Personal injuries are more common than you think on All Hallows’ Eve! But here at Gowing Law, we always love being able to celebrate this holiday with our colleagues. Take a look at the photo below if you don’t believe us!
Whilst it is always a good laugh to dress up and be with friends on Halloween, this year things may be a bit different. After all, we are all staying inside in order to socially distance and avoid spreading Covid-19 to our friends and loved ones. However, if you are still going out to do a little trick or treating, you need to try your best to keep you and your loved ones safe. Did you know that on average there are around 41 million kids and parents that go out on Halloween? That’s why it’s one of the spookiest days of the year for personal injuries solicitors.
If you do get hurt, Gowing Law Solicitors can help make the claim less spooky! Have a look at our claims checker to get started:
Should I really go out Trick or Treating this Halloween?
This year, personal injuries are going to be the least of your worries when it comes to Halloween. As we stated before, Covid-19 is going to have a large impact on the way we interact with other people long into the future. That’s why you may also be considering whether or not it’s worth going out this year. There isn’t exactly going to be any parties this year, nor is it really worth going to your neighbour’s houses in order to get sweets. After all, you have to interact with people outside of your social bubble in order for your children to get candy.
We would highly recommend that you go with your gut instinct on what you think is right to do. Whilst it has not yet been banned to go trick or treating, right now you won’t be able to go in a group larger than six. That and there will still be a chance that you could spread germs around to your neighbours. Take appropriate precautions if you do decide to go out.
Here are some of our own suggestions to get you started:
Young Children & Personal Injuries
Whilst it’s important to consider your own personal safety when you go out on Halloween night, let’s be honest, the most vulnerable people out on the street are going to be children. That’s why you need to be aware of any potential risks that might be posed to their safety. Make sure they are with you at all times and you know which houses they are visiting in order to get sweets.
One of the biggest urban personal injury legends about Halloween is that there might be poison or sharp objects within the chocolate. However, there has been very little evidence that this actually happens in real life. Usually, if a tampering does happen it is usually by a friend or family member who are trying to do it as a prank. No one has ever been killed because of tainted candy.
Just make sure to keep an eye your children and they should be okay. If they do suffer from a personal injury, you will have to represent them as they are under 18 years old.
How could I suffer from personal injuries on Halloween?
Out of all of the holidays, Halloween tends to be the one where people are most likely to get hurt. This is because they may go out to party, get drunk and fall over, or they may be crossing a busy street and end up in a pedestrian traffic accident. There are many types of problems that could lead to you getting hurt if you decide to go out. Take a look at our infographic below for an idea of what could happen when you go out for Halloween.
As you can see, the main accidents normally involve criminal activities, falling over, costume problems and pedestrian accidents with vehicles on the road. The first thing you need to think about is about how to walk safely around your neighbourhood, town, or city. It is going to be very dark, therefore you should consider wearing bright clothing, using glowing sticks or operating a Halloween candle. That way you can see others and others can see you. Go over street rules with your children, including:
- Looking both ways before you cross a street.
- Pausing at a curb before going out onto the road.
- Holding hands before crossing a road.
- Utilizing the sidewalk and crossroads to get around safely.
Establish these ground rules and maybe even make a map of your neighbourhood to ensure that they do not get lost. You should always have them carry a fully charged phone in which they can contact you if something bad does happen. That way if the responsible adult gets separated then people can stay in contact.
Work Accidents & Halloween
Public injuries can happen in any type of environment. Be it a pub, an office or any sort of public venue, if the accident was not your fault then it is very likely that you will be able to claim a large amount of compensation. The same thing happens if you have got a seasonal job at some kind of Halloween venue. This includes:
- Themed bars and pubs
- Outdoor Halloween events
- Themed Halloween theme parks
- Haunted Houses
- Public parties
If you have managed to get a job at a themed event, there is a chance that you could get hurt due the negligence of your customers or management. Take a look at the case study below to get an idea of what could happen whilst you are on duty:
As you can see from our case-study, it was a completely unprovoked assault. Without any manager or security to protect him at work, Terry found himself helpless when he was attacked by customers. This means he could file his case with CICA or as a work accident claim with an experienced legal solicitor.
To make a claim, the accident needs not to have been caused by your own negligence. Instead, it needs to be the fault of someone else. Your place of work has a “duty of care” for your safety and security. That means they need to do everything within reason to keep you in a safe work environment. The accidents you experience may be due to a lack of training, experience or perhaps just bad luck.
You could get hurt due to:
- Faulty equipment
- Slips or trips
- Violent customers
- Unsafe working conditions
- Inadequate management
These are only a few examples. If a work accident does happen, make sure to alert senior staff as quickly as possible. Your injury should be noted down within the work accident hand book, even if it is just seasonal/holiday work. You should also consider calling an ambulance, the police and collecting evidence, such as photographs, video, witness statements and CCTV footage.
Driving & Halloween
Traffic accidents tend to become more frequent on Halloween night. Distracted drivers may not be used to the area and so could look at their GPS more than the road. It is also very likely that they could be texting on their phone or speaking to someone in the car. Halloween parties could also make it more likely that there will be some drunk drivers behind the wheel. If you have experienced an accident due to the negligence of a drunk driver, it is very likely that you could get a lot of compensation for your injuries.
Always take care while driving, especially if you are taking care of children who are trick or treating. If there is an incident, be sure to take down the license plate and contact details of the other driver who caused the accident. You will also want to collect evidence from the scene of the traffic accident, this includes potentially getting a police report to ensure that you get a unbiased perspective on the accident itself.
How do I keep safe on Halloween night?
Now, Halloween should be an enjoyable holiday for you and all of your family. Personal injuries can happen at any time and in any place. That’s why you need to keep your guard up when you do go out and about. Things may be a little different this year, but you can still have fun.
When you get dressed up in your costumes, pick something bright and flamboyant in order to keep yourself visible. It is also recommended that you go in a group in order to make sure that someone has their eye on you at all times.
If you are going to drive on Halloween, make sure to avoid drinking at all costs. You may also want to avoid it if you have a long walk home. Many people trip up and fall because they lose their balance after having a night on the town. Drunk walking can also make people stumble onto the road off the sidewalk. Whilst you may not need to pay compensation if you are a pedestrian, the last thing that you want on your hands is to know that you have hurt someone else. Instead, focus on how you can have fun whilst remaining safe. That way you can fully enjoy the Halloween event without there being any consequences. You will only have good memories.
What should I do if I experience personal injuries on Halloween?
You should treat them just as you would if you get hurt on any other day. You should consider going to hospital to have your wounds checked out. If you are well enough to collect evidence then you should do so. This includes getting:
- Photographs and videos
- CCTV evidence
- Police reports
- Medical reports
- Receipts
- Witness statements
- Diary entries
You will also want to get legal counsel on how to move forward with your claim. Gowing Law’s trained solicitors are more than happy to help you with your personal injury claim. That way you can avoid making any mistakes that could invalidate it. Gowing Law’s personal injuries specialists can also help you when it comes to your settlement agreement. They can calculate an estimate about how much you could be owed and whether or not you should go to court to settle the case. Make sure to also show them the evidence you have gathered. They can help you organize it!
Gowing Law is here to support you with any sort of personal injuries claim
Here at Gowing Law, we would be more than happy to help you with your claim. If you have got hurt, and it was not your fault, our personal injury specialists will make sure that you get the compensation that you deserve. We can offer free advice and consultations to get you started. These can be undertaken remotely if you are worried about Covid-19. From there, if you decide you want to work with us, our solicitors can offer their services on a ”no win-no fee”.
Contact Gowing Law Solicitors today by contacting our legal firm at 0800 041 3850, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or using our claims checker. You can also reach out to us directly by using our contact page or LiveChat. Let us know how we can help you! Our solicitors are on the case.
Read more about personal injury claims
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