The Top Five Safety Threats to Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween

Halloween is supposed to be a fun holiday for children and their parents, but it can also end in tragedy. We have all heard stories of poisoned candy or treats containing razor blades, but the real threats on Halloween come from defective costumes, motor vehicles and other unforeseen hazards. Safe Kids Worldwide, a child safety organization, claims that only one-third of parents talk to their children about Halloween safety concerns. We hope that informing you on the following hazards can help you have a safe and fun Halloween.

1. Motorists: Drivers are the most dangerous and common hazard on Halloween. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, the number of fatal pedestrian accidents involving children increase twofold on this holiday. On Halloween, there is an increased number of drunk drivers on the road. Speeding and distracted driving could also increase the risk of an accident.
2. Dangerous or defective costumes: Some costumes can increase the risk of an accident because they contain design or manufacturing defects. For example, a costume could be made with highly flammable materials. A costume could also be designed in a way that limits a child’s visibility or increases the risk of tripping and falling. Makeup products for costumes can cause severe allergic reactions in some cases.
3. Unsafe Halloween decorations: Certain types of Halloween decorations (or the way they are set up) may cause trick-or-treaters to slip and fall. Decorations may also cause fires. For example, costumes worn by trick-or-treaters could come into contact with candles in pumpkins or other sources of fire. Halloween lights can create electrical hazards, especially near sources of water.
4. Dog bite injuries: Property owners may fail to keep their dogs away from trick-or-treaters. In some cases, dogs may frighten or even attack trick-or-treaters they perceive as intruders. Dog bites are a possible hazard on Halloween.
5. Unsafe properties: Properties may contain other hazards, such as poor lighting and broken stairwells. Trick-or-treaters can trip over objects left on lawns or walkways. These hazards can increase the risk of a slip and fall accident.

What if My Child is Injured While Trick or Treating?

Accidents can happen even in cases where parents have done everything right to keep their trick-or-treaters safe. If your child was injured while trick or treating and you believe the negligent actions of other people are to blame, then you should speak with a Texas personal injury attorney at our firm. We can help you discover if you have legal options to hold those individuals accountable.