Jacksonville Neck and Back Injury Lawyer
John M. Phillips is a Board Certified civil trial attorney with 25+ years of personal injury experience. His $495,123,680 verdict stands as the largest in Jacksonville history—proof that when insurance companies underestimate the damage caused by catastrophic neck and back injuries, Phillips knows exactly how to make them pay. Forbes named him a Top 200 Lawyer in America (2025) and a Top 20 Lawyer in Florida.
Neck and back injuries are among the most serious consequences of car accidents, workplace incidents, falls, and medical negligence. They can derail your career, destroy your quality of life, and leave you facing a lifetime of pain, mobility loss, and financial hardship. Insurance companies understand this vulnerability and aggressively defend these claims, often blaming pre-existing conditions or arguing that your symptoms aren’t as severe as you claim.
Phillips, Hunt & Walker has secured over $2.6 million in verdicts and settlements for neck and back injury victims across Jacksonville, Brunswick, and Fort Pierce. We don’t just negotiate—we litigate. And we front all your costs and litigation expenses, with no interest charges (competitors charge LIBOR + 8%).
Types of Neck and Back Injuries We Handle
Herniated and Bulging Discs are among the most common serious spinal injuries. A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like center of a spinal disc ruptures and leaks into the spinal canal, compressing nerves and causing radiating pain, numbness, and weakness down the arm or leg. Bulging discs are similar but the outer wall remains intact. Both require imaging (MRI, CT scan) to document and expert testimony to establish causation. Insurance companies often argue that mild bulging is “degenerative” and pre-existing—but Florida law allows recovery for aggravation of pre-existing conditions, and John has spent 8 years defending insurers. He knows their playbook.
Cervical and Lumbar Strain involve muscle, ligament, and soft-tissue injury to the neck (cervical) or lower back (lumbar) region. While strains may not show on X-rays, they cause severe pain, limited range of motion, and chronic symptoms requiring months of physical therapy.
Degenerative Disc Exacerbation occurs when trauma worsens pre-existing disc degeneration. Florida law recognizes the “eggshell plaintiff doctrine”—you are entitled to recover for the aggravation of a pre-existing condition, even if a healthy person would have recovered fully.
Spinal Stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses nerve roots, causing pain, numbness, and weakness. Trauma can worsen stenosis that was previously asymptomatic.
Radiculopathy is nerve root compression that causes pain radiating along the path of the nerve—sciatica in the lower back is the most common form.
Facet Syndrome involves injury to the small joints that stabilize the spine, causing localized pain and restricted movement.
Pre-Existing Conditions Are Not a Defense
Insurance companies love to blame your pre-existing conditions. They’ll argue that your herniated disc was already there, that any healthy person would have walked away unscathed. This defense fails in Florida.
The eggshell plaintiff doctrine holds that a defendant is liable for the full extent of injuries caused by their negligence, even if the plaintiff had a pre-existing vulnerability. If you had a pre-existing disc bulge that was asymptomatic until the at-fault party’s negligence aggravated it, you recover for that aggravation.
John spent 8 years as defense counsel for major corporations like Coca-Cola, Hertz, and State Farm. He defended cases exactly like yours from the insurance company’s perspective. He knows every argument they make, every expert they hire, every trick they use. Now that knowledge works for you.
Treatment, Recovery, and Compensation
Conservative Treatment includes chiropractic care, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. Many patients achieve substantial improvement over 6-12 weeks; others develop permanent restrictions.
Interventional Procedures include epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, and medial branch blocks. A lifetime of injections can cost $50,000–$100,000+.
Surgical Intervention includes disc replacement, spinal fusion, laminectomy, and discectomy. Surgery carries risks and many patients require revision surgery.
Surgery is not required for maximum compensation. Some of our largest verdicts involved conservative care only. Compensation depends on causation, documented injury, demonstrable harm, and expert testimony—not on the treatment you chose.
Florida Law on Neck and Back Injury Cases
Statute of Limitations — Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a): You have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is absolute.
Comparative Fault — Fla. Stat. § 768.81: If you are 50% or more at fault for your injury, you cannot recover. If you are less than 50% at fault, you recover the percentage equal to the defendant’s fault.
Eggshell Plaintiff Doctrine: Florida common law requires defendants to take plaintiffs as they find them. Pre-existing conditions are not a complete defense—only an aggravation defense.
Why Phillips, Hunt & Walker
Board-Certified Excellence. John M. Phillips is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law—a credential held by fewer than 5% of Florida attorneys. Board Certified since 2013; among the youngest in Florida to achieve this distinction.
Forbes Top 200 Lawyer in America (2025), Top 20 in Florida. AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. Florida Super Lawyers. Florida Trend Legal Elite (top 1% of Florida attorneys).
$495,123,680 verdict—the largest in Jacksonville history.
No copy costs. No interest on litigation expenses. Competitors charge LIBOR + 8%. We charge zero interest. Period.
Offices in Jacksonville, Brunswick (GA), and Fort Pierce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does a neck and back injury case take?
A: Simple settlement cases resolve in 6–18 months. Complex cases requiring surgery, expert testimony, and trial prep take 2–4+ years.
Q: Do I need surgery to win my case?
A: No. Compensation depends on documented injury, causation, and demonstrable harm—not on the treatment you chose.
Q: What if I had a pre-existing disc condition?
A: Florida law allows recovery for aggravation of pre-existing conditions. The at-fault party takes you as you are.
Q: How much is my case worth?
A: A herniated disc with surgery may be worth $200,000–$1,000,000+. Conservative care cases might be $50,000–$300,000. We provide a realistic estimate after full investigation.
Q: Will I have to go to trial?
A: Most cases settle. But we prepare every case for trial, and insurance companies know it. That preparation strength often yields better settlements.
Contact Phillips, Hunt & Walker
Call (904) 444-4444 today. Free consultation. No cost to you. No interest on litigation expenses.
Phillips, Hunt & Walker
660 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204
(904) 444-4444 | floridajustice.com
Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney. Offices in Jacksonville, Brunswick, and Fort Pierce.