Halloween is coming at the end of the month. For most people, it’s a time to decorate the house, find the right costume, and buy enough candy to hand out to the neighborhood kids. However, Halloween accidents on Halloween night can be a busy time for accidents, including car and pedestrian accidents.
With more kids out on the streets after dark, there may be an increased risk of accidents between drivers and kids in costumes. If your child was hit by a driver, talk to your Aurora, Illinois personal injury attorney about filing a claim to cover medical care and other damages.
Trick-or-Treating and Car Accidents in Aurora, IL
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian deaths have been on the increase since 2009. In 2017, there were 5,977 pedestrian deaths, up from 4,109 in 2009. Halloween can be a challenging night for drivers and pedestrians as there are more people out on the streets after dark compared to other nights.
Impaired Drivers and Pedestrians in DuPage & Cook Counties
Many adults also celebrate Halloween at parties or during events at local bars. Even though Halloween falls on a weekday this year (Thursday), some people may dress and have a few drinks treating the event like a weekend holiday. This can increase the likelihood of impaired drivers on the road and impaired pedestrians on the streets.
Drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs have a higher risk of getting into an accident, causing injury to other drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians. The risk of an accident can also be increased with more pedestrians on the street after dark, wearing dark clothing, or young kids excitedly running across the street when trick-or-treating.
Impaired pedestrians may step out into traffic without looking, fail to follow traffic signals, or misjudge the timing of crossing in front of a car. In the same way that impaired drivers can put pedestrians at risk, impaired pedestrians can also increase the risk of injury for drivers and passengers by causing an accident.
Pedestrian Accident Injury in Illinois
Pedestrian accidents can involve serious injury, even in a low-speed collision. Pedestrians are often knocked to the ground, suffering head or neck injury. Other pedestrian injuries may include:
- • Broken bones
- • Internal bleeding
- • Back injury
- • Facial trauma or
- • Concussions
Even if a pedestrian claims to feel okay after an accident, they should seek medical attention. Some injuries, including neck, head, and back injuries, can be difficult to diagnose and may not become evident until hours or even days later.
If a driver was negligent in causing an accident, the driver should be held liable for any injuries or damages. Negligent driving may include:
- • Speeding
- • Failing to stop for pedestrians
- • Driving while impaired or
- • Texting and driving
Injury victims can contact their Aurora, Illinois injury attorney for help in filing a claim for damages. Your attorney can investigate your case and sue for damages against those who were responsible for the accident. Contact your Illinois personal injury attorney today to get compensation for your injuries. Contact the Cullotta Bravo Law Group today at 630-898-7800 to schedule your free consultation.
