The biggest mistake people make is waiting until the pain becomes unbearable and then finding out Delaware's clock may have already run.

For most Delaware slip-and-fall injury claims, you generally have 2 years from the date of the fall to file a lawsuit. That usually applies to a Wilmington parking lot ice fall, whether it happened at an apartment complex, store, hotel, or parking garage. If you're still within 2 years, you may still have a case. If you're past 2 years, your options are usually very limited unless there is a rare exception, such as an injured minor or a delayed issue tied to who owned or controlled the property.

To prove it now, the evidence matters just as much as the deadline. You want:

• Photos or video of the ice, snow, poor lighting, missing salt, or drainage problems
• An incident report from the property owner, store, apartment office, or security desk
• Your medical records from the first visit through current treatment, showing the injury never really resolved
• Work records showing missed shifts, lighter duty, or lost pay
• Weather records for Wilmington showing when the storm ended, temperature drops, and refreezing conditions
• Proof of who owned or maintained the lot, including a snow-removal contractor if one was hired
• Any witness names, texts, or messages about the fall

In Delaware, the issue is often not just "there was ice." It's whether the owner had a reasonable chance to treat it, knew or should have known it was there, and failed to fix it. Black ice after a freeze-thaw cycle can be enough if there was poor maintenance, bad drainage, or no salting after conditions turned dangerous.

If the fall happened near a busy Wilmington property or garage used by commuters, ask for any surveillance footage fast. Many systems overwrite video within days or weeks, even though the injury lasts much longer.