Should I report the fall before I leave the store?

Report it before you leave. It's the single most important thing you can do at the scene.

Why. An unreported fall lets the defense argue you fell somewhere else, or that the injury came from something unrelated. A contemporaneous report fixes the date, time, location, and the fact that it happened.

It also triggers the store's own process. Most retailers generate an incident report and preserve surveillance footage when a fall is reported. Without a report, nobody flags the video, and it cycles.

What to do while you're there. Photograph the hazard before it's cleaned up — this is the evidence that disappears fastest. Photograph the surrounding area, any warning signs or their absence, and your footwear. Get the names of employees who responded. Get contact information for any witnesses.

Ask for medical attention if you need it, and accept it.

What not to do: tell them you're fine, or minimize. That gets recorded.