Orange Park Personal Injury & Family Law Attorneys
At Phillips Hunt Whited, we have represented Clay County families and injury victims for decades — from Orange Park to Green Cove Springs, from Oakleaf to Middleburg. When life turns suddenly and catastrophically, you need attorneys who know the 4th Judicial Circuit, understand the courts where your case will be decided, and have the track record to back it up. We do.
Our founding partner John Phillips is ranked among the Forbes Top 200 Personal Injury Attorneys in the United States for 2025 and has secured verdicts and settlements totaling over $495 million for clients across Northeast Florida. Our family law partner Matt Hunt is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar — a distinction held by fewer than one percent of Florida attorneys and by none of our competitors in this market. When you walk into our office, you are working with two of the most credentialed attorneys in Northeast Florida.
We advance all costs on your personal injury case. You pay nothing unless we win. And unlike most firms, we do not charge clients for copies, printing, or document fees at the end of a case. Every dollar of your recovery stays yours.
Personal Injury Representation in Orange Park and Clay County
Clay County’s rapid growth has come with a cost. US-17 through Orange Park carries heavy commercial and commuter traffic year-round. Blanding Boulevard, Argyle Forest Boulevard, and the SR-21 corridor see consistent rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, and pedestrian strikes. If you were hurt in a car accident anywhere in Clay County, you need an attorney who understands how insurance carriers value these claims — and who has the results to command full value.
Motor Vehicle Accidents — Florida is a no-fault state, meaning your own PIP coverage pays first regardless of fault. But when injuries exceed PIP limits — and in serious crashes they almost always do — you have the right to pursue the at-fault driver’s liability coverage and your own underinsured motorist (UM) coverage. UM claims are among the most contested in Florida personal injury law. We fight them aggressively.
Truck and Commercial Vehicle Accidents — US-17 and I-295 carry significant commercial freight through Clay County. Tractor-trailer accidents involve federal FMCSA regulations, driver logs, electronic data recorders, and multiple potential defendants including the driver, the carrier, and the cargo owner. Preserving this evidence in the first 72 hours is critical. Call us immediately.
Slip and Fall and Premises Liability — Property owners in Florida owe a duty of reasonable care to lawful visitors. When a dangerous condition causes a serious injury, the property owner or business operator can be held liable. We investigate these cases thoroughly, including obtaining surveillance footage before it is overwritten.
Wrongful Death — Florida’s Wrongful Death Act (§ 768.19, Fla. Stat.) allows surviving family members to recover for funeral and burial costs, lost support and services, and the survivor’s pain and suffering. These cases are time-sensitive and factually complex. Contact us before speaking with any insurance representative.
Motorcycle and Bicycle Accidents — Riders on Clay County roads face disproportionate injury risk. Florida does not require a helmet for riders over 21, but the absence of a helmet is routinely used by defense attorneys to argue comparative negligence. We counter those arguments with biomechanical evidence and established case law.
Clay County Courts
Personal injury cases in Orange Park and Clay County are filed in the Clay County Courthouse in Green Cove Springs. The 4th Judicial Circuit covers Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties. We have litigated cases in the 4th Circuit extensively. Our attorneys know the judges, understand local procedural preferences, and have tried cases to Clay County juries. Insurance carriers know which firms try cases and which firms settle for whatever is offered. Phillips Hunt Whited tries cases.
Family Law in Orange Park: Matt Hunt, Board Certified
Clay County family courts handle hundreds of dissolution, custody, and support matters each year. Whether you are facing a divorce, a contested timesharing dispute, an alimony modification following the 2023 reforms, or a contempt proceeding, you need an attorney who practices family law at the highest level.
Matt Hunt is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar. Board Certification requires a minimum of five years of concentrated practice, a passing score on a rigorous written examination, peer review for professionalism and competence, and demonstrated substantial involvement in the specialty. Matt is among the youngest attorneys in Florida to have achieved this certification. He is also rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell — the highest rating available — and has been recognized on the Florida Super Lawyers list.
No family law attorney competing for your business in Orange Park or Clay County holds Board Certification in this specialty.
Divorce — Florida is a no-fault divorce state under § 61.052, Fla. Stat. Either party may petition for dissolution on the ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken, without proving fault. The contested issues in most divorces are equitable distribution of marital assets and debts (§ 61.075), parental responsibility and timesharing (§ 61.13), and alimony (§ 61.08). We handle all of it.
Timesharing and Parental Responsibility — Since July 1, 2023, Florida law presumes that equal (50/50) timesharing is in the child’s best interest — a rebuttable presumption that changes how courts approach initial timesharing determinations. If you are entering a custody dispute, you need to understand how this new presumption works and how to respond to it strategically.
Alimony — Florida’s alimony law was substantially overhauled by HB 1409, signed June 30, 2023 and effective July 1, 2023. Permanent alimony has been abolished. Durational alimony is now subject to caps: 50% of the marriage duration for short-term marriages (under 10 years), 60% for moderate-term marriages (10–20 years), and 75% for long-term marriages (20+ years).
Child Support — Florida calculates child support under the income shares model in § 61.30, Fla. Stat. Both parents’ incomes are combined to determine the guideline support obligation. The schedule may be adjusted for significant timesharing (73 or more overnights per year with the non-residential parent), healthcare costs, and childcare expenses.
Modification — A substantial change in circumstances that was not anticipated at the time of the original order can support modification of timesharing, child support, or alimony. The 2023 alimony reform also created new grounds for modification based on retirement. Matt Hunt handles modifications at trial and appellate levels.
The Phillips Hunt Whited Difference in Clay County
We are not a volume mill. We take cases we intend to win — and we invest in them accordingly. We advance all litigation costs. We do not charge you for copies or document fees at the conclusion of your matter. If you are in Orange Park, Oakleaf, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Fleming Island, or anywhere in Clay County, call us at (904) 444-4444 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we recover for you on personal injury matters.
Frequently Asked Questions: Orange Park and Clay County
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida?
Florida’s statute of limitations for negligence-based personal injury claims is two years from the date of injury under § 95.11(4)(a), Fla. Stat., following the 2023 reduction from four years. Wrongful death claims also carry a two-year limitations period. Do not wait to consult an attorney.
Does Florida’s no-fault law mean I can’t sue the driver who hit me?
Not necessarily. If your injuries meet the serious injury threshold — significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring, or death — you can step outside the no-fault system and sue the at-fault driver directly.
What does Board Certification in family law actually mean?
It means your attorney has passed the Florida Bar’s most rigorous vetting process for that specialty: years of concentrated practice, a written exam, peer review, and demonstrated competence. It is a legal credential issued by the Florida Bar to attorneys who have proven specialized competence in that area of law.
Can I modify my timesharing arrangement if circumstances have changed?
Yes, if you can demonstrate a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances since the entry of the last order. The standard is demanding — not every inconvenience qualifies. Matt Hunt can evaluate whether your situation meets the threshold.
I was injured by an uninsured driver in Orange Park. What are my options?
You likely have a claim under your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance, so UM claims are common. We handle UM claims regularly and know how carriers evaluate — and often undervalue — these cases.
Phillips Hunt Whited | (904) 444-4444 | Serving Orange Park, Oakleaf, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Fleming Island, and all of Clay County