5 Ways to Avoid a Halloween Lawsuit
October 31, 2016
Avoid a Halloween lawsuit with these 5 tips
Up-to-Date Insurance
With trick-or-treaters coming through your yard or driveway for a few hours, it’s important to have up-to-date insurance policies in the event that one of those fast little ghouls were to fall and get injured on your property. As a trick-or-treater, driving around neighborhoods can be dangerous with all the bicycle and foot traffic looming. If you need to drive through town during Halloween evening, check to make sure your car insurance and policies are in-effect and adequate. Check with your insurance agent to confirm you have up-to-date insurance.
Electric Lighting and Decorations
Though many people choose candles and torches for light on Halloween, mainly to contribute to the overall experience and surroundings, this is a potential fire hazard, and even worse depending on who is involved. Visitors looking for treats on your property may accidentally knock over candles or fire-powered lawn ornaments, which could easily catch fire.
Companies now manufacture LED lights designed for outdoor lighting and decor. This gives homeowners a safe alternative to fire, and drastically decreases chances of a fire on property due to a mistake by a guest.
Make a Clear Path
As dozens or more potential trick-or-treaters flood their nearby neighborhoods in pursuit of candy and visuals, homeowners may be exposed to the threat of liability if there is an injury on the property. Help to create a clear path to the destination once visitors reach your yard, to avoid injuries such as slip and falls, or worse. Adding LED lights along the driveway or walkway can help to direct traffic to the area you designate for them to visit.
Many people like to decorate with detailed and intricate pieces such as large coffins and tombstones. To avoid a safety issue, make sure that all decorations, particularly large ones, for Halloween are clearly out of path of potential visitors. Also make sure to clean up any potential hazards obstacles, such as loose rocks, yard tools, or tree branches, to make sure nobody on your property is injured. If there are holes in the yard, be sure to lead visitors in a different path with lighting or signs.
Keep Pets Secure
On Halloween, noises of people roaming out and about, children’s’ voices, screams, laughter, and more can be sensitive for some animals, and could cause a reaction. If you plan to have trick-or-treaters at the door, or even in the yard, the last thing you want is them to go crazy and attack an innocent child at the door looking for Halloween candy. Keep pets secure during Halloween evening.
Source Candy Responsibly
In the past, altered candy or pseudo-candy has led to illness and sometimes death. If you plan to hand out treats to crowds from your house, make sure the candy you hand out is safe and won’t pose any danger or harm to the recipients. With substances such as pharmaceutical drugs being given as candy, and so many of those trick-or-treating in fear of the possible hand-outs they receive.
Happy Halloween and be safe – Jodat Law Group
If you have an injury resulting from negligence or a slip and fall on Halloween night, contact us for a free consultation!
Who’s that? Jodat.
