Halloween is a fun holiday that’s celebrated by millions of people around the world every year. Most people enjoy trick-or-treating, costumes, and parties. However, accidents can occur that can impact the lives of everyone involved. To avoid these potential tragedies, it’s important to follow basic safety guidelines. For example, it’s a good idea to tape down extension cords when hanging decorations and be extra careful when carving pumpkins with sharp knives, but the most common accident on Halloween is car accidents.
Halloween is one of the most dangerous times of the year for car accidents. Trick or treaters are out in the streets, and motorists need to be extra careful because they may not see a pedestrian in time to avoid a collision. Unfortunately, many drivers are not paying attention and endanger innocent children. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to keep Halloween safe for children trick-or-treating.
The best way to avoid a car accident on Halloween is to drive slowly and look for children along the road. This is especially important because visibility can be much lower at night. Also, teenagers should not drive on Halloween night. Lastly, drivers should keep their attention on the road by avoiding distractions. One of the most common distractions is a cell phone.
Parents should make sure their kids can be seen by drivers. Costumes should include some reflective material and children should carry Glow Sticks or a flashlight. Children need to look both ways and listen for cars before crossing a street. Additionally, they should cross only at a designated intersection or crosswalk to prevent an accident. Youngsters need to be accompanied by an adult to ensure they are paying attention and making safe decisions when running from house to house.
Another common type of Halloween accidents are falls. Falls can cause serious injuries, including broken bones and concussions. These types of accidents are especially common at night, when lighting is often limited and trick-or-treaters may be rushing to collect candy from neighbors.
Mask and long costumes can prevent children from being able to see cars, steps, or decorations and costumes that drag on the ground can get tangled around feet and cause kids to trip and fall. Making sure your Trick-or-Treater is wearing proper shoes is another great way to prevent injuries on Halloween. Using a flashlight is not only a good way to make yourself seen by drivers. It can also be used to light up sidewalks that can be uneven or broken.
Even with all the safety measures in place accidents can still happen. If you have suffered a Halloween injury, it’s important to know your legal rights. Not only are you entitled to compensation, but you can also hold other parties liable. You may even be entitled to compensation if you’re injured on a commercial property. Thankfully, most homeowner’s insurance policies cover liability claims.
If you have any questions, the attorneys at Evergreen Personal Injury Counsel can help you make the right decisions for your case.