Mike Hancock is the founder of Hancock Injury Attorneys, a former insurance defense attorney, and an AV-Preeminent–rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell, with over 35 years of experience practicing personal injury law.
Finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident is easy to do. However, finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident who is the right fit for your specific needs is much more important.
Finding the right Tampa car accident lawyer to represent you after you’ve been injured in an accident is one of the most important things that you can do to successfully move your case forward.
If you’re buying a building to put a small manufacturing business in, you’ll want to work with a knowledgeable commercial real estate lawyer. When your manufacturing facility is ready to be up and running, you’re likely to need an effective transactional attorney.
If you were injured, or you lost a family member in any type of accident, you’ll want an experienced and respected Tampa personal injury lawyer. Finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident who focuses on personal injury law can help ensure that you have an attorney with the experience and knowledge necessary to handle your case.
To learn more about the finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, you can watch this video or read the transcript below.
Video Transcript:
Hi, I’m Mike Hancock with Hancock Injury Attorneys, and today I want to answer a question that a majority of our new clients have, and that’s: “What’s the process of getting my personal injury case started?”
The process really starts with a phone call to the law firm, or possibly you might visit our website and fill out a consultation form, or you might be on the website and engage in an instant chat with people from our law firm.
But beyond that, once we have obtained the brief information, you’re going to have a telephone call with me, and we’ll probably talk for ten or fifteen minutes at least on the phone.
I’m going to ask you a number of questions regarding how the accident happened. We’re going to discuss your injuries. We’re going to discuss any type of lost wages you may have, and I’m going to answer any of the initial questions you might have regarding your claim.
Once we decide that I can help you and this is the type of case that falls within our expertise, then at that point we will set up either an in-person consultation or a virtual consultation.
In the past, that always involved coming into the office, meeting with me in particular, and discussing your claim in much more detail.
That meeting with me would typically last between an hour and an hour and fifteen minutes, and I feel that that’s necessary because I know from my experience of doing this for so long — and having spent eight years of my practice representing insurance companies in cases — I know which questions are important.
I know which questions I need answered at the very beginning of your case in order to make sure that we can get the best outcome at the end of the case.
Once we meet, beyond that we probably won’t need to meet very often for at least a couple of months.
But now, in addition to offering in-person consultations, we’ve been doing a lot of virtual consultations.
We’ve used everything from Zoom meetings to FaceTime, Skype, and laptop or desktop computers to simply having a FaceTime call on an iPhone.
We have expanded the ways we communicate because it’s possible that you’re the one who has been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence.
You’ve most likely been to the hospital, and if you haven’t been to the hospital, you probably have already treated with a doctor.
You have issues with getting a rental car. You have issues with getting your car fixed. You might have lost wages.
The last thing we need to do is make things harder and more stressful for you during this time by requiring you to take more time off to come into the office to meet with an attorney.
That’s why we offer these virtual consultations.
Honestly, these virtual consultations have been working just as well, if not better, because of the ease of scheduling them and the timing of when we can have them.
It’s a lot easier to schedule a consultation in a shorter period of time than it is in a case where we actually have you come into the office.
One of the other things that I want to mention is that we’ve historically always made it a point for all of our new clients to meet with me during this in-depth consultation.
That’s a distinction and a difference between what our firm offers and what many other law firms that handle personal injury cases offer.
The majority of other plaintiff’s personal injury firms will have a paralegal or an investigator meet with you or talk with you on the phone, and that’s all you’re able to do.
You’re not able to actually speak with the attorney who’s going to be handling your case.
Honestly, that is such a disservice to you and to any other client.
The reason that it’s such a disservice is, number one, a paralegal or investigator cannot provide you with legal advice during that consultation. Only an attorney can provide you with legal advice.
Second, I have over thirty years of experience handling personal injury cases, and because of my experience I know the types of questions that I need to ask you and the types of information that I need to get from you during that initial consultation to eventually maximize your recovery.
So those are some of the differences you’ll find with our firm and the way we handle things compared to other bigger advertising-type law firms.
So that’s the initial process regarding the consultation.
If at the end of that consultation we mutually agree that you want us to represent you, and I feel that this is a case that I can represent you on, then we will discuss our fee agreement.
The way we represent clients in personal injury cases is on what is known as a contingent fee agreement.
The contingent fee agreement we offer our clients exists because we know this is not something you planned.
It’s not like a business transaction where you have saved up money to meet with an attorney, or a family law matter or criminal law matter where the attorney is going to ask you for a retainer of five or ten thousand dollars and then bill per hour against that retainer.
We know that this is obviously something that you were not expecting, and as a result of that we offer a contingency agreement, which essentially means we are going to work for free on this case and work for you.
The only time we get paid anything at all is when we settle your case with the insurance company.
If we settle your case with the insurance company, then and only then do we get paid, and our fee is based upon a percentage of your recovery.
Most typically, that percentage is going to be one third of your recovery.
After we talk about the fee agreement and we agree that you want us to represent you in your personal injury claim, then at that time we will have you sign some authorizations that will allow us to obtain your medical records, your employment records if there is a lost wage component to your claim, and records that will allow us to communicate with your insurance providers.
So I think that summarizes the answer to the question that most of my clients ask, and that is: “What’s the process of getting started on my personal injury case with your law firm?”
There’s a lot more to discuss. Turn to other videos that discuss the process of what to expect once you become a client with Hancock Injury Attorneys.
If you have any other questions, feel free to give me a call at 813-915-1110. I'd be happy to consult with you and answer any questions you might have. The consultation's always free.
Do Your Research
When finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, it is important to do your research. There are many lawyers in the Tampa area who hold themselves out as personal injury lawyers, but when you start digging, you might find that they also practice in areas like criminal defense, divorce or even probate.
If you finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, you want a Tampa lawyer who focuses his or her practice solely on personal injury law and not an individual who knows a little bit of everything about major practice areas.
An attorney who concentrates on personal injury law is more likely to have extensive experience handling accident claims and understand the unique challenges that injured clients face.
An attorney representing you who has a practice limited to personal injury will also be known to both insurance companies and their defense counsel. They’ll know that you’re serious and that your attorney has the experience and knowledge necessary to effectively pursue your claim.
The Initial Consultation
One of the things to look out for when you are finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident is whether the lawyer charges you a fee for an initial consultation. If an attorney wants a fee just to review your case, that should be a big red flag.
When finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, you’ll want to interview with a Tampa personal injury attorney who offers potential personal injury clients free consultations and case reviews.
If you are finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident then you may have been injured as a result of the carelessness and negligence of somebody else. If you’ve been injured and out of work for weeks or months, and you are still working on finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, the last thing you need is your lawyer insisting on more money from you to keep your case alive.
If a quality Tampa personal injury lawyer agrees to be retained in your case, those costs should be advanced on your behalf.
The initial consultation at Hancock Injury Attorneys is always free. We do not charge you for an initial consultation.
The Retainer Agreement
Another thing to look out for when finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident is any retainer agreement.
In any personal injury case, you don’t want a law firm that will bill you hourly or by payment of a retainer upfront billed against an hourly rate.
Look for a flat contingency fee agreement when you are finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident. A usual and customary agreement would provide for the law firm being paid a sum equal to one-third of any sums derived by settlement or award. That law firm would advance all costs necessary to properly maintain your case.
Those costs might include but not be limited to copies of medical records and bills, filing and service fees, court reporter and transcript fees, and witness fees. If a lawyer isn’t prepared to advance those costs on your behalf, contact us to arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation.
We’ll be pleased to answer your questions about finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident. We can answer any questions you may have about finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, advise you of all of your legal options and tell you what we think we can do for you.
Get the retainer agreement In Writing
Florida law requires any contingency fee agreement to be in writing. If you are finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident and a lawyer refuses to provide you with a copy of a proposed contingency fee agreement, take a walk.
Assuming that after working on finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, you do retain a Tampa personal injury lawyer to retain you on a contingency fee basis, make sure that you have a copy of your retainer agreement in hand when you leave that lawyer’s office.
At Hancock Injury Attorneys, we make sure that our new clients have documentation of everything.
Communication
When finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, look at for how they communicate with you.
Finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident who communicates with you regularly and keeps you advised of the developments in your case is extremely important. You should feel comfortable asking questions and confident that your attorney will take the time to explain what is happening with your case and what you can expect throughout the legal process.
At Hancock Injury Attorneys, we understand how important communication is to our clients. We take pride in maintaining open lines of communication and keeping our clients informed about important developments in their cases. We recognize that you may have questions or concerns throughout the process, and our team is here to help you understand your legal options and the steps involved in pursuing your claim.
If you are finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, you want an attorney you can trust to take your case seriously, communicate with you, and advocate for your best interests.
Finding the right personal injury lawyer
Trust your instincts when finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident. Choosing the right attorney is an important decision, and you should feel comfortable with your Tampa personal injury lawyer’s ethics, experience, communication style, and approach to your case. If you feel confident that your attorney understands your situation and is prepared to advocate for your best interests, you may have found the right lawyer to represent you.
When finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, keep in mind that an experienced personal injury attorney can do more than simply represent you in a legal claim. Your lawyer can help you understand your legal options, answer questions about your accident and injuries, explain the insurance claims process, and help you determine whether hiring an attorney is the right decision for your circumstances.
If you are finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, it is important to ask questions before deciding who you want to represent you. You should understand the attorney’s experience, how they communicate with clients, how they handle personal injury claims, and what you can expect throughout the legal process.
To learn more about the questions you may want to ask when finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, you can watch the video below or read the transcript to learn more about choosing the right attorney for your personal injury case.
Video transcript:
Hi, I’m Mike Hancock with Hancock Injury Attorneys, and I want to answer the question that a lot of my potential clients have, and that is: “Do I need an attorney to represent me in my personal injury case?”
The way I would answer that is this: there are certain cases that you may not need an attorney to represent you.
But I would always advise that before you speak with anyone from either your insurance company or the other at-fault party’s insurance company, it’s necessary for your best interest to talk with an attorney before you do so.
Now, let me give you an idea of why I think in the majority of cases it’s necessary for you to have an attorney represent you.
I’ll give you one example that just came up last week, and it really made me mad, but it’s just an example of what we deal with on a daily basis.
I have a nice young client who was recently in a car crash. She was traveling down a main thoroughfare, and she was properly traveling in the center of three lanes.
Somebody pulled out from a business on the side of the road and pulled out directly in front of my client.
My client jammed on her brakes, honked her horn, and ended up T-boning the person that pulled out in front of her.
So while we thought this would just be your typical claim in which the insurance company — and in this case the insurance company was USAA — would accept 100 percent fault, I got called from the insurance adjuster telling me and my client that they were only willing to pay 70 percent of my client’s property damage to repair her vehicle because the insurance adjuster had placed 30 percent fault on my client, even though the other party that ran out in front of her got a ticket for doing so.
So we run across ridiculous positions from insurance adjusters on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, and that is one reason that in reality you’re going to need a personal injury attorney to represent you.
If you have any questions, give me a call at 813-915-1110. I’d be happy to get on the phone with you and discuss whatever legal issue you are having regarding a personal injury claim. The consultation's always free.
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Finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident can feel overwhelming, especially when you are dealing with painful injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and the stress of trying to determine what to do next. However, taking the time to research your options and choose the right attorney can make a meaningful difference in how your case is handled.
You do not have to navigate the aftermath of a car accident alone. Finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident is an important decision, and you deserve an attorney who will take your case seriously and work diligently to protect your rights.
If you are finding a lawyer following a Tampa car accident, you can call our office at 813-915-1110 and arrange a free consultation and case evaluation with one of our attorneys. You can speak directly with one of our Tampa car accidents attorneys who will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, explain your legal options, and discuss how we may be able to help you move forward with your injury claim.