Slip-and-fall claims often show up months after the storm. What you wrote down that night is what defends you. This page is practical advice from the field, not legal advice. Talk to your attorney and insurer about your contracts and records.
Log every visit
| Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Date, arrival and departure times | Shows response time against the contract trigger |
| Conditions: precipitation type, accumulation, air and pavement temperature, trend | Shows the decision was based on conditions, not habit1 |
| Services: plowed, shoveled, which areas | Ties work to specific walks and entrances |
| Material: product, amount, areas treated | Shows treatment matched the conditions |
| Time-stamped photos of entrances, walks and problem spots | The single strongest piece of evidence |
| Who was on the crew, and the equipment used | Witnesses and accountability |
| Hazards seen and reported: drainage, downspouts, piles, lighting | Shows you flagged conditions outside your control |
The MPCA's smart salting materials include sample anti-icing and deicing documentation forms you can adapt.1
Habits that hold up
- Write it the same night. GPS-tagged apps or a paper log, either one, as long as it's done in real time.
- Photograph the problem spots every visit: main entrances, ADA ramps, shaded walks, and the downspout that dumps across the walk.
- Report hazards in writing to the property owner: drainage, leaking gutters, bad lighting, piles they asked you to put somewhere bad.
- Make the contract match reality: triggers, response times, which areas are yours, and who handles refreeze between visits.
- Keep records for years. Claims can be filed long after the event. In Iowa, the general limitation for personal injury claims is two years. Ask your attorney how long you should keep records.
- Use colored material so photos show treatment, not just wet pavement.
Software that logs it for you: GPS time stamps, geotagged photos and service history make your records hard to argue with. See our Yeti snow removal software overview, or compare snow software by what it does best.
Next in the guideIowa winter and freeze-thaw timing →