Halloween is a fun holiday for children as well as adults. But the mix of dark nights, obstructing costumes, and reduced lighting can contribute to an increased risk of a Phoenix Halloween auto collision and related accident injuries.
With excited trick-or-treaters and adult party goers running around outside after dark, motorists and pedestrians need to take precautions to avoid Phoenix car accidents. To that point, our team put together the following tips to help keep ghoulish injuries and accidents from wrecking your holiday fun.
Halloween Safety Tips for Pedestrians in Phoenix
- Make yourself visible. Use reflective tape on costumes and treat buckets to make trick-or-treaters visible to drivers at night. Glow sticks are another creative way to help increase invisibility when worn as a bracelet, necklace, head crown, and more.
- Choose the right costume. Don’t let your child wear face-masks. Make sure that no part of the costume obscures his or her vision. Non-toxic face paint can create the desired look without risking safety.
- Carry a flashlight. Take a flashlight with fresh batteries, and place it face down in the treat bucket. That way, trick-or-treaters will be visible to drivers at night. Further, they won’t risk obscuring drivers’ vision by accidentally shining the flashlight in their faces.
- Stay on the sidewalk. Whenever possible, stay on the sidewalk rather than in the street, and avoid busy streets.
- Cross only at marked intersections. Cross streets only where designated – preferably at a stop sign or other traffic signal if one is available. Don’t cross the street between parked vehicles, since you won’t be visible to oncoming traffic until the last minute.
- Look both ways before crossing. It’s exciting to trick-or-treat. So, it’s easy for kids to succumb to their excitement and not pay attention when crossing the street. Make sure they look both ways and listen for the sound of approaching vehicles before crossing.
- Put electronic devices down. Adults and children should stop using all electronic devices when they’re crossing the road so they’re not subject to distraction. It’s also important to remain alert to your surroundings to avoid other potential dangers like trips and falls, loose animals, and other hidden dangers.
Safety Tips for Phoenix Motorists on Halloween
- Consider giving new drivers the night off. If you’re a parent with a new teen driver, offer to play chauffeur for the night. Inexperienced drivers can have a more difficult time watching out for the hazards of children crossing the road. They may also lack the experience to safely drive at night.
- Take special care. Drive carefully and watch for children on roadways, medians, and curbs. Be sure to pull out from driveways slowly and carefully.
- Keep your windshield clean. A dirty windshield can substantially obscure your vision.
- Avoid distractions. Leave your cell phone alone while you’re driving.
- Watch for drunk drivers. Know how to identify an impaired driver on the road. If you see a driver you believe may be under the influence, call law enforcement.
- Slow down. Maintain a slow rate of speed in areas where there are likely to be a lot of trick-or-treaters and other pedestrians.
- Don’t pass other cars. If a car stops in the roadway to drop off children, don’t pass since children could be going quickly in several different directions.
Injuries That Occur After a Halloween Auto Collision
Whether you’re a pedestrian, or in a car, getting hit by another car can cause significant injuries. Those injuries can impact the rest of the victim’s life. They can include the following:
- Head and brain injuries – including traumatic brain injuries such as concussions
- Neck and back injuries – such as spinal cord damage and whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries – including torn muscles, tendons, or ligaments
- Spinal injuries – may result in loss of movement in the lower extremities
Contact a Phoenix Car Crash Lawyer If Injured on Halloween
The only thing that should be scary on Halloween are the costumes, not the roads. If you’ve suffered injuries from getting hit by a car in Phoenix, contact Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys at 602-977-1900. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, we’re available 24/7 by phone and have an easy to use LiveChat feature on our site for your convenience. We offer free consultations, and you won’t pay any fees until we recover compensation for your Phoenix Halloween auto collision injury claim.