Halloween is a holiday all about fun. You get to dress up, eat your weight in tiny candy bars, carve pumpkins, and go to parties. However, there is a dark side to this holiday: injuries.
In Florida, Halloween causes an uptick in injuries and accidents each year. Here are some of the most common Halloween injuries, and what you can do if you’ve been injured due to the negligence of another.
Common Halloween Accidents
Several types of accidents see an increase during this time of the year. The most common ways people get hurt on this holiday include:
Slip and Fall Accidents
You don’t know where your Halloween activities may take you by the end of the night, but in many cases walking long distances is a part of the trick-or-treat fun. However, long distances can lead to slip and fall accidents, often caused by long costumes that trip you, Halloween decorations on lawns that you may not see, costumes or masks that obstruct your vision, or walking over pavement or even grass that is uneven.
Traffic Accidents
Another common source of injuries on Halloween is traffic accidents – unfortunately, they’re often the most life-threatening accidents too. Pedestrians are in increased danger of getting hit by a car on Halloween and run rampant on the day. It’s also a holiday celebrated by drinking for many adults, which can lead to drinking and driving – and traffic accidents.
Cuts
Pumpkin carving is an activity you’ve likely done ever since you can remember, but the sharp knives needed to carve your favorite fall gourd can lead to severe cuts. You have to be careful when carving, and supervise children at all times. You may want to get tools made especially for pumpkin carving to help keep everyone safe.
Burn Injuries
Dressing up in scary costumes is one of the best parts of the holiday, but these costumes can be dangerous. Unless you buy flame-resistant costumes, wigs and fabrics can easily catch fire and lead to serious burn injuries.
What If You’re in an Accident?
If you got injured in a Halloween accident, it’s important to know your options. Florida allows you to bring lawsuits against other people and companies who may be responsible for causing injuries. This is something to explore with the help of your attorney.
One of the most important things to do if you get injured on Halloween is to seek medical help. Get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible and start treating your injuries.
Also important to do:
- Get the contact information of anyone who witnessed your accident.
- Record other evidence, such as photos from the scene that can help you down the line.
- In situations where it’s warranted, call the police as well. They can file a report that can help bolster your case.
Remember, you have rights when you are injured. This is true whether it was due to a product defect or another’s negligence. So make sure to understand those rights and use them to your advantage.
About the Author:
Andrew Winston is a partner at the personal injury law firm Winston Law. For over 20 years, he has successfully represented countless people in all personal injury cases, focusing on child injury, legal malpractice, and premises liability. He has been recognized for excellence in representing injured clients by admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and named one of America’s Top 100 High-Stakes Litigators. Mr. Winston is AV Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, enjoys a 10.0 rating by AVVO as a Top Personal Injury Attorney, and has been selected as a Florida “SuperLawyer” from 2011-2022– an honor reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in the state – was voted to Florida Trend’s ”Legal Elite,” recognized by Expertise as one of the 20 Best Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys, named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Miami area for 2015-2022, and one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida for 2015-2017 and 2019-2022.
