Robert "Tri" Thornhill, III
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Winter Haven, Florida
Howell & Thornhill, P.A.
Practice areas: Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1993
Education: University of Florida Levin College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2026 Call today:
863-216-3540
Free Consultation Howell & Thornhill, P.A.
1350 Havendale Blvd NWWinter Haven, FL 33881 Visit website
Robert "Tri" Thornhill III is a Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial attorney and a shareholder at Howell & Thornhill, P.A., in Winter Haven, Florida. For over three decades, he has been focusing his practice exclusively on personal injury matters, seeking justice for those who have been hurt by careless driving, misconduct, defective products and violations of safety rules. He serves clients across Lakeland, Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales, Bartow, Zephyrhills and the surrounding areas in Florida.
Certified as a civil trial specialist by The Florida Bar, Mr. Thornhill has handled injury and death claims arising out of automobile crashes, medical malpractice, falls, nursing home abuse, car and bike accidents, animal attacks and more. He holds insurance companies to their contractual obligations and procures the rightful compensation for his clients.
Born and raised in Polk County, Florida, Mr. Thornhill graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in government from Dartmouth College in 1990. He graduated second in his class with his Juris Doctor in 1993 from the University of Florida - Fredric G. Levin College of Law, where he was a recipient of the Book Award for Torts, Contracts and Property; a member of the university’s law review; and inducted into the Order of the Coif honor society. He served as a law clerk for federal Judge Federico Moreno of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District Court of Florida.
A respected member of his community, Mr. Thornhill was appointed as the chair of the 10th Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee, a panel formed by the Supreme Court of Florida to look after the professionalism complaints filed against attorneys within the circuit. He functions as the Inn Administrator for the Willson American Inn of Court and is the former chair of The Florida Bar – Grievance Committee.
Honoring his accomplishments, Mr. Thornhill was offered membership in the prestigious, invitation-only Million Dollar Advocates Forum and listed in the Top 100 Trial Lawyers list of The National Trial Lawyers. Moreover, he was peer-review rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell, the organization’s highest available rating.
Maintaining a central role within his legal community, Mr. Thornhill volunteers his time and services to charitable organizations such as the Kiwanis of Lakeland and the Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE).
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Other Locations to Serve You:
Winter Haven, FL (Main Office)
1350 Havendale Boulevard
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Haines City, FL
135 North 6th Street, Suite C
Haines City, FL 33844
Lakeland, FL
2115 South Florida Avenue
Lakeland, FL 33803
Lake Wales, FL
2 South 1st Street, Suite 211
Lake Wales, FL 33853
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Animal Bites, Assault, Brain Injury, Dram Shop Laws, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Slip and Fall, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 100% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1993, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://howellthornhill.com/our-lawyers/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Administrator for Willson American Inn of Court, association of Judges and Lawyers to promote professionalism in 10th Judicial Circuit. Served in this role since 2012., 2025
- Professional Panel Chair for 10th Judicial Circuit. Appointed by Chief Judge of 10th Judicial Circuit for panel that reviews professional complaints. Served in this role since 2016., 2025
- Florida Bar Grievance Committee Member for 10th Judicial Circuit. Tri is former chair of the committee reappointed for 2022-2025. , 2025
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Over $5,000,000 for automobile accident, 2024
- $550,000 for a neck injury., 2024
- $5,000,000.00 for spinal injury
- $100,000.00 for knee surgery and neck pain
- $400,000.00 for knee surgery and RSD
- $150,000.00 for shoulder injury
- $350,000.00 for neck injury
- $150,000.00 for neck injury
- $205,000.00 for burn injury
- $325,000.00 for back injury
- $350,000.00 for wrongfully denied insurance benefits claim
- $400,000.00 for nursing home abuse
- $225,000.00 for dehydration by a nursing home
- $145,000.00 for jaw injury
- $150,000.00 for jaw injury
- $100,000.00 for dog bite scarring
- $115,000.00 for foot injury
- $274,112.22 for jaw injury
- $1,025,000.00 for hip and shoulder surgery
- $250,000.00 for broken hip
- $290,000.00 for jaw and spine injury
- $285,000.00 for spinal injury
- $500,000.00 for spine injury
- $250,000.00 for spine surgery
- $179,000.00 for spine surgery
- $149,000.00 for spine surgery
- $1,120,000.00 for spine surgery
- $5,400,000.00 for spinal injury
- $150,000.00 for orthopedic surgery
- $300,000.00 for orthopedic injury
- $300,000.00 for brain injury
- $320,000.00 for brain injury
Representative Clients
- $450,000 for neck and back pain from automobile accident., 2023
- Represented over 15,000 clients for injury or death claims since 1975 in Polk County, Florida., 2025
- Represented mother of two young children for wrongful death claim for death of husband., 2024
- $400,000 for back pain when truck rearended client., 2024
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Florida Bar Board Certified in Civil Trial Law 2004 to present. This honor requires a sufficient number of trials, recommendations from Judges and lawyers, and excellence on a written examination. Less than 2% of Florida lawyers have this distinction., 2004
- Recertified by Florida Bar in Civil Trial Lawy, a distinction less than 2% of Florida lawyers possess., 2025
- Recertified by Florida Bar in Civil Trial Law, marking over 15 years of certification for Tri Thornhill., 2019
- Recertified by Florida Bar in Civil Trial Law, an honor less than 2% of Florida lawyers possess., 2014
- Recertified by Florida Bar in Civil Trial Law, a distinction less than 2% of Florida lawyers have., 2009
Pro bono / Community Service
- Kiwanis Club of Lakeland
- Over 10 years as a volunteer for VISTE, a service in Lakeland that helps with food delivery for the elderly., 2025
- St. Paul Lutheran Church, Member
Honors
- AV rated by Martindale Hubbell
- Order of the Coif, University of Florida School of Law
- Book Award for Torts, Contracts, and Property, University of Florida School of Law
- Million Dollar Advocates, member
Educational Background
- Dartmouth College 1990 graduated Magna Cum Laude, 1990
- Graduated second in law school class from University of Florida law school. Book award (highest grade in class) for Torts, Property, and Contracts., 1993
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Workshop instructor on trial skills for Al. J. Cone Trial Skills seminar in August 2025 and 2023., Workshop instructor, 2025
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Robert Thornhill III (Tri) has helped my clients and friends for years with their personal injury claims. His reputation is excellent, he is involved in community charities, and he is the only person I trust with personal injury work. To my knowledge he is also board certified and holds a Martindale Hubbel AV rating. I have been practicing in Polk County for 20 years and recommend him without reservation.”
“Outstanding personal injury and wrongful death attorney.”
“Robert G. Thornhill, III, ("Tri") is a board-certified civil trial lawyer in practice over twenty years. During this time period, he became a member of the Million Dollar Advocates. More importantly, he has helped those hurt due the negligence of others and volunteers at Kiwanis as well as his local church. He is active in Willson American Inn of Court, and serves on the grievance committee for the local chapter of the Florida Bar. He has been rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Dartmouth, and was Order of the Coif at the University of Florida law school, where we was also on law review.”
“Robert (Tri) Thornhill has represented my family, friends and clients for over twenty years. He is board certified and his results and professionalism are excellent. I cannot recommend him enough. He is my ONLY nomination to Super Lawyers.”
“I am a family law attorney and have a firm in Polk County, Florida. Robert Thornhill, III has represented me, several of my friends and many of my clients since 1996 in personal injury actions. He has gotten fantastic results and has truly impressed me with his expertise. Further he is well respected by the court and fellow attorneys and is active in the community and charity work.”
“Tri is the absolute best.”
“Robert G. Thornhill, III (Tri) is one of the finest personal injury attorneys I know and I am pleased to nominate him. I have referred friends and clients to him for the past 16 years and I have never heard anything but 'thank you' from my referrals. I have also worked together with him on several cases and I have been highly impressed with his expertise and the team he has built at his firm. Please strongly consider him for Super Lawyers.”
Office location for Robert "Tri" Thornhill, III
1350 Havendale Blvd NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-216-3540
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2026
Certificates and credentials
Civil Trial
