How to Keep Safe While Walking on Halloween
Kids and adults enjoy the excitement of Halloween. Spooky costumes, sweet treats, and festive parties are fun for all. But walking on Halloween isn’t always so much fun. Young trick-or-treaters are four times more likely than usual to get injured while out canvassing the neighborhood for treats.
Tampa personal injury attorneys at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore have seen too many children injured in risky situations.
Take a look at these tips for staying safe while walking on Halloween.
1. Never Leave Your Child Unattended
In the excitement of trick-or-treating, your child might run ahead of you. When this happens, the risk increases that your child will dart out into the street. Before starting out on your adventure, remind your child to never run into the street. Also, remind them to always look both ways before crossing. But just in case your child is a little too excited to follow the rules, keep them near you at all times.
2. Watch for Driveways
A child might forget that cars not only drive on streets but also exit and enter driveways. So, in addition to safely crossing the street, the child must safely navigate the sidewalks. Remind your child to stop and look before crossing a driveway, to avoid a car entering or leaving a driveway possibly hitting the child.
3. Increase Visibility
Do not let your child wear a dark costume. Light-colored costumes with reflective pieces increase the child’s visibility. At the very least, if the costume is overly dark, place a piece of reflective tape somewhere on the costume. You or your child could also carry flashlights or colorful glow sticks to increase the likelihood that they will be seen.
Safety First
The tips mentioned here will help keep your child safe. But in case a mishap occurs, do not hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer in Tampa. Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore has Tampa personal injury attorneys skilled in handling cases involving pedestrian injuries. So, when you need an injury lawyer in Tampa, call us to schedule a consultation.
When you are involved in a car accident, many things will be happening at once. Along with speaking to police, you are also getting treated for any injuries you suffered as well as wondering how your insurance company will react to your accident. In the midst of this chaos, many accident victims make critical mistakes that ultimately cost them the opportunity to gain much-needed compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn what to do or not do in the event of a car accident, here are some tips to remember.
Do Take Photos
When involved in an accident, always take photos – if you can do so safely — of vehicle damage, visible injuries you and others may have, property damage, and skid marks or stop signs that may give a clue as to how the accident occurred. Once you have done this, turn over your photos to your Tampa injury lawyer at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore so they can use them when planning legal strategy.
Do Not Admit Fault
When speaking with police or other drivers, be mindful of what you say. In the nervousness or stress of the moment, many people admit responsibility or to being at fault when they do not have all of the underlying facts necessary for making such an admission. If you say something such as “I’m sorry” to police or the other driver, Tampa personal injury attorneys at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore may have a greater challenge in creating a legal strategy that will show you were not responsible for the accident.
Do Not Refuse Medical Treatment
Particularly if your injuries are more than minor, think twice before refusing medical treatment at the accident scene. If you do and later claim you suffered whiplash, a herniated disc, or other injuries, the other driver’s insurance company is more likely to resist the efforts of your Tampa injury lawyer to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement.
If you are a car accident victim and need legal advice, do not hesitate to schedule an immediate consultation with Tampa personal injury attorneys at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore.
Whether you are involved in a car accident or slip and fall incident, or perhaps bitten by a dog, you will likely need to file a personal injury lawsuit so you can be compensated for your injuries and other damages. However, when these or other similar situations take place, most people have little idea what they need to do next. To make sure you are prepared to work with personal injury lawyers in Tampa, here are important tips to remember when you are involved in a personal injury accident.
Seek Medical Treatment
Your health and recovery is the most important immediate concern. As soon as possible after you are injured, seek appropriate treatment for your injuries. Doing so is the best way to recover or minimize the long-term harm that you will face due to your accident. In addition, your injuries will be documented in your medical charts, providing an important record of how you were harmed.
Gather Evidence
When involved in a personal injury accident, always gather evidence you can present to your Tampa injury lawyers at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore. This should include not only photos of any visible injuries you sustained, but also property damage, skid marks on a road, or other important aspects. If you are able to take photos at the scene of the accident, be sure to do so safely.
Watch What You Say and Do
When consulting with your personal injury lawyers in Tampa, you will likely be told to watch what you say and do while your case plays out. For example, should you be contacted by an insurance company, your lawyers will likely advise that you say very little and refer them instead to your Tampa injury lawyers at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore. Also, it is usually best to refrain from posting comments or photos regarding your accident on social media, since it is likely your accounts are being monitored by the defendant’s attorney and insurance company. Posts and photos on social media can be taken out of context or give an incomplete and often inaccurate view of the full story.
To ensure you are able to be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, never leave your legal fate to inexperienced attorneys. Instead, schedule a consultation with the Tampa injury lawyers at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore to discuss your legal options. We would be happy and honored to help you in your time of need.
