Jaroslawicz & Jaros, PLLC wishes everyone a Happy Halloween. Whether your plans this Friday evening will involve taking the little ones trick-or-treating, staying home and carving pumpkins, or enjoying yourself at a costume party, our injury attorneys would like to remind you about the importance of making safety one of your top priorities. Halloween is certainly a spooky holiday, and for many Americans in New York and across the country, it can be downright scary. According to statistics, Halloween sees high rates of preventable accidents and injuries, including injuries serious enough to require emergency treatment. Of all the holidays, Halloween comes in at number four for the most emergency room visits. Common Halloween injuries include trip and fall accidents, traffic accidents, and pedestrian accidents, among others. Because safety is key on Halloween, our legal team has put together a few essential tips to keep you and yours safe:

• Pedestrian Safety - If you’re planning on hitting the streets or taking the children out for trick-or-treating, be aware that streets and sidewalks will be busy. Make sure to talk to your kids about the importance of staying on sidewalks, looking both ways before crossing streets, and always using crosswalks. Safety experts also recommend that pedestrians wear bright colors or reflective tape to be visible to motorists.
• Watch Where You’re Going - Slip, trip, and fall accidents are some of the most common causes of injuries on Halloween. It’s dark, children are wearing costumes, and places are crowded! Take a flashlight along with you to help you see and be seen. Wear comfortable shoes and make sure costumes don’t create tripping hazards. If you’re handing out candy, try to make sure your property is free from potential tripping hazards.
• Safe Pumpkin Carving - Always supervise children when pumpkin carving and make sure they know how to properly use their tools and knives. There are many pumpkin carving kits available that come with safety knives and specialized tools.
• Safe Costumes - Emergency rooms see a lot of costume-related injuries on Halloween. Make sure costumes are safe for children - look for fire-resistant materials, costumes that don’t create tripping hazards, and fake swords and accessories with sharp points.
• Drunk Driving - Like most other holidays, Halloween sees an increase in drunk driving accidents. Watch out for impaired motorists during the night. If you plan on driving, do so responsible or make plans to get a ride.

Jaroslawicz & Jaros, PLLC hopes these tips help everyone enjoy their Halloween. As always, our New York City personal injury lawyers are available to discuss your case and rights following a preventable injury. Contact our team to speak with a lawyer.