The mistake that costs families the most money is waiting while the scene gets cleaned up. After a collapse, fencing goes up, debris disappears, and everyone suddenly "doesn't know" who was in charge.

Before you know what to gather, your situation is usually just this: ER records, bills arriving during tax season, and an insurer asking for a statement. That is not enough to prove who caused the collapse.

What changes once you know the right evidence is that your claim stops being "my child got hurt" and becomes "this owner, this contractor, and this subcontractor failed in these specific ways on this date in Middletown."

The key proof usually includes:

• Photos and video of the scene, debris, fencing, warning signs, machinery, and where your child was standing
• Witness names and phone numbers, especially neighbors, workers, and parents
• The police, fire, or EMS report
• Medical records tying the injuries directly to the collapse
• The property owner's name and any posted contractor or demolition company signs
• Any Delaware or Town of Middletown permit information, stop-work notices, or inspection records
• Nearby surveillance or doorbell camera footage before it is overwritten

In Delaware, the claim usually develops by identifying every company on the site, then comparing what happened against safety rules, permits, and site control. A fenced demolition area with poor barriers is different from an unexpected structural failure, but both turn on who controlled the danger.

If your child was a teen worker injured by machinery instead of a bystander, the path can shift into workers' compensation through the Delaware Industrial Accident Board in Wilmington, with a different proof setup and deadlines.

For a child injury claim, parents also need proof of medical bills, missed work, and future care needs. Those records matter now, even if the child's own claim timeline is longer than a parent's bill claim.