Attorney Kelsey Kicklighter: Kicklighter Law

Kelsey Kicklighter is an associate attorney at Kicklighter Law where she currently handles motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice (including psychiatric malpractice), civil rights violations, and premises liability.

Prior to joining her family’s law firm she worked for defense firms in Atlanta, Ga., and St. Simons, Ga., where she defended businesses and insurance companies in personal injury cases, including automobile accidents, medical malpractice, institutional negligence and government liability. “Having been a defense attorney in the past gives me a valuable perspective,” she says, “so I can better serve my clients in getting what they deserve.”

She advises anyone who has been injured from an auto accident to get checked out by the emergency room or by their primary care provider. Her basic rule of thumb is “if you are injured, keep track of your treatment, any documentation, and how you are feeling afterward.”

Her role as an attorney includes explaining the civil suit process and familiarizing clients with the court system. “A civil suit is a whole new world for most people and it is nothing like what you see on television,” she says.

The biggest misconception is clients believe they didn’t do anything wrong therefore the insurance company should simply understand the situation, but “That’s not how it works. We have to prove damages.” The insurance company needs an enormous amount of information, and they will comb through it, all which takes time. Kelsey says, “Each case is different and there are so many variables but one thing is certain, lawsuits take time.”

Family Team

Kelsey says moving back home was one of the best decisions she and husband Trey ever made. Once their first son was born she wanted to be close to family and have the kind of working hours that allowed her “to be at all the extracurricular events, and not miss his childhood. I give my husband all the credit in the world as he was coming to a new place and he was very supportive and able to make it work with his career as well.”

Kicklighter Law is a family firm and Kelsey is grateful for her dad Claude “Mickey” Kicklighter, Jr., CEO, her mom Kimberly, CFO, and Chief of Staff Amanda “Mandy” Hargrove, “who is like family,” attorney Brian (B.J.) C. Fussell, Jr. and Colleen Eddy, their Estate and Family Law Legal Assistant. She says, “I love working with my family and I couldn’t ask for better support and treatment from everyone here.”

Growing her own family is another way Kelsey has come to see, and identify with, her clients, who she says “each have their own life and this is just one part of it and unfortunately usually not a good part.”

“At Kicklighter Law all of us feel deeply for our clients. Working together as a team helps us keep in balance to ensure our clients are getting the best possible representation. I care about the people in Effingham and the surrounding counties, and I am exceedingly thankful for my work, my family and the community we have down here. I am so very blessed.”