Halloween is a fun day for children and adults alike, from costume parties to trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, while you may dress supernaturally, that doesn’t make you invincible, as the holiday also brings a spike in personal injury incidences every year. Auto accidents, in particular, involving alcohol and young pedestrians, are a common occurrence.

Below are some spooky statistics regarding personal injury incidents on Halloween to sober you and inspire safety precautions for the upcoming special day:

• Drunk Driving: According to the United States Department of Transportation, Halloween is particularly deadly due to drunk drivers. In 2015, 52% of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night involved an inebriated driver or motorcycle rider.
• Child Fatalities: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed childhood deaths related to motor vehicles. Spanning a 21-year period, from 1975 to 1999, it showed that the number of childhood pedestrian deaths increased fourfold on Halloween evenings compared with all other days.
• Fires: According to a 2009 to 2013 survey combining data from the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System and the National Fire Protection Association, holiday decorations were the first items to catch fire in approximately 860 home structure fires in each year surveyed. This data didn’t even include Christmas trees! A jack-o’-lantern might not be so innocent after all.

So how can you keep yourself and your little ones safe this Halloween? An adult should always accompany trick-or-treaters, and kids should not wear dark-colored costumes or masks that impede their vision. All pedestrian should stick to well-lit areas and stay on sidewalks. Finally, drivers should be extra cautious on this night—and, of course, avoid drinking and driving. 

If you or a loved one were hurt due to another’s negligence in Lake St. Louis, MO, the team at Coyne, Cundiff & Hillemann, P.C. will fight to protect your interests and secure the compensation you deserve. They have over 75 years of combined experience and were voted one of the top three law firms in the country by the St. Charles County Journal. Whether you’re facing DWI charges or want to file a personal injury suit, contact them through their online form or call (636) 561-5599 to request a free initial consultation.