What holiday is better than Halloween? Candy is everywhere, the costumes are creative, and kids and their parents can all have a good time out on the town. Unfortunately, Halloween also introduces some unique risks to even the safest neighborhoods.
Whether you are going out on your own or taking kids trick-or-treating, there are steps you can take to avoid pedestrian accidents in your neighborhood. Even motorists on their way to local parties can be extra diligent in order to keep all the little ghouls and ghosts on the road as safe as possible.
Parents and Neighbors Can Protect Area Children
Trick-or-treating is generally the most substantial part of Halloween night. Parents watching over children or teenagers who are out seeking candy play an essential role in ensuring that no parties fall victim to pedestrian accidents.
Parents, guardians, and even trick-or-treaters themselves can all take active steps to protect themselves from roadway harm. Even adults out on the town can make a point to take precautions to avoid these kinds of accidents.
All parties interested in protecting themselves from pedestrian accidents can:
Wear Visible Costumes
It can be difficult to convince a child that they shouldn’t dress up as their favorite superheroes for Halloween—and you don’t have to. Instead, you can work with your children to integrate visible elements into their costumes. Vibrant yellows and greens can stand out, even in the dark. You can even integrate reflectors into some of your children’s costumes.
The point of ensuring your children are as visible as possible on the road is to make sure that motorists and other parties can locate your kids on the sidewalk. If your children run into the street or stumble off of the sidewalk, motorists need to be able to see them to avoid causing accidents.
Have Adults Stay With Children
It’s also in trick-or-treaters’ best interests to have an adult on the scene when they go out on the town. Older children, of course, may rebel against this requirement. Fortunately, parents can compromise with their pre-teens and teenagers. Teenagers and pre-teens can commit to the buddy system to ensure their safety on Halloween night.
Younger children can instead remain with their parents while trick-or-treating. This increases those children’s safety.
Bring Flashlights and Other Visibility Aids
Flashlights and other visibility aids, like lanterns, can add to your improved visibility on Halloween night. Whether you are out trick-or-treating or walking downtown, these visibility aids can ensure that motorists and other parties see you in the dark.
Making every effort to remain visible on Halloween night can relieve you of fault should you get into a pedestrian accident. In most cases, these efforts can prevent everything but the most negligent of pedestrian accidents.
Drivers Can Take Steps to Watch Out for Trick-Or-Treaters, Too
Parents and adults actively trick-or-treating are not the only parties who can prevent pedestrian accidents on Halloween. Motorists going to and from parties—or just taking care of daily responsibilities—should also make a point to everyone around them from harm.
Motorists, in particular, need to keep a wary eye on crosswalks, intersections, and sidewalks when driving from Point A to Point B. Diligence can prevent the negligence charges that might otherwise land a driver in civil court.
Have a Conversation About a Pedestrian Accident With Our Team
Do not let your Halloween night take a sour turn. Make sure you and your loved ones take steps to remain as visible as possible this holiday. Alternatively, if you are heading out on the town for the evening, make sure you make a point to watch out for pedestrians on the side of the road.
If you find yourself contending with the consequences of a pedestrian accident, know that you are not on your own. At Feller & Wendt, we have your best interests in mind and want to do everything we can to help you during these hard times. You can schedule a consultation with our representatives by calling our office at (801) 499-5060. We are also available via our contact form.
