Halloween is meant to be a day filled with safe mischief and candy. However, there’s potential for some real scares if you and your trick-or-treaters aren’t careful.
Trick-or-treating is a very fun activity for children, but it can be dangerous. Many people don’t really think about the potential hazards involved with the festivities of Halloween until someone gets hurt. For example, a house decked out in the latest, high-tech decorations may look cool, but it also poses a threat to people running around the yard. In all the chaos surrounding the holiday, how do you keep your little ones safe?
1. Be Aware of Trip Hazards
Tripping hazards may be the most prevalent threat to trick-or-treaters solely focused on getting candy. Many children race each other to a front door, not paying attention to what is around them. This is usually ok, especially if the path to the door is well lit and free of objects a child could trip over. However, if there is no clear path and the yard is full of decorations low enough for children to trip on, things can get tricky (pun intended!). Make sure your children are aware of their surroundings and not walking through areas of a property they aren’t meant to be in.
2. Stay in Well-Lit Areas
The darker an area, the more likely it will be for someone to injure themselves. There are many possible ways a child could injure themselves on Halloween. For example, if you are in a busy neighborhood and many children are running from house to house, there is a good chance they could bump into each other or objects they can’t see very well and injure themselves. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to keep their property properly lit for any visiting ghouls and goblins.
3. Watch for Loose Animals
Any dog can bite someone. Even the most friendly dog could accidentally hurt someone if they get frightened enough. Halloween can be stressful for animals, as there is a lot of action happening around them. People are constantly moving around the animal, sometimes too quickly. If a dog is frightened, it is more likely to react to a situation before realizing what it is doing. Be aware of any animals on a property or on a leash while taking your child out and about.
Stay Vigilant This Halloween
If, despite your best efforts, you or your child is injured on someone else’s property this Halloween, our premises liability attorney can help. We will do everything in our power to gain any owed compensation.
Give us a call at (916) 778-3228 or contact us online for your consultation.