A slip-and-fall dispute may involve the condition of the property and what the injured person, owner, occupier, contractor, or employee knew or did. Evidence should be organized by element and source rather than divided into a favorable file and an unfavorable file.

The responsibility file should preserve the condition, creation and notice evidence, inspection and correction history, warnings, visibility, route, conduct, and competing account.

Document both the property and the encounter

  • Exact location, dimensions, surface, lighting, weather, sight lines, route, footwear, carried items, and body movement
  • Original photographs and video, witness locations, incident report, surveillance source, and retention request
  • Inspection, cleaning, repair, complaint, work order, employee, vendor, ownership, lease, and control records
  • Warning type, placement, timing, visibility, and what each person observed before and after the event

Separate a disputed fact from a legal conclusion

Record who created each statement and when. A warning may exist without resolving whether it was timely or visible; a photograph may show a condition without establishing how long it existed. Preserve contrary evidence and unanswered questions instead of deleting them from the chronology.

Use official records for the questions they can answer

North Carolina General Statute 1-139 addresses the burden of proof for contributory negligence in identified negligence actions. See North Carolina General Statute 1-139.

North Carolina Rule of Civil Procedure 26 lists discovery methods that may be used after litigation begins. See North Carolina Rule of Civil Procedure 26.

North Carolina law contains identified limitations provisions, but the applicable deadline depends on the facts and parties. See North Carolina General Statute 1-52.

Connect the file to the next decision

Create a separate issue row for condition, notice, correction opportunity, warning, conduct, causation, and damages. The related North Carolina slip-and-fall contributory negligence guide provides a focused companion resource.

Rosensteel Fleishman Car Accident & Injury Lawyers provides information about consulting a Charlotte slip-and-fall lawyer when the condition, notice, visibility, warnings, conduct, ownership, or responsibility is disputed.

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