Over the past ten years, Halloween seems to have enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity in the UK, and we expect to spend more than £776 million on Halloween paraphernalia in 2024.
The spooky season sees revellers of all ages pulling on weird and wonderful costumes before heading out to take part in ‘trick or treating’, attend Halloween parties, or check out one of the seasonal-themed attractions!
Far be it from us at Mooneerams Solicitors to put a dampener on festivities – after all, who doesn’t like a bit of trick or treating? We want to ensure that the biggest thing anyone has to worry about this Halloween is whether they’ve stocked up on enough sweets to satisfy the little witches and wizards who come knocking on their door!
However, it’s a fact, that Halloween, with its candle-lit pumpkins, elaborate costumes, and door-to-door adventures, can significantly heighten the risk of unwanted incidents, such as road traffic accidents and burns injuries.
You shouldn’t let the fear of an accident spoil your Halloween fun, but you should take reasonable precautions to keep you and your family safe.
Here are four of the most common Halloween personal injury accidents our team has encountered. More importantly, we’ve put together Mooneerams top tips on how to prevent them from happening in the first place.
1. Road Traffic Accidents
By the time Halloween comes around, the clocks have gone back, and it is often dark by 5 pm. This means that, in all likelihood, the hordes of children taking to the streets for trick or treating will be doing so in the dark. Excited children in dark costumes running around poorly lit streets, whilst on toads themselves motorists are still coming to terms with the limited early evening visibility that late October nights bring, can be a recipe for disaster.
Statistics tell us that children are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal road traffic accident on Halloween than on any other night of the year. Parents and motorists need to be aware that research shows that children even up to the age of thirteen have not developed the motor skills and perceptual judgment to safely cross busy roads consistently.
You can reduce the risk of your child being involved in a pedestrian accident at Halloween by accompanying them when they go trick or treating, dressing them in reflective clothing, and reiterating to them before they go out of the importance of basic road safety.
It isn’t only pedestrians who are at increased risk of accidents at Halloween. Drivers, too, must take extra care. Motorists can get distracted by eye-catching Halloween decorations or costumes. They also need to be extra vigilant to watch out for those returning from a Halloween party under the influence of alcohol as they can make the roads unsafe by suddenly wandering out into the road, heightening the possibility of car accidents.
You can minimise the chances of being involved in a car accident this Halloween by taking sensible precautions. They include staying alert, driving extra slowly, particularly in poorly lit areas, and keeping watchful eye on any erratic road users. If you see a motorist who appears to be driving in a peculiar manner, you should report them to the police.
2. Burns
For children, one of the most enjoyable aspects of Halloween is dressing up as their favourite spooky character. However, when The Sun newspaper tested 15 polyester Halloween costumes for their flammability, many didn’t catch fire but melted and shrivelled, with plastic dripping from them! Others went up in flames in seconds.
Many Halloween costumes are classed as toys rather than clothing and are subject to lower fire safety standards.
The widespread use of candles at Halloween to create an eery atmosphere or to light pumpkins near clothing that often isn’t fire retardant could be an accident waiting to happen!
Precautions you should consider, include buying your costumes from reputable retailers, checking that they carry a UKCA or CE mark to prove safety standards have been met in their production, and avoiding naked flames. Think about replacing candles with LED battery powered Tea lights.
3. Slips,Trips and Falls
Walking the streets in the dark, wearing flowing costumes, and clutching buckets of treats is the perfect recipe for a slip, trip, or fall accident. Slips, trips, and falls can result a range of injuries, from minor scrapes and bruises to fractures and broken bones and, in severe cases, traumatic brain injuries from banging a head in a fall.
You can lessen the chances of a slip, trip, or fall accident this Halloween by wearing a well-fitting costume, going trick or treating in a familiar area, sticking to well-lit neighbourhoods, and using a torch.
4. Dog Bite attacks
House owners who have stocked up on goodies are pleased to welcome little visitors to their doors. Unfortunately, the same can’t always be said for their four-legged friends. A constant stream of strangers can make dogs feel threatened or anxious; sometimes, they can lash out.
Dog bites cause wounds, break bones, and leave scars. In extreme cases, the bite from a powerful dog can leave a victim facing amputation or even losing their life.
The best way to avoid a potential dog bite incident on Halloween is to visit those homes you know you don’t have a dog. If you do encounter one, you should never approach it. Even if the dog knows you or your little one, it may not recognise you when you’re wearing a costume.
Can I make a personal injury claim for a Halloween night injury?
If your Halloween accident resulted from someone else’s negligence, or breach od statutory duty, you may be able to make a personal injury claim against those responsible.
For example, if you tripped on a loose paving slab and injured yourself whilst out trick or treating, you may be able to claim against the Local Authority or Highways Authority . If your child was injured, you may be able to bring a claim on their behalf.
At Mooneerams, our personal injury solicitors have been helping those involved in non-fault accidents to secure the compensation they are entitled to for over twenty years.
We pride ourselves on combining first class legal expertise with a personal touch. We are always immensely pleased when we receive client feedback noting how we went ‘above and beyond’ to achieve an excellent settlement and commenting on our ‘exceptional’ advice, ‘friendly’ manner, and ‘first class service’.
We believe that everyone should be able to pursue the compensation they deserve regardless of financial circumstances. That’s why we act for most clients on a no win, no fee basis.
If you think you might have a potential personal injury claim, call Mooneerams on 029 2048 3615 for a no-obligation chat with one of our friendly PI team.
