Preserving Evidence to Strengthen a Slip & Fall Claim in Tampa
If you slipped or tripped on someone else’s property, you need solid evidence to corroborate your claim. From video footage to hazard records, specific proof can turn an average claim into one an insurer can’t ignore. At Matthews Injury Law, our slip and fall lawyers can obtain key evidence for your claim. We can guide you on how to preserve it and present it in a way that clearly supports the compensation you’re owed, so your rights don’t get buried under objections or delay.
We recently secured a $825,000 settlement for one of our clients who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a slip and fall accident. We can do the same for you.
Evidence That Matters Most in Your Tampa Slip and Fall Accident Case
Some types of evidence carry more weight than others in slip and fall injury claims. Essentially, they are the building blocks that turn an accident into a compelling legal claim. These include:
Photographs and Scene Documentation
Photos taken immediately after the incident and before cleanup will show the condition of the accident scene. These can include wet floors, spilled liquids, uneven pavement, broken tiles, and shadows from lighting, among others. The angle, lighting, and surroundings should capture precisely where your feet landed, how far you slid or tripped, and any nearby hazards.
Video or Surveillance Footage
Security or camera footage can corroborate your version of the events, including how you slipped, the timing, and ambient activity. It may show how long a hazard was present, how many people passed by, or whether others fell or nearly fell.
Eyewitness Statements
Someone nearby who saw you fall or saw the condition before you slipped is invaluable. Witnesses can confirm what the hazard looked like, how long it might’ve been there, and whether there were prior warnings or spills. Written statements or recorded interviews done early are more credible than delayed recollections.
Maintenance, Inspection, and Repair Records
If the property owner or manager keeps logs of inspections, maintenance work orders, repair requests, or cleaning schedules, those records can reveal whether hazards were ignored or addressed too late. For instance, if a spill lingered for minutes or hours without being cleaned up, that supports negligence.
Expert Analysis and Reconstruction
Experts, including engineers and safety specialists, can recreate how the fall happened, calculate your probable fall dynamics, estimate how long a hazard existed, or model how better design or lighting might’ve prevented it. Their testimony often translates complex technical conditions into lay terms that a jury can understand.
Medical Records and Continuity of Treatment
Your medical chart builds the bridge between the fall and your injuries. Imaging, doctor notes, therapy logs, functional capacity reports, and other relevant records show cause, severity, and your future needs.
How a Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Turnkey Evidence into a Winning Claim
A seasoned slip and fall injury attorney will work quickly to freeze all evidence. They will demand footage preservation and issue notices to property owners to retain all related records, as crucial clues will disappear once cleanup begins. They’ll compare hazard logs to known risks under Florida law, interview witnesses, and compel records if the property owner resists.
Your slip and fall lawyer will also guard against common pitfalls, including statute of limitations traps, contributory fault arguments, disclosure glitches, aggressive insurer tactics, and low settlement offers while preparing your claim for trial.
Talk to Our Slip and Fall Attorneys in Tampa Today
Our slip and fall accident lawyers can assist you by contacting Matthews Injury Law at 813-530-1000 or online to arrange your complimentary consultation.