How to Preserve the Evidence
The evidence in these cases — footage, records, and the crime history — is controlled by others and can be lost quickly. This checklist helps protect what you can, and get help for the rest.
Photograph the conditions
If it is safe, photograph the lighting, locks, gates, cameras, and any conditions relevant to security, before they change.
Note the property and owner
Record the property, its owner or manager, and the exact location, which identify what needs to be preserved.
Act fast on the footage
Security footage is often overwritten within days. A prompt request to preserve it — which a lawyer can send — can be critical.
Do not rely on the owner’s account
The owner controls its records and has its own interest. Do not assume its version is complete or that it will preserve what helps you.
Get a lawyer to gather the rest
A lawyer can obtain the area's crime history and the property's incident records and complaints — the evidence that shows what the owner knew.
The deadlines and rules depend on your state
The steps above apply wherever you were hurt. Filing deadlines, fault rules, and limits on damages differ by state — pick yours for what applies to negligent security.
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This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and the law differs by state.