Christopher B. McDaniel
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Columbus, Georgia
Peak Wooten McDaniel & Colwell LLP
Practice areas: Personal Injury, Class Action & Mass Torts, Medical Malpractice; view more
Licensed in Georgia since: 2014
Education: Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law
Selected to Rising Stars: 2020 - 2027 Call today:
706-460-4800
Peak Wooten McDaniel & Colwell LLP
945 BroadwaySuite 200
Columbus, GA 31901 Visit website
As a partner at Peak Wooten McDaniel & Colwell LLP in Columbus, Georgia, Christopher B. McDaniel represents individuals and families facing the serious consequences of catastrophic injuries, medical negligence and wrongful death. His practice focuses on personal injury litigation, including car and truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, brain and spinal cord injuries, nursing home neglect or abuse, and complex class-action matters. He also represents clients in medical negligence claims, pursuing accountability and meaningful compensation for those harmed by another party’s conduct.
Mr. McDaniel approaches each case with careful preparation and a commitment to understanding the circumstances, challenges and long-term effects facing his clients. He handles matters involving significant physical injuries and loss, developing legal strategies tailored to the facts of each case. Whether pursuing a negotiated resolution or advocating in litigation, he works to protect his clients’ interests throughout the legal process.
Among his many settlements, Mr. McDaniel’s experience includes securing substantial results on behalf of injured clients and their families. He obtained a $21 million settlement for a client injured in a construction site accident. In a commercial motor vehicle wrongful death case, he secured a $10 million policy-limit settlement for the decedent’s family. These results reflect his experience handling high-stakes claims involving serious injuries, complex liability issues and significant damages.
Mr. McDaniel earned his bachelor’s degree, graduating summa cum laude, from Columbus State University before receiving his Juris Doctor, graduating magna cum laude, from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law. He was admitted to practice law in Georgia in 2014.
Active in the legal community, Mr. McDaniel is a member of the Columbus Bar Association, the Columbus Trial Lawyers Association, the Columbus Inn of Court and the American Bar Association. He is also a champion member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, reflecting his continued involvement in the trial advocacy community.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Products: PlaintiffFocus areas
Brain Injury, Class Actions, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Defects, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 40% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 20% Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff
- 20% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
- 20% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2014, Georgia
Professional Webpage: https://www.peakwooten.com/attorneys/christopher-b-mcdaniel/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Columbus Bar Association, Member
- Columbus Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- Columbus Inn of Court, Member
- Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Champion Member
- American Bar Association, Member
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Secured $33,000,000.00 pre-trial settlement in commercial motor vehicle wrongful death case pending in United States District Court, 2025
- Obtained $11,070,000.00 verdict in personal injury case pending before the Circuit Court of Lyon County, Kentucky, 2025
- Secured $3,950,000.00 pre-trial settlement in wrongful death premises liability/negligent security case against national hotel chain, 2025
- Obtained $3,400,000.00 pre-trial settlement in a complex personal injury case involving negligence claims against wood pellet manufacturer, 2025
- Secured $2,250,000.00 settlement in personal injury case involving a motorcycle wreck, 2025
- Secured $2.5 Million medical malpractice settlement against a South Georgia hospital, 2025
- Secured $1,250,000.00 policy limits settlement in personal injury road wreck case, 2025
- Secured $32,500,000.00 pre-trial settlement in a commercial motor vehicle wrongful death case pending in the State Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia, 2024
- Obtained $8,000,000.00 pre-trial settlement in complex wrongful death negligence case pending in the State Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia. Case: Barnes, et al. v. AmericanWork, LLC, at al. Civil Action No. 23-C-05233-S1, 2024
- Secured $2,050,000.00 pre-suit policy limit settlement in commercial motor vehicle negligence case, 2024
- Secured $2,000,000.00 pre-suit settlement in personal injury premise liability case, 2024
- Secured $1,250,000.00 pre-trial settlement in product liability case involving defect industrial machine, pending in the Circuit Court of Knox County, Tennessee, 2024
- Secured $10,000,000.00 policy limit settlement in commercial motor vehicle wrongful death case, 2023
- Obtained $5,000,000.00 verdict in negligent security/premise liability case pending before the State Court of Muscogee County, Georgia, 2023
- Secured $3,500,000.00 pre-suit settlement in personal injury case involving claims of negligent supervision and entrustment of firearm to a minor, 2023
- Secured $21 Million settlement on behalf of client that was injured on construction site. Case Information: Braun v. Thomas Concrete, Inc., et al.; State Court of Gwinnett County, Case No. 20-C-05552-S6, 2022
- Secured $5,490,000.00 pre-trial settlement in complex commercial motor vehicle negligence case pending in the Circuit Court of Mississippi County, Arkansas, 2022
- Secured $12,000,000.00 pre-trial settlement in wrongful death case against commercial package delivery company, pending in the State Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia, 2021
- Obtained $3,300,000.00 product liability settlement against large auto manufacturer in product defect case, pending in the State Court of Cobb County, Georgia, 2020
- Member of trial team that secured $280 Million trucking verdict, State Court, Muscogee County, Ga, 2019
Educational Background
- Columbus State University, Columbus, Georgia, B.A. summa cum laude, Major: Finance, Honors: Top Ranked Business/Finance Graduate Honors
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- An annual review of development in Georgia case law relating to trial practice and procedure topics., Co-Author, Trial Practice & Procedure, 77 Mercer L. Rev. (forthcoming 2025), 2025
- Trial Practice & Procedure, (Co-Author), 69 Mercer L. Rev. 321, 2017
- Trial Practice & Procedure, (Co-Author), 68 Mercer L. Rev. 301, 2016
- Trial Practice & Procedure, (Co-Author), 67 Mercer L. Rev. 257, 2015
- An annual review of developments in Georgia case law involving various trial practice and procedure topics., Co-Author, Trial Practice & Procedure, 75 Mercer L. Rev. 347, 2023
- An annual review of development in Georgia case law involving relevant changes in trial practice and procedure., Co-Author, Trial Practice & Procedure, 74 Mercer L. Rev. 263, 2022
- An annual review of development in Georgia case law. , Co-Author, Trial Practice & Procedure, 73 Mercer L. Rev. 265 (2021), 2021
- An annual review of developments in Georgia case law involving various trial practice and procedure topics, Co-Author, Trial Practice & Procedure, Mercer Law Review. Vol. 71: No. 1, Article 18, 2020
- An annual review of developments in Georgia case law involving various trial practice and procedure topics, Co-Author, Trial Practice & Procedure, 71 Mercer L. Rev. 305, 2019
- An annual review of developments in Georgia case law involving various trial practice and procedure topics, Co-Author, Trial Practice & Procedure, 70 Mercer L. Rev. 253, 2018
Honors
- Rising Star, Georgia, Super Lawyers, 2022
- Rising Star, Georgia, Super Lawyers, 2024
- Rising Star, Georgia, Super Lawyers
- Rising Star, Georgia, Super Lawyers, 2023
- Rising Star, Georgia, Super Lawyers, 2021
- Rising Star, Georgia, Super Lawyers, 2019
- Selected as Rising Star, Georgia, Super Lawyers, 2020
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Nobody outworks Chris. He beats the opposition to a pulp with his incredible work ethic and passion for justice.”
“Chris is a true 5-tool player. It is rare to find people like Chris who has an outstanding work ethic, ability to connect with people from all walks of life, the desire to be great, and the intellectual ability to do outstanding work.”
Office location for Christopher B. McDaniel
945 Broadway
Suite 200
Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: 706-460-4800
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2020 - 2027
