Avoiding Spooky Mishaps: How to Stay Safe During Halloween Celebrations

Halloween is a holiday that both children and adults alike enjoy. In the earlier hours of the evening children take to the sidewalks and streets in between to collect candy out trick-or-treating, then later on the adults make their way to parties. The overlap of the two crowds, and the fact that people are out drinking, can lead to a variety of accidents including car crashes, pedestrian accidents, and drunk driving accidents. 

If you or a loved one is seriously injured on Halloween in an accident or incident caused by another party, you could be entitled to compensation, and a Florida personal injury lawyer from Clark Fountain can help.

Stay Safe in Public and Private Places 

Being mindful of your surroundings is a helpful tip no matter what night it is, but especially on Halloween. Public places can be overcrowded, or bars might not have enough staff to keep the floors clean. Trying to keep yourself safe by avoiding immediate hazards can help to minimize the risk of injury on Halloween. However, sometimes injuries cannot be avoided, and if you are harmed because of a dangerous property or poorly secured environment, you could have a claim. 

Determining what is safe can sometimes be difficult, especially when you are out with friends moving between locations. Property owners have a duty to keep the premises safe, whether that is a haunted house or a bar, and it is important to know what your rights are if you are injured. 

Be Mindful of Distracted, Drowsy, and Drunk Drivers

Whether it is Halloween or a general weeknight, there are more and more truck drivers and commercial vehicles on the road. Whether it is rideshare vehicles carting costumed partygoers to events, or delivery drivers bringing around food and alcohol to Halloween house parties, there are a lot more overworked employees driving around. When a commercial driver or truck driver is drowsy or fatigued due to overwork and causes an accident, their employer will generally be liable for the damages caused. 

When drivers are not paying attention to the road tragic accidents can happen as a result of motor vehicle collisions or pedestrian accidents. One of the most dangerous threats on the roads today is distracted driving. Under Florida Law, a driver cannot operate a motor vehicle when:

• Typing or entering information into a wireless communications device
• Sending or reading data on a wireless communications device for the purpose of non-voice communication, including texting, e-mailing, and instant messaging 

When a driver is distracted, they are manually, mentally, and/or visually impaired, which means either their hands are off the wheel, mind off driving, or eyes off the road. When this happens, a driver will be liable for accidents that result, and as a trick-or-treater distracted driving can lead to pedestrian accidents. Be mindful of drivers and take care to ensure they are following the rules of the road before crossing streets, as parties also lead to drunk driving. 

Literally anytime a driver makes the decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated and causes an accident, they will be liable for the damages that result. All drunk driving accidents are preventable, and when a driver makes the illegal and irresponsible decision to get behind the wheel and injures someone, they will be responsible for the damages. 

Stay Sober When Driving 

It’s also important to remember that the rules of the road also apply to you, and to make sure to take an Uber or have a designated driver ready if you plan to consume any alcohol. When a driver is found to be impaired behind the wheel, a blood alcohol level under the legal limit can still lead to criminal and civil liability for intoxicated driving. The best way to avoid costly and potentially tragic accidents is to not drive if you have any intoxicating substances at all. 

Be Mindful as a Pedestrian 

As noted by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2022 alone there were some 10,013 pedestrian-related crashes in Florida, resulting in 765 fatalities. On Halloween, given the greater number of pedestrians in addition to the aspect of partying, the roads and even sidewalks are less safe for pedestrians than usual. Staying mindful of waiting for vehicles to come to a complete halt at lights and stop signs is an important step to avoid accidents. 

Drivers have a duty to follow the rules of the road when they are driving. If you are injured in a pedestrian accident because a driver was breaking a rule of the road, they will be liable and you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. The best way to ensure that the full damages linked to your injuries are covered is by working with an experienced local Florida personal injury lawyer on your claim.

Connect with a Clark Fountain Florida Personal Injury Lawyer

Being injured in an accident can result in substantial costs when it comes to medical bills, lost wages, and a decrease in earnings potential in the long-term. It is important to ensure that you build the strongest case possible in support of your claim by gathering evidence to prove the liability of the other party in addition to your damages. Working with a personal injury attorney from Clark Fountain takes the stress of the process out of your day-to-day life, so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. 

Stay safe and mindful on Halloween, and if another party’s negligence causes you or a loved one serious injury, a Florida personal injury lawyer from our firm can help. To get started, call us at 561-559-7875, or visit our site to schedule your initial consultation.