What if My Child Gets Hurt Trick-or-Treating?

 Posted on October 28, 2021 in Premises Liability

Most families with young children look forward to Halloween as a fun time for the kids to dress up and collect some candy. Trick-or-treating is a fun tradition for participants, parents, and observers alike. However, there is also a certain amount of risk that comes with children in masks charging onto people’s property to their front door in the hopes of getting some candy. Not all homeowners are as cautious as they should be when preparing for trick-or-treaters.

If you or your child was injured due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, you need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Property conditions can change quickly, and you will want a lawyer to begin collecting evidence quickly.

How Does Negligence Cause Trick-or-Treat Injuries?

When a person invites trick-or-treaters to come onto his property, he has a duty to make sure it is reasonably safe for them to enter. This means that there should be a safe and well-lit path from the street to the spot the homeowner is handing out candy. Because most trick-or-treaters are children, the landowner must consider that children lack the judgment and caution most adults possess and take extra care to keep his property safe for them.

Trick-or-treating children are often injured by:

• Tripping hazards - Excited and mask-clad children often run from door to door, and may not notice a wire running across a driveway or a slippery step.
• Decorations - Electrically-powered Halloween decorations can be fun, but may pose a danger to young children. Aside from the risk of electrocutions, decorations that pop out may strike or badly scare young children, sending them running into the road. Decorations may also be badly placed, where they may lure children towards other dangers such as swimming pools or steep hills.
• Dogs - Dog owners are responsible for securing their dogs during trick-or-treating, Even “friendly” dogs may bite if spooked by a sea of costumed people.
• Fires - Putting a candle in a jack-o-lantern can create a fun, spooky effect, but it can also lead to fires and burns if the pumpkin is left unsupervised where children can get to it.

Unlike the false but oft-repeated stories of razor blades in candy, these dangers to young children are very real.

Contact a North Shore Personal Injury Attorney

If you or your child were hurt while trick-or-treating on someone’s property, you should strongly consider contacting a Glenview premises liability lawyer. Trick-or-treating should be a safe family activity, but if a careless landowner made it unsafe, Gruzmark Law, Ltd. may be able to help you recover compensation. Call 847-729-7660 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2016/10/31/430898.htm