Trick-or-Treating and Homeowner's Liability
Halloween is quickly approaching, which means costumes are being made, candy is being purchased and tricks are being prepared. Along with pranks, tricks and scary costumes come many liability loss exposures.
- Make sure walkways, driveways and steps are clear and well-lit. This includes clearing them of any debris or hazardous conditions. Doing this may prevent a slip-and-fall accident from occurring and will help to ensure trick-or-treaters have a clear path to your door.
- Keep pets inside or on a leash. Your animals may get scared or feel threatened if the doorbell rings too many times. Keeping pets inside or on a leash may help to avoid a dog bite claim.
- Obey posted speed limits. The majority of Halloween claims involve auto/pedestrian accidents. There are many pedestrians walking the streets at night, so please warn family members to be cautious when driving. If you are a trick-or-treater, try to walk on sidewalks instead of walking on the street.
- Do a Halloween decoration safety test. Electronic Halloween decorations often require extension cords, which could potentially be a slip-and-fall hazard. Try to keep these away from walkways. If you are using a fog machine, beware that using it makes it hard for visitors to see.