Halloween is one of the most exciting nights of the year for kids in Sandy. It’s also one of the riskiest for kids on foot. Excited children dart between houses, costumes are dark, masks block their view, and by the time trick-or-treating gets going, the sun is already down. Drivers coming home from work or picking up their own kids are dealing with all of it at once.
This year Halloween falls on a Saturday, so expect more kids out earlier and longer. Here’s how to keep your family safe, and what to do if your child is hurt.
Halloween Night in Sandy Neighborhoods
Most Halloween injuries don’t happen on major roads. They happen on neighborhood streets, at crosswalks near schools and parks, and in driveways. Kids cross mid-block instead of at corners. They run back across the street when they spot a house with full-size candy bars. Drivers back out of driveways without seeing a small child behind the car.
Tips for parents:
- Add reflective tape or glow sticks to costumes and treat bags, and give kids a flashlight.
- Choose face paint over masks when you can, so kids can see cars coming.
- Walk with younger kids, and agree on a route with older ones.
- Remind kids to cross at corners, look both ways, and never run out from between parked cars.
Tips for drivers:
- Slow down in neighborhoods from late afternoon on, and expect kids to appear without warning.
- Back out of driveways slowly, and walk around the car first if you can.
- Put the phone away. A few seconds of looking down is all it takes.
- If you’re going to a party, plan a sober ride home.
If Your Child Is Hit by a Car
- Get medical care. Call 911. Even if your child seems okay, get them checked. Children don’t always say when something hurts, and head injuries can take time to show.
- Call the police. A police report creates an official record. Ask for the report number.
- Get the driver’s information. Name, phone, plate, and insurance company.
- Find witnesses. Other parents, neighbors, and kids may have seen it. Ask neighbors whether their doorbell cameras caught anything, and do it quickly, because many systems record over old footage.
- Photograph the scene. The street, the crosswalk or lack of one, the streetlights, parked cars, and your child’s costume. Lighting matters in these cases, so try to take photos that show how dark it was.
Utah’s no-fault system means personal injury protection (PIP) coverage generally pays first for medical bills, and the driver’s liability insurance may cover more if the driver was careless. Our Sandy pedestrian accident page explains how these claims work, and our Utah pedestrian accident guide covers the statewide rules.
Dog Bites at the Door
A doorbell that rings every few minutes, strangers in masks, and kids reaching toward the house can stress out even a calm dog. Many dogs that would never bite on a normal day react badly on Halloween.
If your child is bitten:
- Clean the wound and get medical care. Dog bites can get infected quickly, and bites to the face or hands may need a specialist.
- Get the owner’s name, address, and phone number, and ask about the dog’s vaccinations.
- Report the bite to animal control. This creates a record and helps make sure the dog is checked.
- Take photos of the injury as it heals.
Utah holds dog owners responsible when their dog injures someone, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before (Utah Code § 18-1-1). Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance often covers these claims. Our Sandy dog bite page has more on what to do next.
If you’re handing out candy, consider keeping your dog in a back room or behind a closed door for the night. It’s safer for the kids and less stressful for the dog.
Trips and Falls on Someone’s Property
Trick-or-treaters walk up a lot of unfamiliar driveways and porches in the dark. Broken steps, missing handrails, poor lighting, and decorations or cords stretched across a walkway can all cause a bad fall.
Property owners are expected to keep their property reasonably safe for people they invite in, and putting the porch light on for trick-or-treaters is an invitation. If your child is hurt in a fall, take photos of what caused it, get the homeowner’s name, and get medical care. Whether the owner is responsible depends on the facts, so it’s worth asking a lawyer.
In the Days After an Injury
The first night is about getting your child care. The days that follow are about keeping track of what happened, while it’s still fresh.
- Follow up with your child’s doctor. Go to every appointment, and tell the doctor about any new symptoms, like headaches, trouble sleeping, nightmares, or changes in mood. Kids often show the effects of an injury in their behavior before they can put it into words.
- Keep a simple journal. Write down how your child is feeling each day, what they can’t do that they could before, and any school or activities they miss.
- Save everything. Keep medical bills, receipts, the costume, and the shoes your child was wearing. They can help show what happened and how visible your child was.
- Stay off social media about it. Insurance companies look at posts and photos. A smiling picture from a week later can be used to argue an injury wasn’t serious.
- Don’t sign anything yet. An insurer may call quickly with a friendly offer. Wait until you understand the full extent of your child’s injuries.
Claims for Children Work Differently
When a child is hurt, the claim doesn’t work exactly the same way as an adult’s. Utah has special rules for injury claims involving minors. Every case is different, so the safest step is to talk with a lawyer before you accept any offer or sign anything from an insurance company on your child’s behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays if a driver hits my child?
Usually, PIP coverage pays first for medical bills, either from your own family’s auto policy or from the driver’s. If the driver was careless and your child’s injuries are serious, the driver’s liability insurance may pay for more, including pain and suffering.
What if my child ran into the street?
Drivers are expected to watch for children, especially on a night when everyone knows kids will be out. Utah uses comparative fault (§ 78B-5-818), so even if an insurer argues your child shares some of the blame, a claim may still be possible. Don’t assume you don’t have a case.
What if a neighbor’s dog bit my child?
It can feel awkward to make a claim against a neighbor. In most cases, the claim goes to the neighbor’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, not to the neighbor personally. That coverage exists for exactly this kind of situation.
Hurt? Call Kurt.
Our Sandy office serves families across Sandy, Draper, South Jordan, and the rest of the south valley. If your child was hurt by a driver, a dog, or a fall on someone’s property this Halloween, call us at 77CARCRASH. The first conversation is free, and we’ll help you understand your options without any pressure.
Learn more about Kurt London or our Sandy office. Have a safe and happy Halloween.
