‘Tis the season for tricks, treats, and potential injuries that can arise from walking door-to-door. Although a lot of parents have turned to safer alternatives, such as “trunk-or-treating,” Halloween injuries still occur. From bumps and bruises to prop injuries to roadway accidents, this ghoulish holiday is known for various types of auto accidents and pedestrian accidents. Because we want you and your little ones to stay safe out there and have the most enjoyable Halloween possible, our Las Vegas personal injury lawyer, Brian M. Boyer, has composed a few safety tips to abide by while you’re out.
The reality of pedestrian-related fatalities on Halloween night
Car accidents in the Las Vegas valley increase significantly when people take to the streets. We’re sorry to add to your never-ending list of worries and fears regarding your children’s safety, but the cold, hard truth of the matter is: children are more likely to be hit by a car (whether by a distracted driver or drunk driver) on Halloween night than on any other day of the year. So please, read this article, and keep them safe!
Research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that between 2009 and 2013, 43 percent of all car accident-related deaths occurring on Halloween resulted from an intoxicated driver. Although Nevada’s overall traffic-related fatalities fell in 2017, pedestrian fatalities have actually begun to rise. In 2017, there was a spike in Clark County pedestrian fatalities at a whopping 78 when compared to 57 in 2016!
Keeping your children safe this Halloween
The most important thing you can do to keep your child safe is to establish ground rules for being out-and-about. Advise of the possible dangers and ensure they stick to a solid routine. There is absolutely no reason why a child under the age of 13 should be out trick-or-treating alone. If you cannot escort your child, have an older child, babysitter or friend take them out and abide by the following rules for safety:
– Stick to a route that your child is familiar with and can easily navigate.
– Ensure this route is well-lit and provides a safe place for walking (sidewalk).
– If your child’s escort has an iPhone, ask that they share their location with you for the evening so you can easily track where they are and when they are there.
– Encourage group trick or treating. 5 people are more easily spotted on the roadways than a single person. Consider adding glow sticks and other reflector-like accessories to your child’s costume.
– Set a curfew!
– Do not, I repeat, DO NOT enter a stranger’s home for any reason.
– If a stranger offers you home-baked goods, decline. The same rule applies to already-opened candy.
– Do not let your child eat any candy until you can inspect it.
– Most importantly, tell your child to be aware of his or her surroundings at all times! If they see anything unusual, suspicious, or dangerous, call 9-1-1 if deemed appropriate.
Keeping yourself safe this Halloween
If you do not have children at home and you elect to stay home and hand out treats, abide by these guidelines to ensure your safety:
– Turn on, and keep on, any exterior lighting to ensure visibility.
– Unless you want to deal with a premise liability issue, avoid any hazards that trick-or-treaters can potentially fall over and… you guessed it… sue you over.
– Unless you want to deal with a house fire, keep candle-lit props away from any exterior fire hazard (consider using battery-operated candles instead).
– Unless you want to deal with a dog bite lawsuit, keep your ferocious critters locked away or on a leash while greeting your trick-or-treaters.
Halloween is also widely known as an excuse to kick back and throw a party. Unfortunately, parties also breed an environment for potential underage drinking and driving… So please stay safe, and keep children safe by:
– Keeping drinks covered and away from any person under 21.
– Unless you want to face criminal charges, do not allow children under the age of 21 to drink (even a sip) of alcohol.
– Keeping an eye on your drink at all times. If you’ve left your drink unattended for even a few seconds, dump it out and get a new one.
– With the advent of Uber & Lyft, there is NO reason why you should drive drunk. Ever.
Did you know? Clark County has issued a curfew to teens, making it illegal for anyone under 18 (not working or accompanied by a guardian) to hang out in public:
10:00 PM – 5:00 AM (Sunday-Thursday)
12:00 AM – 5:00 AM (Friday and Saturday, non-school days)
9:00 PM – 5:00 AM (On the Strip or Downtown, Friday and Saturday)
Safety Tips for Drivers
Although it goes without saying, Halloween is a breeding ground for pedestrian vs. car accident-related injuries. If you must drive on Halloween night, please keep a keen eye on the road. Be aware of your surroundings at all times; Slow down and let pedestrians pass by. Additionally, you should use caution around other drivers. Stay on your best defense and if you see a driver whom you believe is intoxicated, call 3-1-1 to report your findings.
If you or your loved one falls victim to a Halloween injury in Las Vegas, NV, please do not hesitate to contact our law firm for a free initial consultation. We have over a decade of experience representing the injured residents of Las Vegas, NV, and we would be happy to help you as well.
Stay safe out there and have a Happy Halloween!
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