When property owners fail to maintain a safe environment, they can be held accountable for their negligence. However, to recover compensation for your damages, you must prove through a wide range of evidence that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to take action, resulting in your injuries. If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, it’s in your best interest to contact our experienced Manatee County Slip and Fall Lawyers who can help you understand your rights and options. Please continue reading to learn how surveillance footage can influence the outcome of your case.
What Role Does Surveillance Footage Play in a Slip & Fall Claim?
When it comes to slip and fall cases, a key aspect is proving that the property owner was negligent and their actions caused your injuries. Surveillance footage provides an accurate and unbiased record of the events. This is much more reliable than verbal or written accounts. Unfortunately, humans are flawed and our recollections can become unintentionally distorted over time. As such, video footage can provide an impartial account of the situation.
In addition, it can help establish a clear timeline of the events and show how the dangerous property condition or carefulness led to the accident. Video evidence can demonstrate that a property owner knew about the hazard or had reasonable time to discover it and failed to remedy the issue. For instance, if the surveillance footage shows a wet floor that has been present for an extended period before your accident, it could indicate the property owner likely knew about the hazard and should have taken the necessary steps to fix it.
How Do I Obtain the Video Footage of My Slip & Fall Accident?
While surveillance footage can be important in slip-and-fall cases, the process of obtaining this evidence isn’t always straightforward. If a bystander is the one who captured the video, you can simply ask them for it. However, if the defendant is the one in possession of the footage, it may not be as simple. In many cases, the defendant will claim the footage doesn’t exist or has been erased to avoid liability.
To secure this footage, it’s important to act quickly and enlist the help of a qualified attorney. They can request a copy by sending a spoliation letter to the property owner, in which they request for the party to preserve evidence that may be relevant to the case. This legal document prevents the destruction of the footage, which can occur if not requested promptly. It’s important to note that surveillance systems often overwrite old security footage after a certain period. As such, time is of the essence when pursuing this evidence.
If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident, please don’t hesitate to contact a seasoned lawyer from Becker & Lindauer, who can help you fight for the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled. Our legal team is prepared to help you understand your rights and options. Connect with our firm today to learn more about what we can do for you.
