What to Do After a Store Injury
A few steps after a store injury protect your health and your claim — including footage the store controls and can overwrite. Here is a simple checklist.
Get medical care
See a doctor right away, even if you feel okay. Some injuries appear later, and a record connects them to the incident.
Report it and get an incident report
Report the injury to a manager and make sure an incident report is created. Ask for a copy, and note the store, location, and time.
Photograph the hazard now
Photograph the spill, the fallen merchandise, or the hazard, and the surrounding area, before staff clean it up. This is often the best proof of what happened.
Get witnesses and staff names
Get names and numbers for any witnesses and the employees involved, while they can still be identified.
Act fast to preserve footage
Store footage can be overwritten within days. Be careful about recorded statements to the insurer, and get advice so the footage and sweep logs can be preserved.
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 retail store injuries.
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This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and the law differs by state.