Spooky season is in full swing and Halloween is right around the corner. While finding the perfect costume and having the best candy on the block are important, ensuring your property is safe and ready for trick-or-treaters is also an essential part of Halloween preparation.
By inviting families to trick-or-treat at your house, as a homeowner, you are assuming liability. Therefore, if an accident occurs on your property during trick-or-treat, you could be facing a liability claim. In the hopes of preventing accidents and reducing liability claims, the personal injury attorneys at Dale E. Anstine are highlighting the three most common trick-or-treating accidents and offering up tips to prevent them.
Trips & Falls
Among the most common accidents on trick-or-treat night are trips and falls. Since it is dark outside and individuals may not be able to see where they are walking, it is common for individuals to trip and fall over uneven pavement, broken sidewalks, or extension cords powering those frightening decorations in your front yard.
Before families enter your property on trick-or-treat night, do an inspection. Check your driveway and sidewalks for cracks or uneven pavement that may be a danger. If you find any problem areas, either fix them or clearly mark off the area. Additionally, if you have extension cords or wires running through your yard, purchase a cord cover to prevent injuries. Most importantly, keep your property well-lit so visitors can see where they are walking and avoid any hazards.
Burn Injuries
While Halloween is the prime time for jack-o-lanterns and spooky decorations, hot surfaces and open flames can lead to burn injuries. To prevent a guest from sustaining a burn injury, the personal injury attorneys at Dale E. Anstine recommend using battery operated tealights for jack-o-lanterns and monitoring the temperature of decorations (i.e. string lights) on trick-or-treat night.
Animal Bites
Halloween is an exciting time for many families, and often pets get to join in on the fun. However, when dogs are put in unfamiliar situations, feel threatened or even get excited, they can become unpredictable and sometimes dangerous. With many unfamiliar trick-or-treaters entering your property, it is important to keep your dog in a separate room or crate to prevent them from biting or knocking over a visitor. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to take the steps to protect those around your dog to ensure they do not sustain any injuries.
We’re Here to Help
Personal injury claims against homeowners are very common. If someone is injured on your property, a lawsuit may be filed to cover the cost of medical expenses, lost wages and/or pain and suffering. Although homeowner insurance policies generally do carry some level of liability protection against personal injury claims, it is recommended you review your insurance policy and speak with an agent to make sure you are covered in the event of an accident at your home this Halloween.
Additionally, if you or a loved one are injured as a result of a homeowner’s negligence, reach out to us. Consultations are FREE, we are available 24/7 and there is no fee unless we win for you!