“As a former insurance defense attorney, I know how these companies think: while adjusters may seem friendly and concerned, their real priority is minimizing payouts and protecting the bottom line.”
From insurance defense to advocate for the injured
Mike Hancock has practiced personal injury law for more than 35 years. He began his career defending the insurance industry, representing companies such as Allstate, State Farm and Geico, along with Fortune 500 businesses. Those years gave him an inside view of how insurers defend and evaluate injury claims: how adjusters value a case, which arguments they use to lower it, and what it takes to move it toward a fair result.
In 1996, Mike founded Hancock Injury Attorneys to put that knowledge to work for injured people and their families. Since then he has represented clients after car, truck and motorcycle crashes, slip and falls, and wrongful death tragedies throughout Tampa Bay and Florida, and he has obtained verdicts and settlements of more than $1 million in motor vehicle cases. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Personal attention from the first meeting
Mike's work has earned him many professional honors, but what matters most to him is meeting directly with clients and giving them peace of mind. When you hire the firm, you meet with Mike, not a paralegal or an assistant, and he stays involved in every part of your case. He explains your rights, Florida's no-fault law and his strategy in plain English, so you can focus on getting better.
Recognized by his peers
Mike has held Martindale-Hubbell's AV-Preeminent® peer review rating since 2002 and holds a 10.0 "Superb" rating from Avvo. He was first selected to Florida Super Lawyers® in 2011, has been a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2005, and has been named one of Tampa's Top Rated Lawyers. He is also a Florida Certified Circuit Court Mediator, which gives him a view of cases from the neutral's chair as well. See all awards.
Teaching other lawyers
Mike has lectured Florida attorneys, legal professionals and insurance adjusters on handling and litigating personal injury, motor vehicle and dog bite cases. His continuing legal education seminars include:
- NBI "Plaintiff's Personal Injury From Start to Finish: Understanding the Law of Damages"
- NBI Judicial Forum moderator, "As Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make in Civil Litigation"
- Case Intake, Pre-Suit Investigation in Motor Vehicle Accident Litigation
- Discovery Techniques for Personal Injury Litigation
- A Practical Refresher on Litigating the Florida Auto Injury Case
- Trying the Automobile Case in Florida
Rooted in Tampa
A second-generation Tampa native, Mike is raising his family where his parents raised him. He lives and works in the Carrollwood community, has served two terms as President of the North Tampa Bar Association, and has volunteered with the Carrollwood Civic Association, Trinity School for Children, the Community Food Pantry and the University of Florida's Lake Watch program on Lake Carroll. Our community work.
Mike earned his business degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. To talk with Mike about your case, call (813) 915-1110 or contact us.
Education
- J.D., South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 1987
- B.S. in Business Administration, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1983
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 1991
- Texas, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
Honors & Recognition
- AV-Preeminent® rating, Martindale-Hubbell (2002–present)
- 10.0 "Superb" rating, Avvo
- Florida Super Lawyers® (first selected 2011; selected again in later years, including 2025)
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum (member since 2005)
- Recognized by Best Lawyers®
- Tampa's Top Rated Lawyers (2012 and 2016)
- America's Top 100 Attorneys – Florida (2016)
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers (2015)
- Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite (2021)
- Lead Counsel Rated, LawInfo (2013)
Associations
- Florida Justice Association (since 1996; Eagle member, 2018)
- Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association (since 2000)
- Hillsborough County Bar Association (since 1991)
- North Tampa Bar Association (member since 2007; Board of Directors 2011–2015; two terms as President)
- Carrollwood Bar Association (Board of Directors 2011–2015; President 2016–2017 and 2017–2018)
- Carrollwood Area Business Association (since 2010)
- Florida Certified Circuit Court Mediator (since 2002)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1994–2006)
- American Bar Association (1988–2006)
Community
- Carrollwood Civic Association – Board of Directors and legal counsel, 2006–2016
- North Tampa Bar Association – Board of Directors and President
- Trinity School for Children (Hillsborough County charter school) – Board of Directors, 2009–2011
- University of Florida Lake Watch – volunteer, Lake Carroll
- Community Food Pantry, Carrollwood
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