Premises Liability on Halloween

Later this month, trick-or-treaters will be running on and off your property as they collect their candy on Halloween. With so many visitors, it is important to know about premises liability. Premises liability cases involve an injury that occurred on another’s property as a result of some sort of hazardous condition that the property owner knew or should have known about. For example, if you have a Halloween decoration that requires an extension cord, avoid having this cord stretch across the walkway trick-or-treaters will use. If someone trips on it, they may be seriously hurt. Furthermore, this hazardous condition could make you liable for their injuries. Therefore, be sure to inspect your home to make sure it is safe for trick-or-treaters before they ring your doorbell. Here are just a few of the steps you can take to make sure your place is as safe as possible for trick-or-treaters:

• Turn your porch lights on so the walkway and stairs to your front door are clearly visible.
• Check that tripping hazards like decorations and cords are away from your sidewalk.
• Be careful if you are using a fog machine that can make it more difficult for visitors to see.
• If you have a loose step or damaged walkway, have it repaired before inviting trick-or-treaters to your door. If someone trips on an uneven pathway or falls after stepping in a hole, you could be liable.

If you suffer a severe injury as a result of a hazard on someone else’s property, do not hesitate to contact our law firm for your premises liability case.