When you think of October 31st, you probably think about kids running around the neighborhood trick-or-treating or more adult-themed costume parties that go into the early hours of the morning. Unfortunately, an often overlooked aspect of Halloween is a significantly increased risk of pedestrian accidents.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents on Halloween?
As fun as Halloween can be, there are a number of factors that make it one of the most dangerous nights of the year for pedestrians. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, kids are more than twice as likely to be involved in a fatal pedestrian accident on Halloween than any other night of the year. Some factors that make Halloween more dangerous include:
- More people walking around neighborhoods
- Costumes that make it harder for drivers to see people walking
- Trick-or-treaters darting out into the street
- More drunk drivers on the road
Fortunately, there are things that parents can do to reduce their children’s risk of involvement in a pedestrian accident, including setting specific rules about where they can be and ensuring that kids understand how to walk safely.
Can You Recover Compensation after a Halloween Pedestrian Accident?
Unfortunately, if you are reading this, then chances are that you or a loved one has already been hurt in a pedestrian accident. If that is the case, you are likely wondering whether you can recover compensation. As is the case with other accidents, if yours was caused by someone else’s negligence, you are likely entitled to compensation.
In personal injury law, when a person’s negligence causes an accident, they are said to be at fault. For example, if a driver was speeding, distracted, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol and caused an accident, there is a good chance that you would be entitled to compensation. The best way to find out whether you have a case is to have a pedestrian accident lawyer in Orange County review what happened.
Steps to Protecting Your Rights after a Pedestrian Accident
Anyone injured in a pedestrian accident should contact an attorney as soon as possible. That said, there are certain things that you can do to protect your legal rights and maximize the chances of obtaining the compensation you are owed under California law.
- See a doctor and follow your treatment plan
- Do not accept money, either from the driver who caused the accident or their insurance company
- Do not comment about your accident on social media
- Do not provide the insurance company with a statement regarding your accident
- Keep any documentation you receive related to your accident or your accident-related medical treatment
- Retain a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as you can
Call Us Today to Speak with an Orange County Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you or your child is hurt in a pedestrian accident this Halloween – or any other time – you should retain an attorney as soon as you can. Ali Razavi and his team of experienced personal injury lawyers have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured victims and are standing by to help you as well. Read more about how to find a personal injury lawyer To schedule your free case evaluation with a lawyer, call our office today at (949) 500-1926 or contact us online.