Real-Life Dangers of Halloween Weekend

While Halloween weekend is a fun time to spend time with friends and family enjoying the thrill of scares, the real dangers of the holiday weekend should not be taken lightly. Children and adults alike are at risk to be seriously injured during the holiday from the careless actions of others. 

Halloween is one of the deadliest nights of the year. An estimated 41 million children hit the streets to trick-or-treat at night and even more adults across the nation are frequenting parties throughout the night. The combination of low visibility at night time, darker costumes, Halloween tricksters, alcohol, unsupervised children, crowded streets, and cooler weather results in a number of accidents waiting to happen.

The following statistics from Brinks Home report just some of the dangers that occur during Halloween weekend:

• Children are 3x more likely to be struck and killed by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year
• 70% of parents do not accompany their children when trick-or-treating
• Nearly 4,000 Halloween-related injuries occur every single year in the United States
• 12% of children under the age of 6 trick-or-treat alone
• 86% of adults bring alcohol to Halloween parties
• 52% of motor vehicle fatalities that occur on Halloween involve alcohol or drugs
• 23% of all pedestrian fatalities on Halloween involved a drunk driver
• House fire accidents injure 41 people on Halloween a year
• Halloween is the deadliest day of the year for children people the ages of 1 and 18
• Drivers between the ages of 18 and 25 accounted for one-third of all fatal Halloween car accidents
• In 2017 alone, 7,450 pedestrians died in accidents on Halloween
• 18% of these deaths occurred at crosswalks or intersections

How To Avoid Common Halloween Accidents

Southside Injury Attorneys encourage everyone to enjoy a safe and happy Halloween by taking the time to consider the safety of themselves and others when enjoying their night. 

Pedestrian Accidents

Crowded streets filled with adults and children mean that drivers and pedestrians alike face danger. Find alternative routes from busy trick-or-treating areas if possible, and take extra caution as a driver if you must drive through these areas. As a pedestrian, check that you are visible at night by wearing reflective material on your costume or carrying a flashlight as you walk along streets and sidewalks. Parents should supervise and accompany their children at all times when walking through busy streets. If your child is going without you, ensure that they are not alone and understand traffic laws should be respected when crossing a street properly and staying on a designated walkway. 

Impaired Driving

Halloween is one of the most popular nights to host parties during the year. Always prepare a plan for arriving to and leaving a party beforehand when you will be consuming alcohol. Utilize rideshare apps or carpool with a designated driver if you ever have more than one drink. Remember, any BAC above 0.0 in Georgia could qualify as a DUI. Keep an eye on friends who are also drinking to help everyone avoid overconsumption. 

Negligent Security

Any Halloween event at a venue, haunted house, bar, theater, amusement park, or business is required to provide safety to guests. Should a visitor indulge in too much alcohol and become aggressive, or a guest try to pull dangerous tricks and scare others, an event can quickly lead to injury. Remain aware of your surroundings when out in public, and follow all rules any business sets forth to keep guests safe. Report any activity or individual that you feel may harm themselves or others to the business. 

Slip and Fall Accidents

Late October weather may bring cold, rainy evenings that leave roads and surfaces slicker than normal. Pedestrians and drivers should keep this in mind when navigating crowded streets or businesses and take the time to slow down and navigate carefully. Costumes also prove to be safety hazards if they inhibit the ability to walk properly or cause others to fall in crowded areas. 

Call or contact the law office of Southside Injury Attorneys for experienced attorneys that can help when you’ve been injured. We have six convenient locations in McDonough, Stockbridge, Peachtree City, Jackson, Barnesville, and Griffin. We also serve clients all over the state of Georgia, including in Henry County, Clayton County, Fulton County, Fayette County, Douglas County, Butts County, Lamar county, Spalding County, and Coweta County.

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