Slip-and-Fall Claims: An Evidence Checklist for the First Week

Why the first days matter

A dangerous condition can disappear quickly. Water gets cleaned up, lighting changes, warning signs move, and video can be overwritten. If you are physically able, preserve photographs of the exact area and the surrounding route, not only a close-up of the hazard.

Save the basic incident record

Keep any incident report, store receipt, parking record, appointment record, or other document that helps establish when and where the event occurred. Write down the names or descriptions of employees and witnesses while the details are still fresh.

Keep the items that may matter

Footwear, damaged clothing, or a broken personal item can sometimes become relevant later. Do not alter or discard them until you understand whether they could help document the event.

Create one organized medical file

Put visit summaries, imaging reports, referrals, work restrictions, and bills in one folder. This is useful even before you speak with a lawyer because it creates a clear chronology of how symptoms developed.

Questions to bring to counsel

• Which deadlines or notice rules could apply?
• What records should I preserve now?
• What facts are still missing before the matter can be evaluated?
• How are fees, costs, and communication handled?