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Meet Whit Drake

Most people would rather not have to hire an attorney. At the Drake Law Firm, we understand that.

Whit Drake, Owner

100% of Practice Devoted to Personal Injury Litigation

Bar Admissions

  • Alabama, 1989
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Alabama, 1989
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Alabama, 1989
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Alabama, 1989
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1995

Education

The University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, J.D. – 1989

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, B.A. – 1986 Major: General Studies / History

Fraternities/Sororities Sigma Chi

Languages English

Recently voted by his peers as a top Birmingham personal injury attorney in the Birmingham Magazine’s March 2019 edition, Whit Drake strives to provide his clients with the best legal representation possible. Mr. Drake has obtained over $100 million in settlement and recoveries, including being one of the lead counsel in the largest wrongful death settlement in the history of Alabama. Mr. Drake has authored several publications for The Alabama Lawyer, the Alabama Bar Association’s quarterly publication.

Whit Drake was born in Decatur, Alabama. He graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1989. Hired by a prestigious Birmingham Personal Injury Law Firm, he has practiced as an accident and injury attorney for 29 years throughout the State of Alabama. Drake Law Firm was founded in 1998 by Whit Drake.

Mr. Drake comes from a long line of lawyers. There are a total of 12 lawyers in his family, including several judges and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tom Drake. Christine Mckoy Drake, Mr. Drake’s mother, served on the Alabama State Board of Education and was also an attorney. Coming from a tradition of personal injury lawyers in his family, Mr. Drake continues to represent victims in personal injury matters throughout Alabama.

  • Mr. Drake has been awarded the most prestigious award offered by Martendale-Hubbell, the 2016 AV rating for superior legal skills.
  • He is recognized by Thomson-Reuters and Findlaw as a “Superlawyer”, a distinction earned by less than 3% of all attorneys nationwide.

Areas of Practice

  • Personal Injury
  • Wrongful Death
  • Catastrophic Injury
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Work Place Accidents
  • Product Liability
  • Premises Liability
  • Nursing Home Abuse
  • Industrial Accidents
  • Funeral Home Negligence
  • Medical Malpractice

Published Works

  • Employer’s Subrogation: Does Anyone Really Understand It?, The Alabama Lawyer, November, 2007
  • Effective Case Resolution, The Alabama Lawyer, July, 2013

Representative Cases

Selected Verdicts and Settlements:

$15 Million Dollar Verdict in Auto Crash in Chilton County

$5 Million Dollar Verdict in Wrongful Death Case in Etowah County

$2.2 Million Dollar Verdict for Industrial Accident in Limestone County

$65 Million Dollar Settlement in Workplace Accident Involving Multiple Claimants

$2.5 Million Dollar Verdict for Arm Amputation Caused by Medical Malpractice

$3 Million Settlement for Car Accident for Cullman Clients

$1 Million Settlement for Gadsden Funeral Home Negligence

$700,000 Verdict For Cullman Farmer

$1.2 Million Verdict for Hospital Negligence / Wrongful Death in Jefferson County

$2.75 Settlement In Calhoun County

$1.2 Million Dollar Verdict for Wrongful Death at Local Hospital

$350,000 Verdict for Car Accident

$400,000 Verdict for On-the-Job Finger Amputation

Reported and Published Cases:

  • Hill v. General Motors (Wrongful Death), Southern Reporter (1997)
  • Haddock V. Multivac (hand crush) Southern Reporter (1996)
  • Oliver v. Medical Center East, Southern Reporter (2001)
  • Trippe v. Baptist Medical Center(Wrongful Death), Southern Reporter (1993)
  • Whisenant v. Gulf States Steel, (hand amputation in machine) Southern Reporter (1996)
  • Young v. Huntsville Hospital, Southern Reporter (1993)
  • Adams v. Douglas Battery, Inc.(Wrongful Death), Southern Reporter (2006)

Classes/Seminars

  • “Preparing The Nursing Home Case – Plaintiffs Perspective”, 1999
  • “Retaliatory Discharge”, 1998
  •  Workers’ Compensation Seminar, Cumberland Law School 1997
  • “On-the-Job Injuries and Negligent Third Parties” Alabama 1996
  • “Medical Malpractice Litigation- Plaintiff’s Perspective”, 1999
  • “Employer’s Subrogation in Third Party Cases: Does Anyone Really Understand It?,” The Alabama Lawyer, 2007
  • “Effective Cross-Examination of Experts at Trial”, AIM Seminar, 2008
  • “Using Evidence at Trial”, Alabama Bar Institute Seminar, 2009
  • “Personal Injury Practice: How To Do It Right!”, AIM Seminar 2015
  • “Car Accident Claims 101”, Alabama Young Lawyers Section 2015

Honors and Awards

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rating, 2001 – Present
  • Selected as Top Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney by Birmingham Magazine for 2012-2019
  • B-Metro Magazine’s Top Rated Personal Injury Lawyer for 2012-2019
  • Rated as one of the Best Birmingham Attorneys by B-Metro Magazine for 2016-2019
  • Rated as “Superb” by AVVO (an independent attorney rating company)
  • Named one of three top lawyers in Birmingham by “3 Best Rated”

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Alabama Bar Association, Member, 1989 – Present
  • Birmingham Bar Association, Member, 1995 – Present

Past Employment Positions

  • Emord & Vines, Partner, 1989 – 1998
"Most of our clients come to us by referral from satisfied clients and other
legal professionals. We even have clients referred to us by insurance lawyers
who opposed us in court. We think that says a lot about our commitment to
integrity and maintaining an open line of communication with our clients
throughout the case."

— Whit Drake