Identify the Building and the Public Entity Early
Public buildings can be controlled by cities, counties, state agencies, school or special districts, courts, transit entities, or other government bodies. Record the building name, address, department, signs, employee information, incident report number, and any document that identifies the agency connected to the property. Do not assume the agency using a building is always the entity legally responsible for the condition.
Government Code § 911.2 generally requires a personal-injury claim to be presented to the public entity within six months. That process can begin while you are still treating. Keep the injury date and every document you receive from the agency so the procedural history remains clear.
Document the Dangerous Condition That Actually Injured You
Government Code § 835 contains specific elements for liability based on a dangerous condition of public property. Preserve the exact physical condition only if it contributed to your injury. That may include a broken stair, uneven floor, missing handrail, unsafe ramp, falling fixture, defective door, elevator condition, or another hazard in the building.
Take safe photographs from enough angles to show both the defect and its location. Record lighting, warning signs, barriers, nearby repairs, witnesses, and whether the condition changed after your incident. Avoid guessing how long the defect existed if you do not know. The evidence should distinguish what you observed from what still needs investigation.
Build the Medical and Work-Loss Record While the Claim Process Moves
Tell providers how you fell or were struck and which body parts were affected. Keep imaging, surgery records, therapy, specialist care, restrictions, and follow-up instructions. If your symptoms evolve, report them accurately. The public-entity procedure may move forward before your medical outcome is fully known, so medical documentation should continue independently.
Keep wage records, employer letters, missed shifts, transportation costs, mobility equipment, and evidence of help you need at home. If you develop permanent limitations, preserve the long-term evidence showing how walking, stairs, driving, work, and daily independence have changed.
Account for Immunities Without Assuming the Government Is Automatically Liable
A dangerous condition in a public building does not automatically create public-entity liability. Government Code § 835 operates within a broader statutory system that can include immunities and other defenses. Preserve the facts showing the condition, your use of the property, the notice or control evidence you actually have, and the medical connection to your injury.
If a loved one dies, your family can preserve the building information, government entity, incident records, photographs, medical chronology, employment records, and relationship documents while the wrongful-death issues are evaluated. The procedural deadlines can remain important even during a period of grief.