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Top-Ranked Personal Injury Lawyers in Bradenton, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.26 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked personal injury lawyers in Bradenton, Florida are Steven George Lavely (LexRank 84.00), David Scott Becker (84.00) and Eric David Bruce (84.00).

This ranking lists 6 personal injury lawyers in Bradenton, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 6 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 24 to 45 years in practice. 2 of the 6 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
6
Fully verified
6 of 6

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Steven George Lavely

    Independent practice · Bradenton, FL

    Verified
    • 41 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  2. No change

    David Scott Becker

    Independent practice · Bradenton, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  3. No change

    Eric David Bruce

    Heintz Law · Bradenton, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  4. No change

    Steven E Heintz “Steve Heintz”

    Heintz Law · Bradenton, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 29.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  5. No change

    Carl Edward Reynolds III

    Independent practice · Bradenton, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 82.80: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #4 (Steven E Heintz “Steve Heintz”): Experience −1.2.

  6. No change

    Derek Allen Reams

    Independent practice · Bradenton, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 82.80: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 6 profile pages68 facts for 6 lawyers

Personal Injury market in Bradenton

LexRanked tracks 6 lawyers and 1 law firm in personal injury law in Bradenton, Florida. 6 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
6
Law firms
1
Verified professional data
6 of 6
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
36 years6 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Bradenton

What sets these Bradenton lawyers apart

All 6 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 6 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law 6 of 6
Years in practice 24 to 45 (median 36)
Languages besides English Spanish (2)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Miami School of Law (2 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Bradenton office address and personal injury as a practice area on record. It compares 6 personal injury lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Most injury claims must be filed within two years, a person more than 50% at fault recovers nothing, and car crash injuries start with your own PIP insurance.

Rule What it means
Filing deadline 2 years for negligence claims that arose on or after March 24, 2023 (Fla. Stat. § 95.11)
Shared fault More than 50% at fault: no recovery; 50% or less: damages reduced by your share (Fla. Stat. § 768.81)
Car crashes Your own PIP pays first, up to $10,000, if you get care within 14 days (Fla. Stat. § 627.736)
Lawyer fees Contingency fees are capped, for example 33⅓% of the first $1 million if the case resolves before the defendant answers (Rule 4-1.5)
Which court Claims above $50,000 go to the circuit court; smaller claims go to the county court
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Manatee County is in Florida's Twelfth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida?

Two years from the date of the injury for most negligence claims that arose on or after March 24, 2023. Claims that arose before that date have four years. Medical malpractice and wrongful death claims also have two-year deadlines, with their own rules on when the clock starts.

Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Yes, if you were 50% or less at fault; your damages are reduced by your share. If you are found more than 50% at fault, Florida law bars recovery, except in medical negligence cases.

How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Florida?

Most work on a contingency fee: a percentage of the recovery and nothing if there is none. Florida caps these fees, for example at 33⅓% of the first $1 million if the case resolves before the defendant answers the lawsuit, and 40% after that. You can cancel the agreement within 3 business days of signing.

Who pays my medical bills after a car accident in Florida?

Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance pays first, whoever caused the crash: 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost income, up to $10,000 combined, if you get care within 14 days. You can claim against the at-fault driver only for serious, permanent injuries.

What does Board Certified in Civil Trial Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 6 of the 6 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Bradenton?

State court cases in Manatee County are heard in Florida's Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking personal injury lawyers in Bradenton?

Yes. 2 of the 6 ranked lawyers list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

6 of the 6 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Steven George Lavely, David Scott Becker, Eric David Bruce, Steven E Heintz “Steve Heintz” and Carl Edward Reynolds III and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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