If you or someone you know slips and falls in a public location, other people may have seen the incident occur. Having an eyewitness testify to your fall may serve as evidence if negligence on the part of a property owner caused your injury. However, it is possible a surveillance camera could have watched you fall as well.
Insurance Journal explains that business owners who fear lawsuits because of personal injuries on their properties may invest in surveillance measures, including cameras. A camera system can keep watch over multiple locations, particularly areas where people are likely to gather. In the event of someone suffering a fall, a camera will likely have recorded footage of the incident.
Cameras on a property
If a property owner has installed cameras, you will probably notice them in any common area you traverse. Examples include the public areas of stores and shopping malls. Restaurants are another possibility.
Some property owners have cameras watch over areas where trip hazards increase, such as where floors change in elevation, or if outdoor floors give way to indoor flooring. If a place seems like an increased risk to cause injury, there might be a camera nearby as well.
The availability of camera footage
If you spot a camera watching your location at the time you fall, you may try to acquire a copy of the footage. Some local laws require store owners to retain surveillance footage for a period of time.
However, there is no guarantee the property owner in your case will keep the footage for a long period of time, particularly if no laws restrict when the owner can delete video footage. Still, if you have a smartphone with you, you may at least record a video of your fall aftermath as evidence if your injuries do not hamper you from doing so.