Halloween is a fun-filled day for kids and adults alike. At the same time, this spooky holiday can hold a variety of dangers which may give rise to serious accidents. According to the National Safety Council’s 2017 Injury Facts report, children are more than two times as likely to be struck and killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year. To maximize your family’s safety while celebrating All Hallows’ Eve next week, our Bucks County injury attorney advises you to take these precautions:
- Be a smart pedestrian – Whether you’re taking the kids trick-or-treating or walking down the street to a friend’s Halloween party, prepare for the sidewalks and roads to be packed. Remember to always use crosswalks and stay on the sidewalk whenever possible. To make yourself visible to drivers, pick a brightly colored costume or add reflective tape to your getup. Also keep in mind that irresponsible motorists may be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so you should walk defensively.
- Teach kids about Halloween safety – If your children are mature enough to go out by themselves on Halloween, consider requiring them to plan their route ahead of time so that you can approve it. Make sure they bring flashlights and instruct them to never go into the car or home of someone they don’t know. Decide on a curfew for your kids and remind them of best practices for walking and crossing the street before they head out.
- Make sure your costume isn’t hazardous – While you might want your costume to be frightening, you definitely don’t want it to pose a threat to yourself or those around you. Therefore, you should choose a costume that is made of fire-resistant material and isn’t too long so that you don’t trip. Furthermore, our injury attorney in Bucks County suggests skipping the mask to ensure that your visibility isn’t reduced. If you choose to carry a fake weapon as part of your costume, make sure it isn’t sharp enough to hurt someone.
- Drive with caution – When getting behind the wheel on Halloween, be on high alert for people walking on the road. Be especially careful when driving through neighborhoods and when entering and exiting driveways, alleys and other places where trick-or-treaters may lurk. Think twice about letting inexperienced teen drivers take the car out after dark. And of course, do not drive if you are intoxicated – stay over or arrange for a responsible ride home.
Halloween night can be full of both frights and dangers, but by following these tips, you’ll be able to avoid preventable accidents and focus on enjoying the holiday.
Our Bucks County Injury Lawyer Handles Halloween Accidents
Unfortunately, even if you heed all of the advice we’ve just given you, there’s still a chance that you’ll be injured by a negligent party on Halloween. If this occurs, you can count on Gary P. Heslin, the injury attorney Bucks County has trusted for over 30 years, to help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering, missed work time, etc.
To schedule a free consultation with our skilled lawyer, call (215) 332-0300. And if you’re still decking out your home for the day of fright, be sure to read our tips for safe Halloween decorating. From all of us here at Heslin Law Firm, have a happy and safe Halloween!