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Top-Ranked Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.225 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked personal injury lawyers in Tampa, Florida are David Joseph Sales (LexRank 88.00), Mark Alexander Sessums (88.00) and Leo H Meirose Jr. (86.60).

This ranking lists 25 personal injury lawyers in Tampa, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 25 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 13 to 53 years in practice. 7 of the 25 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
25
Fully verified
25 of 25

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    David Joseph Sales

    Barnes Trial Group · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #1 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
  2. No change

    Mark Alexander Sessums

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
  3. No change

    Leo H Meirose Jr.

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #3 with 86.60: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30). 1.40 points behind #2, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)

    1.40 points behind #2 (Mark Alexander Sessums): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  4. No change

    Shyam N.S. Dixit Jr.

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #4 with 84.40: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Data quality (10/10). 2.20 points behind #3, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    2.20 points behind #3 (Leo H Meirose Jr.): Experience −3.6.

  5. No change

    Luis Guillermo Figueroa

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.40 points behind #4, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)

    0.40 points behind #4 (Shyam N.S. Dixit Jr.): Reputation −4.

  6. No change

    Alan Frederick Wagner

    Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore, P.A. · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  7. No change

    Richard Alvarez

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  8. No change

    J Dan Clark

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  9. No change

    Scott Patrick Distasio

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  10. No change

    Anthony John Gonzalez Jr.

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  11. No change

    Joseph Alexander Lao

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  12. No change

    Richard Barrett Mangan Jr.

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  13. No change

    Kevin Michael McLaughlin

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  14. No change

    Dale Martin Swope

    Swope, Rodante, Newsome & Steinberg · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 47 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  15. No change

    Jody Michael Valdes

    Weekley Schulte Valdes, LLC · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
  16. No change

    Tomas Lazaro Gacio

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.40 points behind #15, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)

    1.40 points behind #15 (Jody Michael Valdes): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  17. No change

    Mac A Greco Jr.

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 53 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  18. No change

    Leticia L Valdes

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  19. No change

    Morgan Luke Gaynor

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  20. No change

    Robert Dwight Peltz

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 49 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  21. No change

    Christopher John Blain

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 81.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #20, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)

    1.00 points behind #20 (Robert Dwight Peltz): Experience −2.4.

  22. No change

    Jonathan Neil Zaifert

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 21 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 75.45: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 6.15 points behind #21, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)

    6.15 points behind #21 (Christopher John Blain): Professional credentials −3.8, Experience −2.4.

  23. No change

    Roland A Hermida II

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 75.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.05 points behind #22, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)

    0.05 points behind #22 (Jonathan Neil Zaifert): Experience −2.4, Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  24. No change

    Karina Perez Ilić

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #24 with 72.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (18/30). 3.40 points behind #23, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 28.2)

    3.40 points behind #23 (Roland A Hermida II): Experience −4.8.

  25. No change

    Garrett McGregor Brown

    Banker Lopez Gassler P.A. · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Personal Injury
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 69.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 2.40 points behind #24, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.6)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 28.2)

    2.40 points behind #24 (Karina Perez Ilić): Experience −2.4.

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 · 25 profile pages301 facts for 25 lawyers

Personal Injury market in Tampa

LexRanked tracks 25 lawyers and 5 law firms in personal injury law in Tampa, Florida. 25 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
25
Law firms
5
Verified professional data
25 of 25
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
34 years25 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 Tampa

What sets these Tampa lawyers apart

All 25 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 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law 25 of 25
Years in practice 13 to 53 (median 34)
Languages besides English Spanish (7), French (1), Hindi (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Stetson University College of Law (5 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tampa office address and personal injury as a practice area on record. It compares 25 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 Hillsborough County is in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit

Hillsborough County crashes by the numbers

Hillsborough County recorded 27,474 traffic crashes in 2023, the third most of any Florida county. Those crashes injured 18,873 people and killed 230, according to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Traffic Crash Facts 2023.

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. 25 of the 25 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Tampa?

State court cases in Hillsborough County are heard in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking personal injury lawyers in Tampa?

Yes. 7 of the 25 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?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: David Joseph Sales, Mark Alexander Sessums, Leo H Meirose Jr., Shyam N.S. Dixit Jr. and Luis Guillermo Figueroa and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

7 of the 25 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 7 confirmed by a verified fact or an official record. They are ranked separately by the same LexRank score. Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

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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