For many children, Halloween is one of their favorite holidays of the year, as it gives them the chance to dress up in costumes and go door-to-door to gather candy. But while Halloween is fun for many families, the night can turn tragic for some. Unfortunately, Halloween often sees a spike in the number of pedestrian accidents, especially those involving children. If your children or family plan on going trick-or-treating this Halloween, here are some tips that can help you prevent being involved in a pedestrian accident. 

Halloween Accident Statistics

According to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pedestrian deaths accounted for about 15 percent of all motor vehicle-related deaths suffered by minors in the U.S. The study further found that pedestrian deaths for children multiplied four-fold on Halloween compared to all other evenings in the death. During the years examined by the study, four child pedestrian deaths occurs on Halloween evening (defined as 4 PM to 10 PM), compared to an average of one child pedestrian death on all other days. 

Factors That Increase the Risks of Pedestrian Accidents on Halloween

Some of the important factors that contribute to the higher rates of pedestrian accidents on Halloween include:

• Many residential neighborhoods have lots of children walking the streets to go trick-or-treating
• Trick-or-treating hours often occur during dusk and after sundown, meaning that children and families are out and about after dark
• Halloween costumes tend to be made out of darker colors, making costumed pedestrians harder for drivers to see
• The excitement of Halloween decorations, costumes, and trick-or-treating can cause kids to forget pedestrian safety rules and engage in dangerous behaviors like running across the street without looking for oncoming traffic or not staying on the sidewalk

Tips for Keeping Safe on Halloween

Key tips for keeping safe on Halloween include:

• Make yourself visible to other motorists when walking about – If your children or you are wearing a costume, you may want to choose a costume that uses brighter colors; even if you are merely accompanying young children for trick-or-treating, you should also dress in bright colors. If children choose a darkly-colored costume, add reflective tape to the costume. Pedestrians should also carry flashlights or lanterns to make themselves more visible to motorists. Finally, costume choices should avoid masks that can restrict visibility or hearing.
• Plan a trick-or-treating route in advance – Deciding what route your children will follow when trick-or-treating will allow you to minimize street crossings 
• Exercise caution when crossing the street – Always cross at a marked crosswalk or at an intersection whenever possible, avoiding crossing in the middle of the block. Look both ways before crossing the street, and never assume that an oncoming motorist sees you or your family. 
• Use sidewalks – Always stay on the sidewalk if one is available; if a street has no paved sidewalk, you should walk along the edge of the road on the side of the street facing oncoming traffic.
• Refrain from cell phone use – Especially while walking so that you do not become distracted, which may result in you unsafely crossing the street or losing track of children that you are supervising

Contact a Lake Worth Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Pedestrian Accident Case in Florida

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a pedestrian accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. represent clients injured because of pedestrian accidents in Miramar, Coral Springs, Davie, Boca Raton, and throughout Florida. Call (561) 533-0345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 813 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as offices in Pompano Beach.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.