They say after the chaos comes the quiet. However, for most people, the stillness following an accident is not peace, but confusion. You've already done the hard part. You made the call. You signed up. You sat in the office, nodded at words like “liability” and “coverage,” and told your story.

Now? No courtroom drama. No immediate check in the mail. Just this strange waiting room between injury and justice, what we call the Case Phase.

And while it might feel like nothing’s happening, I promise you... that couldn’t be further from the truth. Because behind the scenes, something very important is already underway. Let me show you what’s really going on.

1) We’re Figuring Out Who’s At Fault in Liability

Sometimes it’s obvious. Other times, we have to dig a little deeper. That’s why this phase of the case matters so much. We’re building a legal foundation that will hold up if and when the insurance company pushes back.

If you’ve already given us evidence like photos, names, or any written statements—great. If not, now’s the time to get serious about it. We're looking for anything that helps paint the whole situation:

• Pictures from the scene (cars, injuries, surroundings)
  

• Contact info for any witnesses
  

• Statements from anyone who saw what happened
  

• Prior medical records related to the areas of the body that were injured
  

And we will never tell you that you sent us too much. Ever. If you’re not sure whether something matters, send it anyway. Sometimes the smallest detail turns into the strongest part of your case.

2) Your Medical History Matters More Than You Think

When we ask for details about prior injuries, surgeries, or treatment, especially to the same part of the body, we’re trying to shield your case from surprises. If something comes out later that we didn’t know, it can do real damage to your claim.

And now, with Florida’s new tort reform laws, Under House Bill 837, passed in 2023, the law limits how far back providers can bill for care. That shifts the spotlight onto your pre-existing conditions. Defense lawyers are going to lean hard into that. 

If you had a back injury 10 years ago and you don’t tell us, they will find it, and they’ll use it to argue that this injury isn’t new.

So if you had an accident five years ago, let us know. If you’ve seen a chiropractor before, tell us. Even if you believe it is unrelated, please provide us with the full picture.

3) Don’t Post It, or They Will Find It

I know it’s second nature now, like posting updates, sharing photos, and checking in at your favorite spots. However, if you are in the middle of an injury claim, stop. Right now.

Because I promise you, the insurance company is watching. Their attorneys are watching. If you wouldn’t want a jury to see it on a projector screen in court, don’t put it online. Facebook check-ins. Gym selfies. Poolside shots. Comments that sound like you’re doing “fine.” These things get twisted fast. 

What feels like an innocent post can be used to downplay your pain, question your credibility, or even sink your claim.

According to the ABA Journal, more than 90% of insurance defense attorneys are now using social media to evaluate claims. That’s just the reality. We’ve seen too many strong cases take a hit because someone didn’t think before posting.

So my advice is, lock down your accounts, stop posting, and don’t message about your case online. If something doesn’t feel clear, call us. It’s always better to talk now than to sort through chaos later, when the damage is already done.

4) How Insurance Coverage Affects Who Will Pay

When we talk about coverage, we’re looking for the insurance that applies to your situation. In most injury cases, that means bodily injury (BI) coverage, which helps cover your medical bills, pain and suffering, and long-term effects. If your car’s damaged, we’re also looking at property damage (PD) coverage.

Sometimes the person who caused the crash hands over an insurance card but the policy’s canceled. Maybe they stopped paying. Maybe their name’s not even on the policy. Sometimes they let someone else drive their car, and the insurance doesn’t apply at all. That’s when we start running into denied claims.

This is also why we always check your policy for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). That’s the coverage that steps in when the other driver doesn’t have any or enough insurance to cover your losses. And sadly, that happens more often than you’d think.

You could be doing everything right, like having your seatbelt on and stopping fully at the red light, and still get hit by someone with no insurance. That’s why this part of the investigation means so much. Here's a brief explanation of coverage and liability investigation.

5) What Carter Injury Law Does Behind the Scenes to Investigate Your Case

We’re pulling crash reports, tracking down witnesses, and requesting surveillance footage when it’s available. If it’s a car accident, we may try to inspect the vehicles involved, pull black box data, or even get dash cam footage. If it’s a fall or injury on someone’s property, we send out preservation of evidence letters and requests to inspect the scene.

We’re also sending letters to the other side to preserve what they have. Once a lawsuit is filed, it’s a different ballgame. But even before that, we're laying the groundwork to ensure that nothing important is overlooked or conveniently "lost."

If it feels like nothing’s happening right after you sign up, I get it. However, the first 30 to 60 days are one of the most important windows in your case. Legally, we have to give the insurance companies time to respond to our requests. That’s just to get the policy.

During this time, we’re digging into liability, insurance coverage, witness contact, medical history and the overall picture. That’s why it might feel like a waiting game but trust me, this phase is anything but passive.

So yes, you might go a couple of weeks without a major update. But that doesn’t mean your case is stuck. And we’ll always tell you what we know, even if what we know is that we’re still waiting. You won’t be left in the dark. 

6) We’ve Got Your Back; Let Us Handle the Rest

The days after an injury feel heavy. There’s pain, there’s confusion, and then there’s the weight of what comes next. Let us worry about the forms, the letters, the phone calls you don’t want to make. 

You focus on healing, on breathing, on living. Because while your body and mind mend, we’re quietly working in the background—piecing it all together so you don’t have to. 

We understand that this process is deeply personal. You’re a person who’s been through something hard, and we don’t take that lightly. Every call, update, and move we make is dedicated to put your mind at ease.

And if you find yourself wondering, confused, or just needing a little clarity—call Carter Injury Law at 813-922-0228. Because sometimes, that’s the first step toward peace.