Located mainly in Sumter County with portions spreading into Lake and Marion counties, The Villages is a census-designated place that boasts a population of more than 125,000 and has experienced recent rapid growth. Known as “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown,” The Villages is a vibrant recreational community that features 50 golf courses, hundreds of retail stores, fantastic bars and restaurants, and three town squares. The Villages is unlike anywhere else in Florida – but that doesn’t mean serious car accidents don’t happen here. When they do, injury victims know they can rely on Brent C. Miller and his experienced legal team to help.
When you’ve been injured in an accident caused by someone else, figuring out how to get the compensation you’re entitled to might not be as easy as you think. Insurance companies are well known for lowballing injury victims, and if you don’t use caution, you could miss out on the compensation you deserve. That’s why you need an experienced car accident attorney to stand in your corner, protect your rights, and advocate for your needs – every step of the way.
The cost of an injury can be massive. We fight for full compensation.
The cost of a serious injury goes well beyond medical treatment. You came to The Villages to enjoy the unique lifestyle and amenities that this community has to offer, and an injury can put all that at risk. Your quality of life, your relationships, and your future are all affected. Under Florida law, you have recourse for those losses – but you must fight for it.
We know how to assess your legal situation and fight for the full amount of damages (financial compensation) you need and deserve. Depending on the extent of your injury, that may include:
- Medical expenses, ranging from ambulance fees and hospital bills to follow-up care and physical therapy. Every medical expense should be covered: treatment, surgery, medical devices, medication, even mileage to and from your appointments. If the injury is such that you may need future surgery or other treatment, that should be included as well.
- Lost income, both past and future, if your injury has affected your ability to earn.
- Modifications to your home or car for accessibility if you have a permanent injury.
- Loss of consortium, a legal term for loss of intimacy with your spouse or damage to relationships with your family.
- Loss of quality and enjoyment of life if the injury has affected your ability to participate in activities or otherwise enjoy life in The Villages.
- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress you have experienced due to the injury.
- Property damage, including repairs or replacement of any damaged property, as well as diminished value (for instance, even if your car is fixed, it’s now worth less than it was before).
If you were harmed by someone else’s negligence, you have the right to be made financially whole again. It’s that simple. No amount of money can undo your injury, but we will fight for what you need to move forward.
Personal injury attorneys standing up for injury victims in The Villages
Our legal team in The Villages handles many different types of cases. We know how to take on the insurance companies in motor vehicle accident cases ranging from low-impact rear-end crashes to head-on collisions and truck and motorcycle accidents. Our attorneys have the experience to beat car insurance companies at their own game and get car accident victims the compensation they need. We also represent injured pedestrians and people hurt in golf cart accidents.
Property owners in and around The Villages have a legal responsibility to make sure their premises are safe, and we hold them accountable for slip and falls and other accidents that happen on property in premises liability cases. We have the resources and experience to take on manufacturers of dangerous products in product liability claims. In a community where many residents have complex medical needs, we are proud to take on negligent healthcare providers in medical malpractice claims, as well as representing victims of nursing home abuse and neglect.
Whatever type of accident you’re dealing with, whether it happened in one of the neighborhoods in The Villages or somewhere nearby, our personal injury lawyers can help you sort through the mess and come up with the best plan to get you maximum compensation.
We know how to take on the insurance companies
The accident may have been one of the worst days of your life, but for the insurance company, it’s just another claim. Their representatives and adjusters are trained to reduce the amount of money they must pay injured people, and they will stall, manipulate, and apply pressure to try to get you to settle for less than you deserve. To them, it’s just business. To us, it’s personal.
When you hire the Law Offices of Brent C. Miller to handle your claim, we’ll immediately contact the insurance company and tell them to send all further correspondence to our office. We will deal with them on your behalf as we thoroughly investigate your accident. We know The Villages, and we know what to look for to build a strong personal injury case. Our attorneys have extensive experience trying cases in Sumter, Lake, and Marion Counties and know what arguments juries will find compelling.
The insurance company knows our reputation, and when they see we’re prepared to hold them accountable, they are usually willing to pay fair value. If they won’t pay, we may need to file a lawsuit and take your case before a judge and jury. This can be a long process, but we’re in it with you, letting you know what to expect and keeping you actively involved in creating your legal strategy. It isn’t just a case; it’s about making The Villages safer for everyone, and even more importantly, helping you rebuild your life.
How to file a personal injury lawsuit in The Villages
In many cases, the best way to get the money you deserve for medical bills, replacement income and other injury-related expenses involving an injury sustained in The Villages is to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, it’s important to understand how the legal process works before you file a lawsuit. Each case often presents its own unique challenges, but some of the steps you will likely need to take include:
- Seek immediate medical attention for your own health and in order to have proof of your injury. This may involve receiving medical care in an emergency room at UF Health The Villages Hospital or another nearby medical facility
- Save all paperwork related to your medical treatment and doctor’s diagnosis of your injury
- Talk to an experienced lawyer right away who can represent you and help you file your personal injury lawsuit
- Identify the at-fault party that caused your injury. The at-fault is responsible for financially compensating you. The at-fault party can range from the person or business that directly caused your injury to the company that manufactured a dangerous product that resulted in your injury
- Determine which court has jurisdiction over your case. In Florida, this often means filing your personal injury lawsuit in the county court where your injury took place. In the case of injury accidents that happen in The Villages, you will likely need to file your lawsuit in the Sumter County Courthouse in Bushnell, FL or the North Sumter Annex of the courthouse in The Villages, FL. Which court has jurisdiction over your case often depends on the estimated value of your lawsuit. Sumter County Court handles civil cases (as opposed to criminal cases) in Sumter County estimated to be worth less than $30,000. Sumter County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil cases in Sumter County estimated to be worth more than $30,000.
- Gather evidence in support of your injury claim. Your attorney can help you do this extremely important step. Without enough evidence to support your claim, your lawsuit may not be successful due to lack of evidence
- Notify the at-fault party in writing that you plan to take legal action against them. This document is known as a formal demand letter. Your lawyer can help you write this letter, in which you state the facts of your case, request a specific amount of money to settle your injury claim and provide a deadline to settle your claim
- File a formal complaint letter with the court that has jurisdiction over your case in Florida. Your attorney can write this letter with you. In the letter, you explain who is filing the lawsuit (you, the plaintiff) and who the lawsuit is being filed against (the at-fault party or defendant)
- Formally notify the defendant that you are taking legal action against them. This step often involves having a process server deliver a copy of your formal complaint letter in person to the at-fault party
- Give the defendant time to formally respond to your complaint letter. You can expect the at-fault party to likely respond in one of the following ways:
- File a motion with the court to have your lawsuit dismissed
- File a motion with the court for more information, known as a definitive statement
- File a counter lawsuit against you seeking damages (financial compensation)
- No response at all, in which case you can petition the presiding judge for a default judgement about your case
- If your lawsuit proceeds, you will next likely enter what is known as the discovery stage. In this stage, the attorneys for both sides (the plaintiff and the defendant) share information that could come up in court during a trial
- If your lawsuit proceeds, the presiding judge will set a trial date for your case
- If a jury is involved in deciding your case, the presiding judge and the attorneys for the plaintiff and defendant will begin the jury selection process to decide which jury members will rule on your case
- If your case goes to trial, the attorneys for the plaintiff and the defendant will make brief, opening statements outlining why the judge or jury should rule in their favor
- Your lawyer (the plaintiff’s lawyer) presents evidence in support of your case
- The defendant’s attorney has the opportunity to question anyone who presents evidence in support of your case
- The defendant’s attorney presents evidence in support of the at-fault party’s case
- Your attorney has opportunity to question anyone who presents evidence in support of the defendant
- The lawyers for the plaintiff and the defendant present their closing arguments
- The presiding judge or jury deliberates in private and makes a decision on the outcome of the case
- The presiding judge or jury presents their verdict, either in favor of the plaintiff or the defendant
- If the presiding judge or jury rules in favor of the plaintiff, they often decide to award damages (financial compensation) to the plaintiff. Damages must be paid by the defendant
- Both sides – the plaintiff and the defendant – can file an appeal if they disagree with the ruling by the presiding judge or jury
Filing a personal injury lawsuit in Florida in response to a legal matter in The Villages can be a complicated, detailed process. Don’t try to tackle your legal case on your own. Make sure you have an attorney on your side who knows exactly what to do and who has experience handle legal cases involving The Villages. Attorney Brent C. Miller and his talented legal team can help you with your lawsuit and make sure you present the strongest possible legal case in support of your personal injury claim.
Let the Law Offices of Brent C. Miller lift you up
Once you’ve been injured in an accident, you’ll notice right away how hard it can be to deal with the insurance company. Insurance adjusters realize you’re under a huge amount of pressure and stress when you’re injured – and that’s why they often try to tempt you with a quick cash settlement that in reality is minimal compensation.
Don’t sell yourself short. Our personal injury attorneys in The Villages are tough negotiators who won’t settle for less than anything than what you deserve. If the insurance company refuses to play fair and offer you a realistic settlement, we have an entire team of skilled trial attorneys who will fight for what you deserve in court. Best of all, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we win. It’s that easy. Find out what the Law Offices of Brent C. Miller can do for you. Contact us today for your free consultation.
Directions to our office in The Villages:
From the North
Head south on US-27 S/US-441 S
Turn right onto Rolling Acres Rd
Turn right onto Co Rd 466 W
Turn right
Turn left
Our office will be on your left
From the South
Head north on US-441 N/W N Blvd
Turn left onto Co Rd 466 W/Lemon St
Turn right
Turn left
Our office will be on your left
From the East
Head west on US-441/E Burleigh Blvd
Turn left onto Co Rd 466 W/Lemon St
Turn right
Turn left
Our office will be on your left
From the West
Head east on FL-44 E
Turn left onto S Hwy 475 N
Turn right onto Co Rd 466 E
Turn left
Turn left
Our office will be on your left
Law Offices of Brent C. Miller, P.A.
8564 E County Rd 466 #204A
The Villages, FL 32162
Phone: (352) 753-2833