Most of what actually decides a slip-and-fall claim disappears within hours: the spill gets mopped up, the ice melts, the “wet floor” sign gets put away. What you document in the first day usually matters more than anything that happens afterward.
I’m Dustin Gibb, serving clients in Kaysville, Clearfield, and Davis County. This is a practical checklist, not a promise about what your specific evidence will prove.
Businesses often have routine cleaning schedules and surveillance retention policies that mean evidence can genuinely be gone within days, not weeks. Acting fast isn’t paranoia — it reflects how this evidence actually behaves.
The first-day checklist
Photograph the hazard immediately
Wide shots showing context, close-ups showing the specific condition, and a shot including something for scale if possible.
Get witness names and contact info
Employees and other customers who saw the hazard or your fall — get this before people leave.
Report it and get a copy or report number
Most businesses generate an incident report — ask for a copy before you leave, or at minimum the report number.
Seek medical attention and keep every record
Even if the injury seems minor at first — documentation created same-day carries real weight later.
Scene evidence
Beyond the fall location itself, photograph any warning signage (or the lack of it), lighting conditions, the surface material, and anything nearby that might explain how the hazard formed — a leaking cooler, a recent delivery, a drainage issue. Note the exact time. If security cameras are visible, note their locations too; that’s relevant to what might exist on footage even if you can’t access it yourself.
Notice evidence
This is often the real fight in a premises case: did the property owner know about the hazard, or should they have discovered it through reasonable inspection? Evidence that helps here includes how long the condition appears to have existed, whether there’s a maintenance or inspection log, prior complaints about the same area, and staff statements about when they last checked the space.
Injury evidence
Photograph visible injuries as they develop over the following days — bruising often looks worse a day or two later, which is useful, not something to skip because it wasn’t visible immediately. Keep every medical bill, every work-restriction note, and a simple daily log of pain levels and activity limitations while it’s still fresh in your memory.
What to request, not take
Fine to do yourself
Photograph the public scene, get witness contact info, seek your own medical care, keep your own records.
Request through proper channels
Surveillance footage, the business’s internal incident report, and maintenance or inspection logs — ask for these formally rather than taking anything without permission.
Surveillance footage in particular is often deleted on a routine retention cycle — sometimes as short as a couple of weeks. A written preservation request sent early can matter more than almost anything else on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I didn’t take photos right away?
It’s not fatal — witness statements, incident reports, and medical records still matter. But go back and document what you still can as soon as possible.
Can I request the store’s surveillance footage myself?
You can ask, but businesses aren’t always required to hand it over informally. A formal preservation request, sometimes through an attorney, is often more effective before footage gets deleted.
Does it matter if there was a warning sign present?
It’s a factor, not a complete answer — placement, visibility, and timing of the sign all matter, not just whether one existed somewhere in the building.
How soon should I see a doctor?
As soon as possible, even for injuries that seem minor at first — prompt documentation carries real weight later.
What should I bring to a first conversation about my fall?
Your photos, witness information, any incident report or report number, and your medical records so far.
This page does not create an attorney-client relationship and cannot determine liability or outcome for a specific fall. Speak with a qualified attorney about your facts.
Recently fell on someone else’s property?
Time matters here more than almost anywhere else in personal injury. Bring what you’ve documented so far, and I’ll help you figure out what’s still worth preserving.
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