Preventing NYC Halloween Personal Injuries This Season

For most children and many adults, Halloween is an exciting opportunity to dress up and go trick-or-treating or go out with friends. However, increased foot traffic on the sidewalks and roads, hazardous decorations, and ill-fitting costumes can all lead to serious injuries. Keep reading to learn more about the common types of Halloween accidents and how you can keep yourself and others safe during this spooky season.

Most Common Types of Halloween Accidents

Halloween festivities can lead to several accidents, including the following:

• Pedestrian accidents – Pedestrian accidents spike on Halloween due to trick-or-treaters and other revelers on the sidewalks and in the streets. Because more people are out at night, many of whom are dressed in dark costumes, there are greater risks of catastrophic pedestrian accidents.
• Slips and falls – Broken stairs, uneven sidewalks, and slick surfaces all pose tripping hazards. The risk increases when the lighting is poor or costumes make walking difficult.
• Decorating incidents – Putting up Halloween decorations may involve climbing ladders or handling electrical equipment. Falls from heights and electrical shocks or burns are common accidents from holiday decorating.
• Costume mishaps – Costumes can obstruct vision and restrict movement, making them particularly dangerous when trick-or-treating in the dark. Flammable costumes also pose burn risks.

Staying Safe This Season

Whether you are trick-or-treating or attending a house party, you can take the following steps to stay safe this season:

• Stay visible – Wear reflective gear or lights when walking around at night.
• Beware of tripping hazards – Carry a flashlight to check for debris, potholes, or other tripping hazards while trick-or-treating.
• Choose a designated driver – If you plan to have a drink or two, arrange transportation with a sober driver or call a rideshare service.

Common Types of Personal Injuries During Halloween

Some of the most common types of personal injuries that occur during Halloween include:

• Broken bones
• Sprains and strains
• Lacerations, cuts, and bruises
• Head injuries
• Eye injuries
• Burn injuries

How to Recover Compensation Following a Halloween Accident

If you suffer injuries in a Halloween accident, you could be entitled to seek compensation for your losses if another party’s negligence caused your harm. You should take the following steps to protect your legal rights after an accident on Halloween:

• See a doctor as soon as possible to have your injuries evaluated, diagnosed, and treated.
• Take photos of the accident scene, including any hazards that caused the accident and your injuries.
• Keep any bills, receipts, or invoices relating to medical treatment for your injuries or other losses.
• Consult a personal injury attorney who can review the facts of your case and determine the best course of action.

Finding the Right Type of Legal Help

If you suffered an injury caused by someone else, you deserve effective, diligent legal help to pursue compensation. At David Resnick & Associates, we provide injury victims with the personal care and attention they need after devastating accidents. For over 20 years, clients have trusted us to help them seek financial relief and justice from at-fault parties. Contact us today for a free initial consultation to learn more.

Author: David Resnick

Founder of David Resnick & Associates, P.C., a New York personal injury law firm in charge of providing exceptional and personal service to each of our clients in various areas including car accidents, slip and fall, wrongful death, construction accidents, and premises liability. David Resnick founded the firm in 1998 after working in large law firms where he saw a need for greater client communication and more personal care.