It’s not what you think – or at least it shouldn’t be

What do you think of when you think about a personal injury attorney? You might conjure up thoughts of big billboards on the side of the highway… an aggressive pitbull that’s only in it for the money… an ambulance chaser. Others might think of someone who takes down the big guys, extorting as much money as possible for “payback”.

Don’t worry, you won’t hurt Kenneth Hancock’s feelings – during his career he’s heard it all. “The reality is that neither of those perceptions is true. A good personal injury attorney cares about getting the best outcome for his client in a timely manner, so that they can get back to living life and as much normalcy as possible.”

Recently, a woman came to see him after her car was totalled in an accident – the other person was clearly at fault. Not long after the first meeting, Hancock had to explain some difficult truths. The person who hit her was uninsured, and Hancock’s client had no uninsured motorist protection. There simply was no avenue for seeking compensation. As hard as it is to hear this, Hancock strongly believes that, “It’s better for clients to understand. I won’t lead people on. My clients rely on me to set realistic expectations from the beginning.”

That kind of openness and honesty isn’t always what they expect from a personal injury lawyer, but that is what Hancock prides himself on. His clients have told him they value this, even when the news isn’t good. “They get clarity on what their situation is. They know what steps we are taking. That makes them feel comfortable that it’s safe to leave their case in my hands.” Hancock strongly feels that, good news or bad, clients need honest feedback and advice.

Many of Hancock’s clients start by coming to him for a second opinion. “The vast majority simply don’t know what’s going on with their case. They feel like they are being kept in the dark. They don’t hear from their attorney and no one calls them back. They are frustrated and scared – that’s compounded when many of them are suffering from pain and loss.”

At Hancock Law, everyone is committed to providing clients with clear, consistent communication. “I want them to feel confident that they are being taken care of. Each client receives regular updates on the status of their case. It gives them peace-of-mind.”

Hancock’s best advice to clients? Live your life and not your injury. “I learned this from my former boss and mentor. The worst thing a client can do is to make decisions based on what they think is going to help or hurt their case. That makes it look like they are trying to manipulate the outcome and ultimately hurts their credibility.” He tells clients to listen to their doctors and follow a natural progression of treatment. Ultimately that is what’s best for them, their families and their cases.

Recently Hancock had an unusual case. A young man was injured in an unusual accident. His injury was likely to have lifelong consequences – and he was worried about his wife and the baby that was on the way. Due to the unusual circumstances, Hancock had to do some deep research into the handful of similar cases. In less than 60 days, he’d won a generous settlement. “It was more than they had hoped for. It gave them the ability to move on with their lives.” Hancock believes his willingness to dig deeper and do extra research was a real asset. “They never had to wonder what was going on. I think they got an update virtually every week!”

Every case is different; every person unique. When you hire Hancock Law, you can count on being given individual attention and the clarity of knowing what to expect every step of the way.

If you or someone you know needs a personal injury attorney, Hancock Law can help. Call the office at (941) 979-5226‬ and ask to speak with Brandy, the firm’s senior paralegal. She’ll take down the basic facts of your case and set up an appointment for a first meeting at your convenience, either at the office or at a location of your choice. “We don’t expect you to have all the answers. Our job is to get those answers and the best result possible for you and your particular circumstances. We’re always here to help.”

DISCLAIMER: Please note that the information provided in this blog is general in nature and should not be construed as legal advice nor as creating an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different and legal advice cannot be provided by Hancock Law unless/until we meet to discuss the particulars of your case. Whether an attorney-client relationship exists can differ on a case-by-case basis, but at Hancock Law we consider such a relationship to exist only upon a potential client’s request and our agreement to accept that representation.