Award-Winning Orlando Car Accident, Medical Malpractice & Personal Injury Lawyer
Practice Areas: Car Accident Lawyer, Medical Malpractice Lawyer, Semi-Truck Accidents, Amazon Delivery Driver Accidents, Catastrophic Injury, Wrongful Death
Years in Practice: 28 years (Licensed 1997)
Bar Admissions: Florida (2012), Georgia (1997)
Professional Summary
Tina Willis stands as one of Florida's most distinguished car accident lawyer, medical malpractice lawyer & personal injury attorney, bringing an exceptionally rare combination of academic excellence, Big Law defense experience, and plaintiff advocacy expertise to every case. As a former law professor and defense attorney who graduated second in her law school class, Willis has spent over two decades revolutionizing personal injury representation through her deliberately low-volume, high-attention approach that consistently delivers superior outcomes for clients facing moderate to catastrophic injuries.
Unlike the high-volume "settlement mill" approach that dominates modern personal injury, car accident & medical malpractice practice, Willis built her Orlando-based firm on the principle that every case deserves the meticulous attention and sophisticated legal strategy typically reserved for Fortune 500 corporate clients. This philosophy, informed by her background representing major corporations and insurance companies at some of the nation's most prestigious defense firms, has resulted in multi-million dollar recoveries and industry recognition as one of Florida's premier injury advocates.
Educational Excellence & Academic Background
Law School Achievement: Graduated second in class from Florida State University College of Law (1995)
Academic Position: Former Law Professor at Barry University
Teaching Focus: Civil Procedure & Advanced Legal Writing
Willis's academic excellence established the foundation for her legal career, demonstrating the analytical rigor and intellectual depth that would later distinguish her practice. During law school, she earned many prestigious academic awards and appointments, reflecting her commitment to excellence that continues today. Her experience as a law professor at Barry University provided invaluable perspective on legal education and the theoretical underpinnings of personal injury law, knowledge she applies daily in developing innovative case strategies.
Her academic background enables Willis to approach complex legal issues with scholarly precision while maintaining the practical focus necessary for trial advocacy. This unique combination of theoretical knowledge and real-world application has proven particularly valuable in catastrophic injury cases, where understanding complex medical concepts and legal precedents is essential for success.
Personal Background and Foundation
Willis's personal journey to legal excellence began in humble circumstances that continue to shape her practice today. Raised by her grandparents in extreme poverty in Winter Garden, Florida, Willis grew up in a home that still stands in a very poor neighborhood. Her grandfather worked as a foreman in an orange grove while her grandmother stayed home to care for her. Despite having very little money, both grandparents were smart and kind people who convinced Willis that anyone can accomplish anything and that everyone deserves fair treatment and justice.
This background, with no connections whatsoever to the legal world, instilled in Willis a work ethic that drove her to work harder in law school than most of her peers, resulting in her graduating second in her class. That same hard-working mentality has never left her and continues to define her approach to every case. More importantly, this background allows Willis to relate to anyone, as she remains a very down-to-earth person who spends whatever time is needed to make sure each client understands what will happen in their case, explaining everything in simple terms.
Distinguished Defense Experience Before Opening Her Personal Injury, Car Accident & Medical Malpractice Firm
Background: Former attorney at major national defense firms including Fisher & Phillips, Lord, Bissell & Brook (now Locke Lord), and other large defense firms
Client Base Before Becoming a Personal Injury Lawyer: Represented Fortune 500 corporations and major insurance companies including Lloyd's of London
Case Experience Before Becoming A Personal Injury Lawyer: Multi-million dollar catastrophic injury defense, including cases valued over $10 million and some over $100 million
Strategic Insight: Intimate knowledge of defense tactics and insurance company strategies, including overseeing regular insurance defense attorneys
Willis's tenure at prestigious defense firms representing some of the largest corporations and insurance companies in catastrophic injury cases provides her with unparalleled insight into how defendants evaluate and defend claims. After graduating from law school, she was courted by several of the largest law firms in the country and worked defending large corporations in very high value lawsuits. Her clients included some of the biggest insurance companies and corporations in the business, including Lloyd's of London, which often provides excess insurance coverage when initial policies are exhausted. Her role with Lloyd's involved overseeing regular insurance defense attorneys.
During her defense career, Willis learned firsthand how insurance companies assess case value, which factors influence settlement decisions, and what evidence most effectively persuades defense attorneys and their clients. She witnessed the internal workings of major insurance companies and corporate legal departments, understanding their priorities, constraints, and decision-making processes. This experience taught her the value of providing clients with exactly what they need to get the most money from their cases.
This defense background proves invaluable when representing injury victims, as Willis can anticipate defense strategies, understand the opposing side's evaluation process, and structure cases to maximize settlement leverage. Her clients benefit from having an attorney who truly understands both sides of personal injury litigation at the highest levels.
Innovative Practice Philosophy: Rejecting the Settlement Mill Model
Willis recognized early in her plaintiff career that the personal injury & car accident field had become dominated by high-volume firms that prioritize quick settlements over maximum case value. Drawing on research by Stanford Law School Professor Nora Freeman Engstrom, Willis built her practice specifically to reject this "settlement mill" approach.
Low-Volume Excellence: Intentionally maintains limited caseload to ensure individual attention
Quality Over Quantity: Focuses on case preparation depth rather than case volume
Client Relationships: Provides direct attorney access throughout representation
Trial Preparation: Prepares every case as if going to trial, increasing settlement leverage
While high-volume firms may handle 300-700 cases per attorney annually, Willis limits her caseload to ensure each client receives the sophisticated representation their case deserves. This approach requires significant time investment per case but consistently produces superior outcomes, particularly in serious injury cases where thorough preparation can mean the difference between modest and life-changing recoveries.
Academic research confirms that this low-volume approach achieves better results in moderate to serious injury, car accident & medical malpractice cases. Willis's firm demonstrates that exceptional outcomes require exceptional effort something impossible when attorneys juggle hundreds of cases simultaneously.
Areas of Legal Expertise
Car Accident Representation
Willis has established herself as one of Orlando's premier car accident attorneys, handling everything from moderate injury cases to catastrophic multi-vehicle collisions. Her approach emphasizes immediate evidence preservation, strategic medical provider selection, and comprehensive damage documentation.
Accident Types Handled include multi-vehicle collisions on I-4 and major Central Florida highways, intersection accidents and left-turn collisions, rear-end collisions with complex liability issues, commercial vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, Amazon accident cases, Uber accidents, Lyft accidents, and rideshare accidents. Willis also handles regular car and truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, and boat accidents throughout Orlando and Central Florida.
Unique Capabilities include rapid evidence preservation and scene reconstruction, relationships with leading medical specialists for optimal treatment and documentation, understanding of Florida's complex insurance system and recent legal changes, and experience with comparative fault analysis under Florida's modified laws. Willis provides immediate guidance about protecting interests after any car accident in Orlando or throughout Florida, from dealing with insurance adjusters to documenting injuries and evidence.
Medical Malpractice Litigation
Given Florida's extremely restrictive medical malpractice laws, Willis accepts only the most serious cases involving catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. Her background in complex litigation and relationships with medical experts enable her to navigate this challenging practice area successfully.
Medical Malpractice Focus Areas include birth injuries and obstetric negligence, surgical errors and complications, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis, delayed cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment delays, hospital negligence and systemic errors, emergency room malpractice, paralysis cases, blindness cases, strokes, amputations from medical errors, surgical errors that left patients unable to walk, speak, or work, and cases involving devastating outcomes including wrongful death.
Distinctive Approach working with co-counsel includes extensive pre-suit investigation and expert consultation, relationships with leading medical experts nationwide, understanding of complex medical concepts and standards of care, experience with life care planning for catastrophic injuries, and focus on proving lifecare economic needs and losses as well as cost of future medical care and lost income earning potential.
Semi-Truck & Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Willis recognizes that truck accidents require immediate, specialized response due to federal regulations, complex liability issues, and the potential for evidence destruction. Her firm has developed specific protocols for handling these complex cases.
Commercial Vehicle Experience encompasses 18-wheeler accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, semi-truck accidents, Amazon delivery vehicle accidents, commercial truck accidents, delivery vehicle collisions, construction vehicle accidents, utility vehicle accidents, concrete truck accidents, dump truck accidents, bus accidents and mass transit incidents. Willis handles cases involving accidents that happened on I-4, I-10, I-75, Florida's Turnpike, and throughout Central Florida roads. She handles cases statewide, throughout Florida.
Specialized Knowledge includes federal trucking regulations and compliance issues, electronic logging device data preservation, truck driver logs, maintenance records, electronic data recovery, commercial insurance coverage analysis, multi-party liability assessment involving truck drivers, trucking companies, maintenance providers, and cargo loaders. Willis understands that trucking cases often involve more serious injuries and higher insurance values, requiring immediate legal intervention to prevent destruction of key evidence.
Catastrophic Injury & Wrongful Death
For the most serious cases, Willis brings together extensive medical knowledge and sophisticated legal advocacy to ensure maximum recovery for devastating injuries and tragic losses.
Catastrophic Injury Types include traumatic brain injuries from mild to severe, spinal cord injuries ranging from partial weakness to complete paralysis, severe burn injuries, amputations and dismemberment, multiple trauma cases, birth injuries with lifetime implications, loss of vital organ function, and severe injuries affecting all aspects of daily living. Willis focuses on proving future life care costs, income losses, and long-term support requirements.
Wrongful Death Representation includes comprehensive survivor impact analysis, economic loss calculations and expert testimony, emotional distress and loss of companionship damages, complex family dynamics and beneficiary issues, and helping families throughout Florida who have lost loved ones in any type of accident. Willis handles wrongful death cases from auto accidents, medical malpractice, and other types of accidents with focus on proving the depth of loss and closeness of relationships.
Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury
Willis has extensive experience with brain injury and spinal cord injury cases throughout Central Florida, understanding these serious to catastrophic injuries demand extensive medical and legal expertise to properly value and prove.
Brain Injury Experience includes mild traumatic brain injuries that may cause significant cognitive and emotional changes, severe injuries causing profound physical and mental disabilities, memory problems, personality changes, difficulty concentrating, and inability to work. Willis ensures clients receive treatment from leading neurologists and radiologists in Central Florida who utilize cutting-edge scans and treatments to objectively prove brain injuries.
Spinal Cord Injury Expertise encompasses partial weakness, complete paralysis, loss of bodily functions, chronic pain that never improves, and comprehensive treatment ensuring best chance of improving quality of life while maximizing case value. Willis works with co-counsel, as well as life care planning experts, neurologists, neuropsychologists, and other medical specialists, to demonstrate how injuries affect daily activities and future needs.
Birth Injury Representation
Birth injury cases combine elements of both medical malpractice and catastrophic injury law. These sensitive cases often involve lifetime care needs for children who suffered preventable injuries during labor and delivery.
Birth Injury Focus includes cerebral palsy, hypoxic brain injury, shoulder dystocia, and other serious conditions that affect children throughout their lives. Willis, working with highly experienced & distinguished co-counsel, ensures the careful investigation into the actions of medical providers, working with specialized obstetric and pediatric experts to prove both cause of injury and extensive future medical and support needs these children will require.
Professional Recognition & Awards
National Recognition
Willis has been selected among the "Best of the Best" Personal Injury Lawyers, representing the top 0.05% of 1.3 million attorneys nationwide. She was named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers for prestigious national recognition of trial excellence, and selected for Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers Association.
Willis is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive membership for attorneys with million-dollar plus verdicts and settlements that includes fewer than 1% of U.S. attorneys. She has also been designated as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in America, an elite national designation.
Florida & Regional Recognition
Willis has been named Top Rated Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida by Lawyers of Distinction and selected among Ten Best Female Lawyers in Florida by American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. She was ranked among 20 Best Orlando Medical Malpractice Lawyers by Expertise.com and voted #1 Personal Injury, Car Accident & Wrongful Death Attorney by Orlando Style Magazine. Willis maintains a perfect 10.0 "Superb" AVVO Rating as an Orlando auto accident attorney, the highest possible attorney rating.
Media Recognition
Willis has been featured in major national media outlets. Major news and television coverage includes The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, NBC News, Reader's Digest, and Politico. Business and legal publications featuring Willis include Fortune Magazine, Business Insider, American Bar Journal, and The Huffington Post.
Professional Memberships & Community Involvement
Willis maintains active membership in the Florida Bar Association since 2012, Georgia Bar Association since 1997, American Association for Justice, and Florida Justice Association. Her business and community involvement includes the Orlando Chamber of Commerce, West Orange Chamber of Commerce, and Central Florida Better Business Bureau as an Accredited Business.
Willis's active participation in professional organizations keeps her current on legal developments and connected to the broader legal community. Her involvement in local business organizations demonstrates commitment to the Central Florida community beyond her legal practice.
Notable Case Results & Recovery History
Over her career, Willis has recovered many millions of dollars for clients, with individual case results demonstrating her ability to maximize value across different case types.
Significant Recoveries include $3.9 Million Medical Malpractice Death, $2.6 Million Semi-Truck vs Car Collision, $2 Million Semi-Truck Wrongful Death Policy Max, $1 Million Commercial Truck Neck Injuries Policy Max, $1 Million Semi-Truck Driver Injuries Policy Max, $1 Million Premises Liability Serious Injuries, $1 Million Semi-Truck Driver Injuries Policy Max, $2.3 Million Medical Malpractice Injuries, and many more substantial recoveries.
Understanding Case Results means recognizing that while many Orlando personal injury law firms prominently display their highest settlements and verdicts, these numbers alone cannot tell the full story. Every case, whether a car accident, truck crash, medical malpractice claim, or catastrophic brain and spinal cord injury in Orlando and throughout Florida, is unique with its own set of evidence and litigation challenges. Willis emphasizes that case results must be understood in context, as every case involves unique circumstances, evidence challenges, and insurance limitations. Her focus remains on maximizing value within each case's specific parameters rather than pursuing uncontested default judgments used primarily for marketing purposes.
Unique Strategic Advantages
Comprehensive Medical Network
Willis, working with co-counsel, has cultivated relationships with leading medical specialists throughout Florida who provide both excellent patient care and effective legal testimony. This network includes cutting-edge diagnostic specialists using advanced imaging techniques like Diffusion Tensor Imaging DTI for traumatic brain injuries that most neurologists don't perform and many injury lawyers won't order, treating physicians experienced in litigation processes, expert witnesses with impressive credentials and clear communication skills, and life care planning experts for catastrophic injury cases.
Evidence Preservation Expertise
Drawing on her defense experience, Willis understands what evidence proves most valuable and takes immediate steps to preserve critical information. This includes rapid accident scene documentation and reconstruction, electronic data preservation from vehicles and devices, witness interview and statement preservation, medical record and diagnostic image securing, surveillance video preservation, black box data recovery, and impounded vehicle examination before critical evidence can be lost or destroyed.
Insurance Industry Knowledge
Her defense background provides unique insight into insurance company evaluation processes including understanding of claims evaluation methodologies, knowledge of settlement authority structures, insight into defense attorney strategies and limitations, familiarity with insurance company priorities and constraints, and experience with PIP benefits and the critical 14-day treatment requirement, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, health insurance coordination and liens, property damage claims, and diminished value claims.
Trial Preparation Excellence
While most cases settle, Willis' team's thorough trial preparation often leads to better settlement offers. This includes comprehensive discovery and evidence development, expert witness preparation and coordination, detailed damage analysis and presentation, strategic mediation and negotiation approaches, and preparation of comprehensive demand packages detailing damages with extensive medical documentation.
Client Service Philosophy
Willis built her practice around principles that prioritize client needs over firm revenue, informed by her personal background and professional experience. She provides direct attorney access so clients communicate directly with experienced attorneys rather than case managers or paralegals for important decisions. Many of her clients have called her complaining about not being able to speak with attorneys at other firms, which reinforces her commitment to direct communication.
Her transparent communication includes regular updates and clear explanations of legal processes, options, and case developments. Willis explains everything in simple terms so clients understand everything that affects case value by the time they finish their first meeting. During every initial consultation, she explains what to expect, how to get the most money, and how the entire process works, ensuring clients feel comfortable about what should happen, when, and why.
Willis develops individualized strategies with custom case development based on specific circumstances rather than standardized approaches. She takes an educational approach, helping clients understand their rights, options, and the legal process to make informed decisions. She spends the time needed at the beginning of each case to tell clients exactly how to get the most money from their case, including extensive research and experience to help determine what value their case should be worth.
Throughout representation, Willis demonstrates genuine care, understanding that legal representation involves people facing difficult circumstances who deserve compassion and support. Her ability to relate to anyone, combined with her down-to-earth personality, allows her to connect with clients from all backgrounds while providing the sophisticated legal representation their cases deserve.
Geographic Reach & Accessibility
Willis serves the Greater Orlando and Central Florida region primarily, with specific coverage in downtown Orlando, Dr. Phillips, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Winter Park, Windermere, Maitland, Lake Mary, Oviedo, Altamonte Springs, Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee, Celebration, St. Cloud, Clermont, Mount Dora, Leesburg, Tavares, Eustis, Lady Lake, The Villages, Apopka, DeLand, Deltona, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa Beach, Port Orange, St. Augustine, Ocala, and Gainesville.
Willis maintains a statewide practice handling serious injury cases throughout Florida, including Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and all points between. The firm provides a 24/7 attorney hotline for urgent matters and offers free initial consultations for all potential clients. Willis's Orlando location provides convenient access for Central Florida residents while her statewide practice ensures she can represent serious injury victims throughout Florida.
Advanced Case Development Capabilities
Technology Integration
Willis' team employs cutting-edge technology to enhance case development including advanced accident reconstruction software and techniques, digital evidence preservation and analysis, comprehensive case management systems, and video conferencing for remote client communication. The firm uses sophisticated tools for accident scene reconstruction and evidence analysis.
Expert Witness Network
Willis' team maintains relationships with leading experts across multiple disciplines including accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts in all major specialties, economic and vocational experts, life care planning professionals, biomechanical and engineering experts, and experts experienced in federal trucking regulations and electronic data recovery.
Research & Analysis
Willis invests significant resources in case research and analysis through comprehensive legal research on novel issues, medical literature review for complex injury cases, settlement and verdict analysis for case valuation, industry trend monitoring for strategic advantages, and consultation with other experienced injury lawyers around the country regarding trends, case values in similar factual situations, reported verdicts and settlements, and strategies.
Commitment to Legal Excellence
Willis's approach to personal injury law represents a return to traditional legal principles while incorporating modern knowledge and techniques. Her practice demonstrates that exceptional results require exceptional effort something impossible within high-volume law firm models.
Core Principles include that every case deserves thorough investigation and preparation, client communication should be direct and honest, settlement negotiations should be based on maximum case value not convenience, trial readiness creates settlement leverage, and professional relationships enhance client outcomes. Willis ensures that car accident, semi-truck accident, medical malpractice, and other personal injury victims get the most money possible from their injury cases, understanding that case value is not set immediately after an accident but develops through medical treatment and evidence generated after the accident.
Continuing Education includes regular viewing of legal conferences and seminars, consultation with other experienced attorneys on complex cases, study of evolving medical and legal developments, and participation in professional organizations. Willis routinely consults with other experienced injury lawyers around the country and employs another attorney or law firm at no extra cost to clients because bring something special to the cases. Her clients truly get two exceptional lawyers for the price of one!
Impact on Personal Injury Practice
Through her innovative approach and consistent results, Willis has influenced how personal injury law is practiced in Central Florida. Her professional impact includes demonstrating effectiveness of low-volume, high-attention practice models, educating clients and colleagues about settlement mill dangers through research-based warnings about high-volume firms, advancing understanding of medical evidence in injury cases, and promoting ethical standards and client-focused representation.
Client Impact includes recovering millions in compensation for injured individuals and families, providing access to quality legal representation regardless of case size, educating clients about their rights and options, supporting clients through difficult recovery processes, and ensuring clients understand that medical treatment and evidence collected after accidents significantly affects case value.
Future Vision
Willis continues evolving her practice to meet changing client needs while maintaining core principles of excellence and individual attention. Her focus remains on maximizing outcomes for clients facing moderate to catastrophic injuries through sophisticated legal strategies, cutting-edge medical understanding, and unwavering commitment to client service.
As personal injury, car accident & medical malpractice law continues evolving, Willis's approach serves as a model for how legal representation should prioritize client outcomes over firm convenience, demonstrating that traditional legal principles remain relevant in modern practice when properly applied with contemporary knowledge and techniques. Willis firmly believes in making sure each client understands their options and has the best evidence needed to prove their cases, resulting in recovery of millions for serious injury, accident, malpractice, and wrongful death clients.
Contact Information
Office: 390 N. Orange Avenue, Suite 2310, Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: (407) 803-2139
Email: Available through firm contact page
Website: injuryattorneyflorida.com
Availability: 24/7 attorney hotline for urgent matters
Office Hours: Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Consultation: Free initial consultations for all potential clients
For wrongful death potential clients, please visit her specialized website: wrongful death Orlando Florida
For car accidents: Car Accident Lawyer
For truck accidents: Truck Accident Lawyer
For medical malpractice: Medical Malpractice Lawyer
For birth injuries: Birth Injury Lawyer
Tina Willis represents the gold standard in personal injury representation, combining academic excellence, sophisticated legal strategy, and genuine client care to achieve superior outcomes for those facing life-changing injuries and losses.
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