Posted: October 28, 2019
For children across the country, October 31 is a really special night. After all, what's not to like when it comes to trick-or-treating, costumes, pumpkins and candy? Every family should get out and enjoy the festivities, but as a concerned parent, you obviously want to do everything you can to keep your family out of harm's way, i.e. far away from the possibility of a car crash or pedestrian accident.
Below, we look at what you should do if you do find yourself in one of these situations. We also review a few basic safety tips for preventing Halloween accidents.
What To Do After a Crash
In the immediate aftermath, take a deep breath and try to remain calm:
- Call the police and stay at the scene
- Check yourself and others for injuries
- Move the crash to the shoulder if it is safe and possible to do so
- Get yourself out of harm's way
Try to be polite and keep your communication with the other driver limited to the essentials – exchange contact information, names, license plate numbers and insurance policy information. Do not apologize, accept fault or in any way discuss the cause of the crash. That could be used against you later.
Once you have gotten medical care and are back at home, call our Nebraska law firm. You may have insurance companies asking you to accept certain offers or sign documents – check with our attorneys first. We make sure your interests are protected.
The Driving Hazards Particular To Halloween
Halloween has several things working against motorists and pedestrians:
- Early sunset/limited visibility
- Lots of foot traffic combined with increased automotive traffic
- Costumes and masks that may further obstruct vision and cause distraction
- Child pedestrians who may not necessarily travel in a predictable way, i.e. darting out from behind cars, running in the road, crossing when they shouldn't, etc.
- Increased risk of sharing the road with intoxicated drivers
It's a sobering statistic, but the National Safety Council says children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a vehicle on Halloween night than on any other night of the year. The CDC estimates it's closer to four times as likely. While this is tragic, there are things you can do to take control and prevent accidents. We look at those measures in the section below.
Do Your Part To Keep Trick-or-Treaters Safe
Excited children on Halloween night are unlikely to remember all the rules when it comes to foot travel. They may dart between vehicles and cross roads without looking. Make sure they know the rules ahead of time. Accompany young children as the trick-or-treat.
Whether you are an adult planning to party on October 31, or a parent accompanying trick-or-treating children, here are a few more safety tips:
- Don't drive drunk or drugged – call a Lyft, Uber, taxi or take public transportation if you are imbibing on Halloween
- Dress your children in brightly colored costumes so they will be more visible to motorists
- Insist they carry flashlights or glow sticks
- Teach children about crossing only at crosswalks and intersections
- Let them know to look left-right-left for cars before crossing
Halloween night is inherently dangerous given increased foot traffic, dark costumes, higher rates of drunk driving and limited daylight hours. With the steps above, you can do your part to prevent pedestrian injuries.
Call our Attorneys If You or a Loved One is Injured
The experienced lawyers at Copple, Rockey, & Schlecht have been handling car accident and injury cases for many years. With decades of combined experience, we are able to offer our clients extensive knowledge, resources and skill when we go to work resolving their cases.
If you or a loved one is injured at any time of year, in a car accident or another accident caused by someone else's negligence, please call our law firm at 402-371-4300. We will help you decide what to do next and whether you can pursue compensation above and beyond any current insurance company offers.
