A slip and fall accident can leave you with injuries and questions about what caused the incident. In many cases, surveillance video provides crucial evidence to determine liability and help you seek compensation for injuries and damages. To increase your chances of success, act quickly and consider enlisting the help of a skilled Philadelphia slip and fall attorney and legal team.
Why Do You Need Surveillance Video? 
Surveillance video is often a critical piece of evidence in slip and fall accident cases for several reasons.
Establishing Liability
Surveillance footage might show the conditions leading up to the accident, including any hazards or obstacles that caused your fall. This evidence can be used to establish liability on the part of the property owner or another responsible party.
Proving Negligence
To win a slip and fall lawsuit, you must demonstrate that the property owner or occupier was negligent in maintaining their premises. Surveillance video is instrumental in proving negligence by documenting unsafe conditions, inadequate maintenance, or lack of warning signs.
Verifying Your Claim
Insurance companies and opposing parties may dispute your claim, arguing that your injuries weren’t a result of the accident or that the accident didn’t happen as you described. Surveillance footage can support your account of the incident.
How to Obtain Surveillance Video After a Philadelphia Slip and Fall Accident
Time is of the essence when securing surveillance video. Most businesses only retain video footage for a limited time, often ranging from a few days to a couple of weeks. Additionally, they’re not always willing to give you the lady bird deed michigan surveillance video if you request it, especially if you’re injured. Here are some of the ways you can obtain surveillance video after a Philadelphia slip and fall accident.
Consult an Attorney
Hiring a personal injury lawyer immediately after a slip and fall accident is one of the smartest moves you can make, especially when dealing with surveillance video. At Heslin Law Firm, our team understands the legal intricacies of slip and fall cases, ensuring you follow the correct procedures to obtain evidence and build a strong case so you can recover economic and non-economic damages that apply to your circumstances.
Your attorney should send a preservation letter to the property owner or business, instructing them to retain all relevant video footage and not to delete or overwrite it.
File a Lawsuit
If a property owner or business refuses to provide the surveillance video, you may need to file a lawsuit to ask the court to issue a subpoena requiring them to provide it. This must be done quickly before the video is deleted or destroyed. If the negligent party doesn’t abide by the subpoena, they may be subject to serious consequences.
