very happy client., 2017
- JB client v. F. S. Patman Practice Area: Personal Injury Date of Loss: October 4, 2014 Outcome: $200,000.00 Description: Pre-suit resolution for this automobile collision case with a surgical component., 2018
- Verdict for $280,000.00 for car wreck victim in Madison County, Georgia., 2011
- Norris Billingsley v. Georgia Medical Transportation, Inc.; State Court of Athens-Clarke County, State of Georgia; Civil Action No.: ST-15-V-0433Practice Area: Personal InjuryDate of Verdict: November 1, 2017Outcome: Jury Verdict for Plaintiff for $525,000.00Description: The client was a disabled elderly gentleman with a heart of gold and equally amazing spirit. The client was not properly secured in a non-emergency transport van while in transport to a medical appointment, and due to not being properly secured the client was thrown out of his wheel chair and sustained orthopedic fractures. However, the actions and testimony of the defendants and their agents proved to be damning to the defendant. There were only $9,000.00 in medical bills so this verdict (and amended Judgment which awarded attorney fees) was very pleasing to the client. The highest offer prior to trial was $40,000.00. , 2017
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Member of the Georgia Bar , 2005
- Member of the Florida Bar, 2005
Pro bono/Community Service:
- YWCO of Athens
- UGA Miracle
- Athens Community Council on Aging
- Camp Kesem at UGA
- Catholic Center at UGA
- Oconee Regional Humane Society
- Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
- Project Safe
- Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
- Georgia Legal Services
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
- Nancy Travis Childcare Project
- The United Methodist Children's Home
- Special Olympics
- PAH Orr Brain Tumor Center Fund - Piedmont Foundation
- Family Counseling Services of Athens
- YMCA
- American Red Cross - Northeast Georgia Chapter
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Wounded Warrior Project
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
- St. Mary's Foundation
- Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
- Avvo 10.0 Top Personal Injury Attorney, 2014-2019
- Board Member of the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, 2013
- Legal Food Frenzy- assisting in raising awareness and funds/food for Georgia's citizens in need., 2012
- Athens Area Humane Society- Board of Directors, 2012
- Founder of a non-profit, Rising Tides. , 2017
Honors/Awards:
- Was awarded the highest rating of AV by Martindale Hubbell. This constitutes a several consecutive years of this award., AV rated, Martindale Hubbell, 2020
- Received this award for the ninth consecutive year, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Top Trial Lawyers, 2021
- AV rated, Martindale Hubbell, 2021
- Awarded this for several consecutive years., Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Top Trial Lawyers, 2020
- Super Lawyers
- Avvo Clients' Choice 2013-2017
- Best of Athens Personal Injury Attorney , 2017
- Best Business Rating 2019
- AV Preeminent Rated: Martindale-Hubbell, Martindale-Hubbell, 2019
- AV Preeminent Rated: Martindale-Hubbell, Martindale-Hubbell, 2018
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers , 2019
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers: National Trial Lawyers, 2018
- AV Preeminent Rated: Martindale-Hubbell, 2017
- AV Preeminent Rated: Martindale-Hubbell, 2016
- 10.0 Superb Rating: Avvo.com, 2015
- AV Peer Review Rating: Martindale-Hubbell, 2014
- 10.0 Superb Rating: Avvo.com, 2018
- Best of Athens - Best Personal Injury Attorney: Athens-Banner Herald, 2017
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers: National Trial Lawyers, 2017
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers: National Trial Lawyers, 2016
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers: National Trial Lawyers, 2015
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers: National Trial Lawyers, 2014
- AV Preeminent Rating: Martindale Hubbell, 2018
- 10.0 Superb Rating: Avvo.com, 2017
- 10.0 Superb Rating: Avvo.com, 2016
- AV Preeminent Rated: Martindale-Hubbell, 2015
- Top 10 under 40 Award in Georgia: National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2014
- Regional Trial Lawyers Association of the Year (President of the Athens TLA): Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, 2013
Educational Background:
- B.S. University of Georgia, 1998
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- “Premises Liability” GTLA Annual Convention - Young Lawyers Division, 2013
- “Understanding your automobile insurance policy and the importance of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage” People’s Law School, 2014
- Fried, Rogers, Goldberg: Breakfast Seminar/Webinar – Feb. 2018; spoke about a Verdict from the Fall of 2017, 2018
Selections
6 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2025
