Guide
How to Ask a Business to Preserve Surveillance Video
Quick answer
Practical steps for requesting video preservation after a premises fall.
Act within days, not months
Many DVR systems loop within 7–30 days. A polite written preservation request to the corporate legal or risk department should identify the date, time window, location in the store, and camera areas of interest.
What to include
- Your name and contact information
- Exact location (aisle, entrance, restroom hallway)
- Approximate time and duration to preserve (before and after the fall)
- Request for inspection logs covering the same shift
If the business ignores you
Counsel can send a formal spoliation/preservation letter. Self-help trespassing to seize equipment is never appropriate.