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Trick or Treat? Prevent These Common Halloween Injuries

10/23/2020
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BY

The following Halloween statistics from Protect America are quite unfortunate and alarming:

  • Children are twice as likely to be killed in traffic accidents on Halloween
  • 63% of children don’t carry a flashlight while trick-or-treating
  • 70% of parents do not accompany their children while trick-or-treating
  • There are 3,800 Halloween-related injuries every year
  • 12% of children younger than six are allowed to trick-or-treat alone
  • There is $13 million worth of property damage caused by fires each Halloween
  • 65% of parents don’t discuss Halloween safety with their children
  • 86% of adults bring alcohol to a Halloween party 
  • 52% of motor vehicle deaths on Halloween involve alcohol

If you or one of your children is injured this Halloween in Florida, let a Florida personal injury lawyer at Searcy Denney help. 

The Most Common Halloween Injuries

The statistics above make it clear that many adults use what should be a fun children’s holiday as an excuse for consuming too much alcohol. It’s not surprising that alcohol-related car injuries are one of the most common Halloween-related injuries. Others include:

  • Distracted Driving Injuries. Many adults driving on Halloween are either going to and from Halloween parties or taking kids out trick-or-treating. Checking GPS devices, communicating by mobile phone, or even becoming distracted by costumes and decorations all contribute to a higher-than-average number of distracted driving accidents.
  • Slip or Trip and Fall Accidents. Intentional low levels of lighting, Halloween decorations, and crowded sidewalks and streets all contribute to high numbers of falls, resulting in injuries ranging from scrapes and cuts to concussions and broken limbs.
  • Pedestrian Accidents. The unusually high numbers of drivers and pedestrians naturally lead to more pedestrian accidents, especially around dusk when the crowds are the largest and the lighting is the worst.
  • Costume-Related Injuries. Many costumes are highly flammable or have highly flammable parts, and most people love to use candles on Halloween. This combination leads to burns of varying degrees of severity.

Preventing Halloween Injuries

Yes, Halloween can be a scary time. Nonetheless, a few safety precautions can make everybody’s day a little safer and more fun. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers these tips for a safer Halloween:

  • Choose costumes that are bright, reflective, and flame-resistant. Consider makeup instead of full face masks and avoid any sharp accessories.
  • Allow children to help, but not actually carve pumpkins. Keep Jack-O-Lanterns well away from structures or paths where young trick-or-treaters will walk.
  • Keep your walkways dry and free of debris so that trick-or-treaters can walk safely.
  • Accompany your kids while trick-or-treating, only allow them to approach houses with lights on, and never allow them to enter a home.
  • If you are not accompanying your kids, have them stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
  • Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
  • Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
  • Never cut across yards or use alleys, and only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks. Never cross between parked cars or out of driveways.
  • Watch for cars and never assume the right of way.

Our Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You With Your Claim

If you or a loved one is an unfortunate victim of an injury this Halloween, a Florida personal injury lawyer at Searcy Denney can help. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything unless you recover. If you need our help, contact us online today.

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