Pedestrian Accidents Increase on Halloween

When it comes to the magic of Halloween, there’s almost nothing not to love – except for the fact that the number of dangerous pedestrian accidents increases on this fun-filled holiday. Halloween incorporates an element of mystery and magic for children and adults alike, but pedestrian safety should always be your top priority. Pedestrian accidents are always dangerous accidents, and if you or someone you love is injured – or worse – this Halloween (or any day), you need the professional legal counsel of an experienced Joliet personal injury attorney on your side. 

The Statistics

The National Safety Council (NSC) shares several dire statistics related to pedestrian accidents and, specifically, to pedestrian accidents on Halloween, including:

• In 2017, there were nearly 7,500 pedestrian fatalities, including those that occurred in driveways, in parking lots, and on private property.
• 18 percent of these deaths occurred at intersections and other road crossings.
• Low lighting that leads to decreased visibility played a significant role in these accidents.
• On Halloween, children are more than twice as likely to be killed as pedestrians than on any other day of the year (and that’s seriously frightening). 

All of these statistics, taken as a whole, make Halloween an especially dangerous day for pedestrians. 

Halloween: The Safety Factors

Halloween is a uniquely dangerous day for pedestrians for several reasons. For example:

• Halloween occurs in the fall when we’re just getting used to shorter daylight hours.
• Halloween celebrations revolve around children dressing up in costumes – that often impede both their visibility and their ability to see – and heading out on foot in the waning light.
• Halloween promotes heightened excitement that can encourage children to engage in even more unpredictable pedestrian habits.
• Even adults can buy into the excitement of Halloween and, thus, are more susceptible to letting their guard down when it comes to safety.
• Halloween isn’t just about Children’s celebrations. Adults often have parties of their own, which can lead not only to impaired driving but also to inadequate supervision of children.

Stay Safe Out There

Halloween is a risky night for pedestrians, including all of those trick-or-treaters out on the street. There are, however, things you can do to help keep everyone safe this Halloween, including:

• Talk to your children about pedestrian safety.
• Make sure your young trick-or-treaters have a responsible adult supervising their activities.
• Talk to older trick-or-treaters about appropriate and inappropriate walking routes.
• When you get behind the wheel, exercise additional caution – drive with your lights on, make turns and enter neighborhoods more slowly, and be on the lookout for jaywalking children. 

If You’ve Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident on Halloween, an Experienced Joliet Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

Halloween increases the risk of negligent drivers causing dangerous pedestrian accidents. If you or someone you care about has been injured in such an accident, the dedicated personal injury lawyers at Sabuco, Beck, Hansen & Massino, P.C. in Joliet are committed to applying their considerable experience to skillfully advocating for the compensation to which you are entitled. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.