Practice Areas: Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1980
Education: Florida State University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2010, 2013 - 2023 Details
Steven E. Heintz is the experienced civil trial attorney behind Heintz Law Firm. Over the last 35 years, he has dedicated his career to representing personal injury victims and the families of wrongful death victims. During this time, he has built a strong reputation for fierce advocacy and a solid track record. He primarily serves clients in Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida.
Mr. Heintz first completed his undergraduate studies at Manatee Junior College and the University of South Florida. Then, in 1980, he completed his J.D. at Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee. Since then, he has also gone on to gain board certifications in several legal specialties. He is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a civil trial advocate and a pretrial advocate. He is also board-certified by the Florida Bar as a civil trial lawyer.
During his over 40 years of practicing law, Mr. Heintz has taught seminars and published articles. He taught a seminar on collecting personal injury damages from property damage coverage for the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. In 1996, he also published a chapter in The Lawyers Cooperative Practice Guide on Florida Evidence.
When he's not fighting hard for his clients, Mr. Heintz nurtures the next generation in his community by coaching youth football. He also enjoys traveling and fishing.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 100% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1980, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.heintzlaw.com/steven-e-heintz/
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Author, A chapter in Florida Evidence that was published by Lawyers Cooperative, 1996
- Speaker, Collecting Bodily Injury Damages from Property Damage Coverage, Southern Trial Lawyers Conference in New Orleans, 2012
Honors/Awards:
- Super Lawyers
- AV Preeminent Rating
- Rated Superb 10.0 out of 10, AVVO
- AV Rating 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
- American Association for Justice
- Member, President's Club, Florida Justice Association
- Florida Bar, 1980
- Sustaining Member, American Association for Justice
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Coach Youth Football for The Police Athletic League, 2002Â - 2009
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Educational Background:
- University of South Florida, B.A., 1977
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- The Florida Bar Re-Certified in Civil Trial, 2018
- The Florida Bar Re-Certified in Civil Trial, 2013
- The Florida Bar Re_Certified in Civil Trial, 2008
- Florida Bar Re-Certified in Civil Trial, 2003
- Board Certified Civil Pretrial Advocate by The National Board of Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy, 2012
- Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by The National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1999
- Florida Bar Board Certified in Civil Trial, 1998
Verdicts/Settlements:
- 2-million-dollar recovery from a 1.3-million-dollar policy for a fractured femur.  $700,00 over policy limit. Bad Faith case. , 2023
- $1,007,500.00 recovery for bicyclist hit by a car. Over 99% of the recovery was from a business that erected a fence that violated multiple building codes and blocked the view for traffic. , 2021
- $1.1 Million Dollar Verdict Returned, Bad Faith Mr. and Mrs. Y’s lives were changed substantially after being victimized by a negligent Florida motorist, while traveling on their motorcycle. In addition to suffering substantial orthopedic injuries, Mr. Y lost his spleen as a result of the crash. Unfortunately, the at-fault driver carried only Property Damage coverage on his vehicle. He did not have Bodily Injury coverage, which would have afforded Mr. Y compensation for his personal injuries. Despite substantial injuries, Mr. Y offered to settle all claims in exchange for the major Property Damage Liability limit under certain terms, which included providing a full release. When the insurance carrier rejected that offer, the Law Firm of Heintz & Becker sued the at fault driver. A jury returned a verdict on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Y, in the amount of $1,109,941.00. Presently, a bad faith lawsuit is pending against the at fault driver’s insurance carrier, to collect payment of the entire verdict, in addition to other damages, for failing to protect their insured by settling this case when it could and should have done so.
- Medical Malpractice $7 million dollar recovery, 2014
- Auto Accident, Wrongful Death, Drunk Driver and Bad Faith -- $1.5 Million Award on a $100,000 Insurance Policy Mr. D. was just shy of his 47th wedding anniversary before being killed by a drunk driver. He married his high school sweetheart, Mrs. D., on June 4, 1955. His legacy includes 6 daughters, 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. His family and friends described him as an honest and passionate man who provided for his family. He continued to work up until the time of his death. Mr. D. was returning from work the night the defendant, a drunk driver who was operating his father's Ford truck, with at least a .191 BAC, killed him in a horrific crash. Mrs. D. had been waiting at home for her husband and was concerned because he was uncharacteristically late. She decided to get in her car and look for him, tragically coming upon the site of his crash. In his statement to the police, the defendant denied the crash was his fault, despite driving recklessly at an excessive speed and also having turned left directly in front of Mr. D.’s vehicle. He denied driving the truck and also denied being drunk. The State Attorney’s Office refused to prosecute. Mrs. D., grief-stricken, retained the Law Office of Heintz & Becker to investigate the crash and pursue the defendant in a claim for the Wrongful Death of her husband. The Law Office of Heintz & Becker’s investigation uncovered a taped statement given by the defendant to his own insurance company. In the statement, the defendant admitted driving the truck, stating he was alone in the vehicle and also admitted that he had been drinking. In fact, he admitted to having at least 9 beers prior to the crash. The Law Office of Heintz & Becker also discovered that the defendant had tried to flee the scene of the crash, evidence of consciousness of guilt. In addition, the firm discovered that the police had lifted a shoe print off the brake pedal of the truck that was consistent with the tread design and size of the Nike athletic shoes worn by the defendant on the date of the crash. Even more, it was discovered that striations taken from the broken rearview mirror found on the driver’s side of the defendant's truck, were consistent with the shirt and pant fabric worn by the defendant on the night of the crash. Finally, it was discovered that the bruise on the defendant’s knee was consistent with hitting it on the dash of the truck, as an indentation was found there. Despite the evidence, the State still refused to prosecute. The defendant's truck was insured for $100,000.00. Though clearly insufficient to reimburse Mrs. D. for the loss of her husband, she offered to settle with the insurer for its’ policy limit. A thirty-day time demand was given to the insurance company. Despite having admissions of driving and intoxication on tape from its own insured, the insurer ignored the offer and no check was received until long after the 30 day restriction. Armed with what we believed to be a strong case against the insurer, the Law Office of Heintz & Becker decided to sue the defendant for Wrongful Death. The check was returned to the insurer. A mediation session was held in the case. At the mediation, the Law Office of Heintz & Becker presented a persuasive PowerPoint presentation proving the defendant’s guilt and the bad faith of the insurer, in not protecting its’ insured, by forwarding the $100,000 policy limit in a timely manner. Presumably, the insurer agreed and settled the case shortly thereafter for $1,500,000.00. In addition, the law firm was able to secure an additional $25,000.00 from Mr. D.’s own underinsured motorist coverage, to help with estate expenses.
- Drunk Driving, Motorcycle Accident -- $1,925,000 Settlement Ms. S. was a passenger on the back of a motorcycle traveling west on Cortez Road in Bradenton, Florida. The Defendant, driving a rental vehicle traveling east on Cortez Road, attempted a left turn, directly in the path of the motorcycle on which Ms. S. was a passenger. Ms. S., unfortunately, died as a result of her injuries. The defendant, after striking the motorcycle, fled the scene. He was located a few hours later in a mobile home with the rental car parked across the street. The Defendant first asserted that the rental vehicle had been stolen and someone else was driving it at the time of the collision, despite there being no record of the vehicle being reported stolen prior to the collision. Investigation revealed that the Defendant had probably been drinking prior to the collision. The Defendant later asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege. Though the State Attorney's Office refused to criminally prosecute the Defendant, the Law Firm of Heintz & Becker filed a civil suit seeking damages. The case was mediated and skilled injury lawyers at the Law Firm of Heintz & Becker was able to successfully negotiate a settlement of the case for a total of $1,925,000.00.
- **Disclaimer: Past results cannot guarantee future performance. Any result in a single case does not constitute a promise, prediction, or guarantee regarding the outcome of any other case. Each case involves many different factors and thus results will always be different from case to case.** Wife Obtains $4.5 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Mr. and Mrs. P. had been married nearly 40 years when their motorcycle was hit by the operator of a port-a-potty truck. Mr. P. was killed in the crash. He was survived by his wife and three adult children. Mrs. P. sustained serious orthopaedic injuries in the crash. Mrs. P. is a nurse, and despite intense pain from the injuries sustained in the crash, she continued to work. Mr. P.’s death resulted in a sizeable loss of income, deeming it necessary for Mrs. P. to work in order to sustain the household Traffic in the area of the motorcycle crash had been redirected as a result of nearby construction. The operator of the port-a-potty truck and the company for whom he worked blamed the crash on the company hired to divert traffic. This company had been hired by the general contractor in charge of construction in the nearby area. As a result of all the finger-pointing, the Law Firm of Heintz & Becker filed a lawsuit against all parties, including the driver of the truck, the company for whom he worked, the company that was responsible for diverting traffic and the general contractor. Prior to prosecuting the Wrongful Death lawsuit, Heintz & Becker was instrumental in establishing excess insurance coverage, on the truck involved in the crash, in a Declaratory Judgment Action filed by the insurance carrier. After a persuasive PowerPoint presentation at a mediation conference held in the wrongful death case, a global settlement was reached for payment in the amount of $4,500,000.00. Mrs. P. no longer has to suffer the daily pain she experienced while working. While her injuries continue to haunt her, at least she now has the financial ability to care for herself.  Â
- Auto Accident, Wrongful Death -- $1,000,000 Settlement At the intersection of State Road 684 and 71st Street West in Bradenton, Florida, Mrs. S. was traveling on 71st Street West, proceeding through a green light. A vehicle driven by Ms. B., traveling on State Road 684, failed to stop for the red light and struck the vehicle operated by Ms. S. Ms. S. was immediately transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Her son and her daughter arrived at the hospital to see Ms. S. in tremendous pain. After almost five hours of severe suffering and fear of death, the medical efforts failed and Ms. S. died. The law firm of Heintz & Becker filed suit on behalf of Ms. S.’s estate. The case was settled at mediation for $1,000,000.00.
Selections
16 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2010, 2013 - 2023
Certificates and credentials
Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization
Civil Trial
Civil Trial
