When you have a slip and fall claim, you need various kinds of evidence to hold a property or business owner accountable for the accident and the resulting injuries and losses you’ve suffered. In many cases, surveillance footage can maximize your compensation in a slip and fall accident claim in Chicago. Understanding the role that surveillance footage plays in slip and fall cases can help you build a compelling case that gives you the best chance to obtain a financial recovery.
Why Surveillance Footage Matters in Slip and Fall Cases
Surveillance footage can provide critical evidence in slip-and-fall cases. Video footage of the accident scene can show the condition of the property when an accident victim fell, providing visual proof of what occurred in the person’s fall rather than relying on witness testimony. Witnesses’ memories can fade or distort, and witnesses may miss critical details, which can affect the reliability of their recollection of the accident. Surveillance can capture key information or events in a slip and fall accident, such as:
- Spills, such as employees or customers dropping or knocking over liquid containers or food
- The nature of the hazard that caused the injured victim’s fall, such as a puddle of liquid, ice, food debris, or mud
- How long the hazard remained on the ground
- Whether the property owner or the business’s employees walked past the hazard
- When property owners or business staff discovered the hazard
- The lack of warning signs or cordons
- How the injured victim managed to slip and fall
Common Locations with Surveillance Cameras in Chicago
Many properties and businesses have security or surveillance cameras that may capture slip-and-fall accidents. Common examples of locations that have constantly recording video cameras include:
- Grocery stores and supermarkets
- Retail shops
- Shopping centers
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Entertainment venues (e.g., concert halls, theaters, sports venues)
- Apartment complexes
- Office buildings
- Government buildings, such as post offices, courthouses, and municipal office buildings
- Banks
- Warehouses
- Storage facilities
- Public recreational areas
Challenges in Obtaining Surveillance Footage
Slip and fall accident victims may face various challenges in obtaining surveillance footage for their injury claims, including:
- Private property owners or businesses may not want to turn over recorded footage, especially if the accident did not occur on their property
- Many surveillance camera systems periodically delete or write over footage, sometimes within days or a week
- Accident victims may need to obtain and issue subpoenas to get footage, especially when seeking footage from third parties
- Camera angles may not provide a complete view of the accident, or camera quality may make some details difficult to discern
How Surveillance Footage Can Influence the Outcome of a Slip and Fall Case
Surveillance camera footage can affect the outcome of a slip and fall claim by visually demonstrating key legal elements of the claim, such as the existence of a hazardous condition and the property or business owner’s negligent failure to clear the hazard or warn visitors of its condition (such as by placing signs or cordoning off the area). Video footage can also corroborate an accident victim’s account of the accident. As a result, surveillance footage can strengthen an injured victim’s position in an insurance claim or persuade a jury or judge in a slip-and-fall lawsuit.
Contact a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney Today
After slipping and falling on someone else’s property, having surveillance footage can help you hold the property owner liable for your injuries and losses. Contact Saperstein Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a slip and fall accident lawyer to learn more about the importance of surveillance footage in slip and fall accident cases in Chicago.