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Earlier this month, AutoInsurance.org released the results of a study they conducted looking at 25 years worth of fatal Halloween car accident statistics, and their findings were very interesting.
The study sought to answer two different questions:
- Which overall group is most at risk of being in a fatal crash on Halloween, children or pedestrians?
- What is the main cause of Halloween car accident related fatalities?
To answer these questions, the study looked at fatal crash reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, focusing on three areas: fatal crashes that occurred between the years 1994 and 2018, fatal crashes involving pedestrians in general for that same period of time, and lastly fatal crashes that occurred after 4 p.m. involving children age 0-17, in the years 2004 to 2018.
Comparing the data for all of those years allowed the researchers to come up with average fatal crashes for all days of the week, and then compare those averages to fatal crashes that occurred when Halloween happened to fall on each of those weekdays each year.
How Dangerous is Halloween?
So how dangerous is Halloween for children? The study compared the daily average of fatal crashes involving people under the age of 18 for each day of the week, to the number of these types of accidents that happened on corresponding Halloween nights. According to their research, on average there are 4.2 more fatal crashes on Halloween days versus non-Halloween days, a percentage increase of 130.1%. 8.3 fatal crashes that involved people under 18, occurred on average on Halloween nights.
They also found that Friday, Saturday and Sunday were the most dangerous nights of the week in general, for fatal crashes involving children. That’s not too surprising because those are also the most dangerous days, statistically, for adults. This makes sense considering on the weekends there are more people drinking and driving, and often more people on the road overall.
Interestingly, while the percentage increase of accidents that occurred on Halloween weekends were substantially higher than the average of their non-Halloween counterparts, according to the study, the most dangerous days of the week for fatal Halloween accidents, were actually weekdays.
When it comes to pedestrians, the study found that the risk of being in a fatal accident during Halloween as a pedestrian, on average is 55.6% higher than on non-Halloween days, with Thursday being the most dangerous of all, with an 82.8% higher risk.
What is the Main Cause of Fatal Halloween Accidents?
While many factors play a role in causing fatal accidents, whether they happen on Halloween or not, information released by the United States Department of Transportation, through their Traffic Safety Marketing program, suggests that one factor in particular is of special concern when discussing Halloween traffic safety: drunk driving.
According to TSM, 42% of all collisions that happened on Halloween for the years 2013 through 2017, almost half, involved at least one intoxicated driver. In that same time, 158 people passed away in Halloween drunk driving accidents. It’s clear that, by making preparations ahead of time for a designated driver, or an alternative means of travel, we each can do our part to help save lives this, and every, Halloween.
What to do After an Accident
After an accident, whether it’s a pedestrian versus car accident, a DUI related crash, or any other type of incident, the first thing you need to do is get appropriate medical care. The health of you and your loved ones must come first. But after seeking treatment, as soon as you are able, it’s important to contact an experienced attorney who can let you know what your rights are, and what your next steps should be.
Accidents can be devastating, resulting in serious injuries that require expensive medical care, and possible periods of time where a person is not able to work. If the accident occurred because of the negligent actions of another person, they have an obligation to compensate the accident victim for their damages. The right attorney will be able to guide you through the process, and help protect your rights along the way.
Further Reading: Yellow Dot Program Comes to El Paso County
Contact Our Colorado Springs Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
Have you or a loved one been injured by the negligent actions of a driver? Are you concerned you won’t have the money to pay medical bills and lost expenses? If so, you need an experienced Colorado Springs accident lawyer on your side to help you fight for justice.
Contact the dedicated attorneys at the Green Law Firm, P.C. today by calling (719) 694-8515, or by filling out the contact form on this page, to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and discuss your case.