Kids are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year, a Lakewood personal injury lawyer notes. Here’s how to keep them safe this year.
Halloween can be wonderful time to don costumes and enjoy fun frights.
For the parents of trick-or-treaters, however, there is a real fright that comes with Halloween – and it lies in the risk of children being hit by inattentive, drunk or reckless drivers.
In fact, between the hours of 4 pm and 10 pm on Halloween, children are about twice as likely to be hit by a car, when compared to their risk of a pedestrian accident.
on any other day of the year, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Why Are There So Many Child Pedestrian Accidents on Halloween?
A number of different factors contribute to the increased risk of child pedestrian accidents on Halloween. In fact, just some of the main reasons that this risk jumps up so high on Halloween include that:
- There are far more pedestrians out and about – And many of these little pedestrians are excited trick-or-treaters who may not be familiar with pedestrian safety. This can dramatically complicate the driving conditions, especially in residential areas, as it can mean there will be far more for motorists to be paying attention to/looking out for as they drive.
- Drivers are not always looking for or able to see younger pedestrians – While motorists may be alert to adult pedestrians, they may not be as vigilant about looking for smaller pedestrians who can be easily eclipsed by side mirrors, the frame of the vehicle or other features in the surroundings. Should drivers be distracted, drunk or just plain careless (by, for instance, failing to check their blind spots), it’s far more likely that they will hit a little one in the vicinity of their vehicle.
- There tends to be far more impaired drivers out on Halloween evening – In fact, on Halloween, impaired drivers are responsible for causing more than 40 percent of the fatal traffic accidents that occur and about 1 in every 4 deadly pedestrian accidents that take place.
Protecting Your Little Trick-or-Treater: How to Reduce the Risk of a Pedestrian Accident
So, if your little ones will be out on the streets tomorrow night trick-or-treating, here are somethings to keep in mind and/or share with your child(ren) to help them avoid getting hit by a car:
- Stay on the sidewalk or in the designated walking path. Do not walk in the street unless you are crossing it.
- When crossing the street, make sure that you do so at a designated spot, at a street corner and only when all vehicles have full stopped. Also make sure to look both ways prior to crossing to be sure there are no vehicles coming.
- Be especially careful walking past driveways or alleys.
- Do not walk behind parked vehicles or vehicles stopped at a stop sign or intersection. They could back up at any point.
- Pay attention to the road at all times. Put down the distractions and don’t roughhouse on the sidewalk.
- Bring a flashlight, wear reflective tape and/or change out the mask for face paint to maximize visibility (both for pedestrians and drivers).
Contact Lakewood Personal Injury Lawyer James L. Finegan
If you or a loved one has been hit or harmed by a negligent driver, Lakewood Personal Injury Lawyer James L. Finegan is here for you, ready to help you advocate your rights to justice and compensation.
To schedule a meeting with Mr. Finegan and learn more about your options for financial recovery, call (303) 980-5511 or toll free at (888) 980-5511. You can also send an email using the contact form on this page.
From offices based in Lakewood, CO, James L. Finegan provides superior representation to clients throughout Jefferson County and the state of Colorado, including those in Denver County, Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Adams County and the Colorado Front Range region.
