During Halloween, neighborhoods are filled with children running about gathering up as much candy as they can. It’s an exciting time for children and parents as well.
Unfortunately, with all of the excitement, it’s easy to forget that this holiday is also one of the most dangerous for pedestrians. The National Center for Health Statistics estimated that 7,450 pedestrians were killed in traffic or non-traffic incidents in 2017.
This number gets more serious when you consider the facts by Safe Kids Worldwide. Twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween than any other day of the year.
Take Extra Care When Driving on Halloween Night
It only takes a moment to change a fun night of trick-or-treating into a horrific tragedy. Anyone driving on Halloween night needs to be vigilant about their surroundings. Never take your eyes off of the road, and absolutely do not use your phone while operating a vehicle.
Tips For Driving Safely During Halloween
- Keep an eye out for kids walking mid-block. This is one of those places where they love to take a short-cut and run across the street.
- Drive slowly and scan for little ghouls and ghosts near or in the street.
- Don’t use your phone in any way while driving on Halloween night.
- Leave early to go to events where parking may be crowded. The bustle of cars trying to find a good spot can be distracting.
- Make sure that everyone has their seatbelts on when driving at all times.
If I Hit a Trick-or-Treater who Ran into the Street, is it My Fault?
Just because it’s Halloween, doesn’t mean the laws change. Children are bound to be impulsive and they don’t pay attention to their surroundings. When this happens, they’re very likely to run into the street to get to some “shiny object.” That’s when tragedy strikes.
If you’re driving in a neighborhood and going faster than you can stop yourself when this happens, it’s likely going to be your fault. The fact is, as an adult, you have a responsibility to understand the circumstances of your surroundings.
In the terrible event that a child is struck by a vehicle, liability is almost always going to be on the driver. “I didn’t see them,” will most likely not work in court, as the driver should have been paying close attention to the road.
If my Child was Struck on Halloween, Do I have a Personal Injury Case?
It’s on every driver to pay special attention during the trick-or-treating festivities. If a vehicle hits a child, the court will want to know why they didn’t see the victim. More often than not, it’s going to be the operator, not the child, who is found at fault.
The cost of a pedestrian injury is very high. Collisions with the human body can be devastating. It’s a blunt force trauma from head to toe. Multiple injuries are almost certain.
The impact of the vehicle with the body can be very serious. Even at 5 miles per hour, the force of a car is equivalent to 127 pounds. For a small child, this can be twice their weight.
At the typical neighborhood speed of 25 mph, the chances for serious injury or death are very high. The impact by the vehicle, and then the impact with the ground, or surrounding objects, can be devastating.
The Cost of Your Child’s Injuries
An injured child is often more costly than an adult. Emergency room bills, medical bills, and physical therapy are common for any accident.
In the event of a minor being hurt, the parents also have to make sacrifices. One of the parents will have to be with their little one at the hospital, during procedures, and when going to the doctor. This means missed worked and lost wages.
The emotional toll of having your kid hurt is also high. It’s traumatic to watch a loved one struck by a vehicle.
Ultimately, there are several factors to account for in this type of situation. That’s why it’s so important to contact a pedestrian accident injury attorney with experience in these matters.
Contact a Charleston, South Carolina Pedestrian Injury Attorney
Residents of Charleston, SC should contact The Hartman Law Firm, LLC. Frank Hartman, Charleston’s personal injury and accident attorney, is experienced in these types of cases.
Frank gives all of his clients the attention, advice and legal representation that they deserve. He makes sure that they receive fair compensation for their injuries.
Contacting Frank’s office is free, so it’s best to call immediately, even before the insurance company. He will tell you if a claim is in your best interest, and what you’ll be facing in court.
If you or a loved one was hurt when struck by a moving vehicle, you need to find legal representation right away. The Hartman Law Firm, LLC provides legal assistance for those who have been hurt or killed.
To get started, call Frank 24/7 at (843) 300-7600. Or, you can contact him online, or email him at james@thehartmanlawfirm.com. The sooner you get Frank on your case, the sooner you’ll get your settlement and start on the road to recovery.
GET YOUR FREE STRATEGY SESSION WITH FRANK
Free strategy session with Frank Hartman
Your Free Strategy Session with Frank includes a twenty minute phone call.
- Get your facts of the case straight to discuss with any attorney
- Legal issues involved what are you facing?
- Without guarantees, what defenses you will raise to help them in their case results? Plan of attack.
- You get this value whether you work together or not.
So call now!
GET YOUR FREE STRATEGY SESSION WITH FRANK
Why You Should Wear Sunglasses
Your Free Strategy Session with Frank includes a twenty minute phone call.
- Get your facts of the case straight to discuss with any attorney
- Legal issues involved what are you facing?
- Without guarantees, what defenses you will raise to help them in their case results? Plan of attack.
- You get this value whether you work together or not.