Halloween is always a fun time for kids and adults to dress up and enjoy spooky times with each other. And while many Halloween activities may be toned down considerably this year because of the pandemic, J. P. Perry wanted to offer some guidance regarding your liabilities as a homeowner when celebrating Halloween any year.
Accidents that occur on your property on Halloween could be costly. So it is important that you have adequate homeowners insurance. If your homeowners falls short of the coverage you need, you may want to consider adding an umbrella policy. If you decide to have more elaborate Halloween decorations that may draw increased traffic or crowds, you may also need to consider "premises liability."
In addition, you need to be aware that on average crime-related claims spike by 24% on Halloween night according to 2016 data from Travelers Insurance. These crimes include increases in theft for both inside and outside the home and for vandalism.
Then you need to be aware of fire damage regarding holiday decorations. According to research by the National Fire Protection Association, between 2012 and 2016, decorations were the first items to go up in flames, causing an estimated 800 reported structure fires each year, resulting in an average of two deaths, 34 injuries and about $11 million in property damage.
There are also other liabilities lurking around on Halloween such as the use of strobe lights that can cause seizures for people with epilepsy; fog machines that can cause asthma attacks; and food hazards, such as candy that contains nuts, that can cause deadly food allergies.
It's not J.P. Perry Insurance's intention to "scare" you out of enjoying Halloween. We only want you to avoid problems and to be protected. So there are things you can do to make your home and family safer. These include...
- Keep The Lights On: So people will know your home is open for trick or treating and so they can easily see their way to you;
- Clear The Walkway: Keep any obstructions away from sidewalks and pathways;
- Be Moderate With Scary Decorations: After all, most of your trick or treaters are children;
- Keep Pets Away: Place pets in a protected area and away from the trick or treat traffic;
- Supervise: If possible, have an adult from your home available to oversee the trick or treating traffic and to assist children getting to and from your home.
And the most important precaution is having good insurance coverage to address any of the above issues and to make sure your home is covered for its full replacement cost, say in the event of a fire. Before the holiday, check with your J.P. Perry agent to make sure you have adequate coverage.