Injury and wrongful death lawyer for Manatee County
Manatee County is a Gulf-coast county between Tampa Bay and Sarasota, home to about 430,000 residents. Manatee sits on the Gulf between Tampa Bay and Sarasota, and its beaches, resorts, and the fast-growing Lakewood Ranch area draw traffic and visitors that add crashes, pool and premises injuries, and negligent security claims to the mix. I take on the crash reconstruction, the medical proof, and the insurers and their hired experts the same way I take apart the State’s evidence in a criminal case.
I am Rory Safir, and I represent injured people and grieving families across Manatee County, in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. I began my career as an Assistant Public Defender in Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, trying cases and cross-examining witnesses constantly, and I bring that same courtroom work to injury cases, against the insurance companies and the experts they hire. I represent injured people, not insurers, I handle each case personally, and the first consultation is free. Learn more about my background.
The roads and the crashes in Manatee County
Interstate 75, US-41, US-301, State Road 64 known as Manatee Avenue, and State Road 70 carry local, commuter, tourist, and truck traffic through Manatee, and the approaches toward Anna Maria Island add seasonal congestion. The fast-growing Lakewood Ranch corridor along SR-70 and University Parkway has seen crashes climb right along with the traffic.
Care and records after a Manatee County crash
Serious injuries in Manatee are often treated at Blake Medical Center or Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, or at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, and the records from that care are central to any claim. I gather the full file and work with the treating providers to document the true extent of the harm.
Where your case is heard, and the deadline
Injury and wrongful death cases in Manatee County are civil matters in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, heard at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton. Florida is a no-fault state, so your own PIP coverage pays the first medical bills if you are seen within fourteen days, and a serious injury can open a claim against the at-fault driver beyond those limits. Under section 95.11(5) the deadline to sue for most negligence is now two years. The how a Florida injury claim works page walks through each step in depth, so this page stays local.
Manatee County by the Numbers
Manatee County is home to about 430,000 residents, and the volume of traffic on its roads produces thousands of crashes across the county each year, a share of them causing serious injury or death. Figures are drawn from U.S. Census estimates and Florida crash data and are approximate.
How We Help
Every injury case is won on the proof: the crash reconstruction, the scene and vehicle evidence, the medical records, and the cross-examination of the insurer’s experts. Each area links to the full practice page, where the detail lives.
Cities We Serve in Manatee County
I handle injury and wrongful death cases across Manatee County, including these communities:
What to do after a Manatee County crash
If you have just been hurt, a few things protect your health and your claim at the same time. Get medical care right away, and within fourteen days, so your PIP coverage applies and your injuries are documented from the start. Photograph the scene, the vehicles, and anything that caused a fall before it changes, and get the names of any witnesses. Ask for the crash or incident report. Do not give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer, and do not accept a quick settlement before anyone knows how serious the injury is. Then call, because the earlier we are involved, the more evidence we can preserve, and the first consultation is free and available any hour of the day.
Common Questions
Do you handle injury and wrongful death cases in Manatee County?
Yes. Alongside my DUI and criminal work, I represent injured people and families in serious injury, crash, premises, and wrongful death cases across Manatee County and the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.
Is there a deadline to file an injury claim in Manatee County?
Yes, and it is short. Under Florida Statutes section 95.11(5), most negligence claims carry a two-year deadline to file suit, and a wrongful death claim has its own two-year limit. Evidence like surveillance video can disappear in days, so it is worth calling early.
What does it cost to hire you for an injury case?
Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, which means no fee unless we win, and the first consultation is free. You do not pay out of pocket to have your case reviewed or pursued.
Where would my Manatee County injury case be heard?
Personal injury and wrongful death cases are civil matters in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, heard at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton, with smaller claims in county court.
More Manatee County injury cases we handle
This page is general information about Florida law and our service area, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court structure and procedure can change, so confirm details with counsel about your own case. Every case turns on its own facts, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
