Introduction

In the aftermath of a slip-and-fall injury, you may feel like the odds are stacked against you — especially when the store where it happened claims they “did everything right.” But did they really?

One often overlooked piece of evidence that can play a big role in a premises liability case is the store’s cleaning and maintenance log. It might sound routine, but that log can tell a very important story.

Let’s break down how cleaning records can impact your claim — and how an experienced NYC slip & fall attorney can use them to your advantage.

🧹 What Is a Store Cleaning Log?

A cleaning log is a written or digital record kept by businesses, especially in high-traffic retail, grocery, or commercial spaces. These logs typically include:

• Times and dates of floor inspections or cleanings

• Names of employees assigned to maintenance

• Notes on hazards, spills, or other safety issues

• Any actions taken to correct unsafe conditions

Sounds simple — but in the right hands, these details can help build or challenge a case.

🕵️ How Cleaning Logs Help Establish Liability

To win a slip and fall case, your legal team must prove negligence — that the property owner knew or should have known about a hazardous condition and failed to fix it in a reasonable amount of time.

A cleaning log could provide that missing link. For example:

• If you slipped on a spill that had been there for hours, and the log shows no cleaning or inspections in that area during that time, it’s strong evidence of negligence.

• If the store says the floor was just cleaned minutes before, but the log shows otherwise — or is missing entries altogether — it may weaken their defense.

• Conversely, a detailed log that shows consistent maintenance may make proving negligence harder — but not impossible.

That’s why an experienced lawyer will look beyond the log — requesting surveillance footage, witness statements, or even checking if the log was altered after your fall.

⚠️ Common Issues with Store Logs

Even when logs are presented, they’re not always reliable. We’ve seen plenty of cases where logs were:

• Sloppily filled out or missing entire timeframes

• Clearly backdated to cover up negligence

• Inconsistent with camera footage or employee testimony

In New York, businesses have a duty to maintain safe premises. If a sloppy log shows they didn’t take that duty seriously, it could help your case significantly.

👨‍⚖️ Why You Need a Slip & Fall Lawyer in NYC

Stores and their insurance companies know how damaging cleaning logs can be — and they often won’t hand them over without a legal fight.

That’s where we come in. At Lockamy & Associates, we act fast to:

• Send preservation letters to stop evidence from being deleted

• Demand logs, footage, and internal communications

• Investigate if cleaning procedures match what’s written

• Build a timeline that shows what really happened

Whether you slipped on a spill, a loose rug, or wet tile — and whether it happened in a bodega or a big-box store — we’re ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.

🗽 Hurt in a Slip & Fall in New York?

Don’t let a missing or misleading log stop you from seeking justice. If you’ve been injured due to unsafe conditions in a store, talk to us before you talk to their insurance company.