01

Describe the place precisely

Record the entrance, aisle, stair, parking area, restroom, seating area, or walkway involved. A business name alone rarely identifies who controlled that exact space.

02

Ask what records exist

Incident reports, cleaning logs, inspection schedules, work orders, photographs, video, lease records, and witness information may be held by different parties and may not be kept indefinitely.

03

Avoid turning a scenario into an accusation

A fall or other injury does not by itself prove negligence. The condition, notice, control, causation, defenses, and state law all require fact-specific analysis.