Halloween is the one night of the year where you will likely have many people coming to and from your property, mostly by foot. If you invite trick-or-treaters, or any guests, onto your property this Halloween, you are legally responsible for their safety. Follow these tips to prevent any slip and fall hazards!
How to Prepare Your Home for Trick-or-Treaters
- Make sure your home is well-lit – including walkways and paths to the front door.
- Keep paths to the door free from pumpkins, plants, cords and any other fall hazards.
- Use caution tape to block off any hazardous areas that cannot be attended to prior to Hallloween.
- Leave dogs inside the house.
How to Prepare for Trick-or-Treating
- Walk only on lit pathways, rather than cutting through the yard.
- Make sure costumes aren’t too long.
- Remove masks or anything obstructing vision when walking around.
- Make sure to wear comfortable shoes with solid tread to prevent slipping and falling, especially if it’s raining.
What Do You Do If You are Injured by a Slip and Fall?
- Get medical attention as soon as possible.
- Take photos or notes of the exact place where the fall happened. Be as precise as possible with any conditions that contributed to your fall, such as lights or any Halloween decorations.
- Report the accident to a landlord or property manager, if the fall occurred on a rental property or business. Get a copy of their filed report prior to leaving the scene, if possible.
- Limit talking to the property owner as much as possible. Emotions and adrenaline run high after an accident, so simply explain that the fall occurred but avoid any emotional confrontation.
- If there are witness, take down their names and contact information.
- Contact an attorney before you speak with the insurance company or sign any documents.
Injured in a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
At Pisanchyn Law Firm, we know how to navigate slip and fall cases. Contact us for free to find out how we can help at 1-800-444-5309.
