Halloween is an extremely fun night for children because it’s the one night during the year that they can dress up as their favorite superhero (or superheroine), walk around the neighborhood and eating (or trying to get away with eating) as much candy as they want. Unfortunately, Halloween Night is also incredibly dangerous for trick-or-treaters who face a number of safety concerns.
In addition to having to worry about drunk drivers when crossing the street, young children also have to deal with many safety hazards on sidewalks, lawns, yards and doorsteps of the homes they visit.
The risk of a serious slip-and-fall injury on another person’s property becomes even greater if the child is trick-or-treating without adult supervision. Of course, there are ways to make sure that your kid is aware of the increased safety risks on Halloween Night. However, regardless of any precautions your child takes, sometimes a serious slip & fall or trip & fall accident is unavoidable.
Whether your child slipped on unraked leaves, tripped on uneven pavement or took a nasty fall over misplaced Halloween decorations, you could be looking at expensive medical bills and a lengthy period of recovery. Someone is going to have to foot the bill for your son or daughter’s injuries.
Even if the accident occurred on a neighbor’s property, you should not be worried about upsetting your neighbor by seeking damages for a slip and fall accident. Keep in mind that most premises liability claims are handled through homeowner’s insurance, so your neighbor won’t have to pay the damages out of pocket.
In any case, you need to make sure that you get the financial compensation needed to cover your child’s medical bills and future medical treatment stemming from the slip & fall accident.
Take Safety Precautions on Halloween Night
Here are a few things you should consider doing in the event of a slip & fall or trip & fall accident on Halloween Night:
- If your child slips and falls while trick-or-treating on someone else’s property, the first thing you should do is make sure that your kid gets immediate medical attention for their injuries.
- Take photographs of your child’s physical injuries. Although a medical report will go a long way in court, it can’t hurt to have photograph evidence of the slip-and-fall injuries.
- Report the accident to the homeowner or the property manager if it is an apartment complex. Make sure that the details of the accident are reported and fully documented.
- Take photographs of the property, including any Halloween decorations or other items that may have contributed to your child’s fall.
- Get the names and contact information of witnesses at the scene. If your child was trick-or-treating with friends, make sure you get the contact info for their parents.
- Call an experienced personal injury and premises liability lawyer. Do not attempt to work out a settlement with the homeowner or their insurance company until you have spoken with a qualified attorney who can help you explore your legal options and make sure you and your child get the compensation you deserve.
If your child sustained serious injuries as a result of a slip & fall accident on Halloween Night, or any other day of the year, the knowledgeable personal injury lawyers at Andres, Berger & Tran can assist you. Our experienced legal team has been helping New Jersey accident victims file premises liability claims for decades. Contact us today to discuss your case over the phone or schedule a free consultation at our office.
