Evidence wins product liability cases. The strength of your claim is directly proportional to how much credible, well-organized evidence you can put in front of a jury or settlement negotiator. The good news is that the right evidence to preserve is straightforward and most of it is within your reach if you act early. This page walks through everything you should keep, document, and gather — and what we can recover for you when items are missing.

Physical Evidence to Preserve

The single most valuable item of evidence is the fire pit itself. Even when badly damaged, the unit reveals critical information about the defect through forensic engineering analysis. Preserve it in the condition it ended up in after the incident, store it somewhere dry and undisturbed, and contact us as quickly as possible so we can arrange professional handling.

• The fire pit unit itself, in post-incident condition
• Any detached parts, melted components, or fragments recovered from the scene
• Fuel tanks, lines, valves, and regulators connected to or near the unit
• Original packaging, manuals, warranty cards, and inserts
• Spare parts kits or accessories sold with the unit
• Clothing and personal items that were burned or damaged in the incident

Do not attempt repairs, do not clean the unit beyond what is necessary to remove safety hazards, and do not return it to Amazon or the seller. Returning the unit destroys evidence and almost always reduces the value of the case more than the refund justifies.

Documentary Evidence

Documents are the second pillar of a strong case. Most of the documents you need are recoverable even if you do not currently have them — we can subpoena records, request copies from providers, and pull Amazon order history with the right authorizations. The list below describes what is helpful; do not delay calling because you are missing items on this list.

Purchase Documentation

The Amazon order history showing the date of purchase, seller identity, product listing details, and the price you paid is essential for tying the incident to the specific product. Most buyers can access this through their Amazon account for years after the purchase. Other useful items include the original receipt or order confirmation email, credit card statements showing the transaction, and any seller communications about the product.

Medical Records

Every medical encounter related to the injury matters. Emergency room visits, urgent care, primary care follow-up, specialist consultations, burn unit admissions, surgical procedures, physical therapy, mental health treatment, and pharmacy records all contribute to documenting the harm. Keep a chronological log of providers seen, and request copies of every record either as you go or all at once at our request.

Financial Records

Lost wages and out-of-pocket costs are recoverable but only when documented. Pay stubs from before and after the incident, employer letters confirming time off, tax returns reflecting the income disruption, receipts for prescription medications, mileage logs for medical appointments, and home health aide invoices are all important.

Property Loss Records

If the incident caused property damage, keep insurance claim documentation, contractor estimates and invoices, alternate housing receipts, an inventory of destroyed possessions with photos or original receipts where possible, and the fire department investigation report.

Photographic Evidence

Photographs taken immediately after the incident are uniquely powerful because they capture the scene before cleanup, repair, or memory degradation. If you have not yet taken these, do so today.

• The fire pit itself from multiple angles, including any deformation or damage
• The location where the incident occurred, including nearby structures and surfaces
• Damage to property — burn marks, scorching, structural damage
• Personal injury photographs with date stamps if possible, taken over the course of recovery
• Hospital and treatment setting photographs (with permission of providers)
• Affected possessions and clothing, especially if they will be discarded

Witness Information

Witnesses who saw the incident or the immediate aftermath strengthen the credibility of your account considerably. Gather contact information for everyone present, neighbors who responded, first responders, and treating providers. Even people who arrived only minutes after the event may have observed the scene before anyone moved or changed it. Their statements lock in the facts before memory fades.

Expert Investigation We Conduct

Once we are engaged, we layer expert investigation on top of the evidence you have gathered. This includes forensic engineering analysis of the failed unit, fire investigator review of the incident scene, life care planning for the medical and rehabilitation timeline, economic analysis of lost earning capacity, and accident reconstruction where the sequence of events is in dispute.

What If Evidence Is Missing

It is normal for clients to come to us with gaps in their evidence. Records can be reconstructed, witnesses can be re-located, and experts can fill in the gaps where physical evidence is incomplete. The most important step is to contact us before any more time passes — the longer the wait, the more difficult reconstruction becomes.

• Lost the fire pit: fire investigation reports, Amazon records, photos, and debris analysis
• Missing medical records: we subpoena them directly from providers
• No photographs: site visits with our investigators can capture remaining evidence
• Witnesses unreachable: investigators can locate witnesses years after the event
• Damaged or destroyed receipts: credit card statements and bank records replace them

Why Choose Langley Still & Foss

• Immediate evidence preservation protocols engaged on day one
• Established relationships with forensic engineers and fire investigators
• Subpoena power to recover missing records from third parties
• No fee unless we win — pure contingency

Call Today to Begin Preservation

The longer evidence sits unmanaged, the more it degrades. If you have any of the items described on this page — or even if you have lost most of them — call our intake team today so we can begin protecting and gathering what is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I already returned the fire pit to Amazon?

You can still pursue a case, but the absence of the physical product limits your forensic options. Amazon’s return process typically discards or destroys returned units, so the item is unlikely to be retrievable. We will build the case using fire investigation reports, Amazon order history (which Amazon retains for several years), photographs, and circumstantial evidence. Tell us during the consultation whether you have any photos taken before the return.

Do I need to organize everything before I call you?

No. Bring whatever you have in whatever order you have it, and we will organize and assess from there. We would rather review messy, complete evidence than wait while you sort it. Many of our clients hand us shoeboxes of receipts and partial folders — that is normal and we handle the organization.

How quickly do I need to preserve the fire pit?

As soon as possible. Outdoor exposure to weather, accidental moves, well-meaning cleanup, and Amazon return attempts all degrade the evidentiary value of the unit. Within days of the incident is ideal; within weeks is workable; after months the unit may still help but the case becomes harder. Call us before you move or store the unit and we can arrange professional pickup.

Can I take photographs of my own injuries or should I leave that to providers?

Take your own photographs in addition to whatever providers document. Date-stamped phone photos of the injury throughout recovery are surprisingly powerful in front of juries because they show the trajectory of healing or non-healing better than any clinical record. Take photos in good light, from multiple angles, and at regular intervals (daily early on, weekly later).

Why Evidence Preservation Habits Matter

Good evidence habits make a measurable difference in case outcomes. Clients who photograph the scene early, retain the product, save receipts and documentation, and keep a written record of medical visits and conversations with insurers consistently support stronger cases than those who rely on memory or after-the-fact reconstruction. None of this requires legal training. It requires presence of mind in difficult circumstances, and a willingness to preserve documentation that may seem unimportant in the moment.