Homeowners Hallowe'en Safety
Anandi Naipaul Oct 27, 2014
Question:
What precautions should homeowners take on Halloween night?
Answer:
With Halloween fast approaching, you as a homeowner should be reminded to take extra care to remove all tripping hazards from porches, walkways, driveways and lawns. You should also keep your external property well lit. A fall resulting in injuries to a child or adult could result in a lawsuit being brought against you under the Occupier’s Liability Act for failing to keep your property safe for your visitors on Halloween night.
A homeowner should also be careful when placing open flames such as candles or jack-o-lanterns on the front porch. Many children’s costumes are easily flammable and catching on fire can lead to severe burn injuries which you as a homeowner could be liable for.
If you are a dog owner, you should keep your dogs indoors and away from trick-or-treaters. Dogs can get anxious with unusual activity or fear, which can lead to aggression, jumping or worse, a bite. If your dog attacks or bites a child or adult, a lawsuit can be brought against you for damages.