Halloween is supposed to be fun. Sure, it’s a little creepy or scary at times but, ideally, the only source of fear comes from costumes and haunted houses. No one should have to worry about their children or themselves suffering a personal injury on Halloween because of someone else’s distraction, impairment, or negligence.
Halloween Pedestrian Accidents
Trick-or-treating happens in quiet neighborhoods, at school, and on busy city blocks. Wherever the candy-hunting location, pedestrians abound on October 31, which makes it all the more important for motorists to pay attention to who’s roaming the streets.
A pedestrian accident can happen in an instant. AAA Michigan reports that the risk of pedestrian fatalities increase by four times on Halloween, and Halloween is one of the deadliest nights for children. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Costumes: Trick-or-treaters of all ages can be found wearing vision-impairing costumes and tripping over capes and tails. One wrong move and you could stumble into the path of a moving vehicle or fall and suffer a traumatic brain injury. Anything could happen. Taking precautions to ensure that costumes won’t be in the way of safe walking is essential for kids and grown-ups.
- Intoxication: If you’re not out taking the kids door-to-door, you may be living it up on All Hallow’s Eve with friends. Will you be driving home drunk? Plenty of people will, and if you’re one of them you pose a risk to yourself and fellow motorists as well as pedestrians.
- Cell phones: Smartphones make it easy to take as many Halloween photos as you want, and kids, teens, and parents alike will be snapping pictures. Pedestrians will have their eyes on their phones to see how their photos came out or post them to social media. Taking your attention away from the important task at hand – walking – can turn into a wrong step into traffic or a busy crosswalk.
- Darkness: At the end of the day, whether a work day or a weekend, drivers are tired, rushing to get home, or thinking about the evening’s events or obligations. Combine these distractions with darkness and it can be disastrous for pedestrians who are wearing dark costumes or without a flashlight or other glowing measure to grab a driver’s attention.
- Distraction: Too busy looking at the cute little devil crossing the street to see his parents catching up from behind? Distracted by an impressive Halloween display at the house on the corner? Reading your texts and not paying attention to the road? There are even more distractions than usual on Halloween night, and allowing them to catch your attention – or neglecting to acknowledge that distractions have increased – means the pedestrians around you are in more danger than usual.
Protect Yourself from Personal Injury on Halloween
Halloween is an exciting night and caution isn’t at the top of anyone’s list, but it should be. You want to remember this Halloween and all the events surrounding it as a spooky good time, not as the date of disaster. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury because of the negligence of others, contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation. You have the right to compensation for your pain and suffering. We do not charge any fees unless you collect. Call (248) 354-2222 today to schedule your consultation.
