Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents On Halloween

Monday is Halloween and if you plan to be driving, trick-or-treating or accompanying children who are trick-or-treating, you should take extra precautions to avoid a potentially deadly accident.

Considering all of the people who will be on or near the streets on Halloween, drivers should be extra cautious and use the following strategies to avoid an accident:

• Practice defensive driving. You should always do this, but it is particularly important when there are so many pedestrians on or near the street.
• Keep your eyes open for children trick-or-treating. Take special care when entering or exiting driveways and parking lots. You should also watch for children on roadways, curbs and medians.
• Be wary of other drivers. Take extra precautions on Halloween and do not assume that other drivers will follow posted signs or rules of the road.
• Avoid driving between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. if possible. These are the prime trick-or-treating hours. There are also more drunk drivers on the road during these hours.
• Always use your headlights. This increases your chances of being seen, even at twilight.

Parents accompanying trick-or-treaters need to take extra precautions because many of the fatal accidents that occur on Halloween involve drunk drivers. In 2015, more than half of the fatal crashes that occurred on Halloween involved drivers or motorcyclists who had a blood alcohol content above the legal limit.

Parents should take the following steps to keep themselves and their children safe:

• Accompany children while they are trick-or-treating.
• Take care to encourage pedestrian safety habits, including looking both ways before crossing the street.
• Use traffic signals as appropriate and stay in crosswalks as much as possible.
• Make sure children have reflective clothing or bags to help drivers see them.

Unfortunately, accidents can happen on Halloween no matter how many precautions you take. However, if tragedy strikes, you may be able to obtain compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.

The Savannah, GA car accident attorneys at The Nye Law Group handle accidents involving cars, motorcycles and pedestrians. If you are entitled to compensation, we will aggressively pursue everything you deserve.

For help with your potential damages lawsuit, contact a Savannah personal injury lawyer at The Nye Law Group today by calling 855-856-4212 or completing our Free Case Evaluation form.