News: Halloween Safety Tips

DENVER (Oct. 29, 2018) – It's Halloween: Time for candy corn (yuck!), colorful costumes, and a scary movie or two. But, beware: Tricksters are out in full force. More vandalism claims are filed on Halloween than any other day of the year, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. Now's a great time to take key steps to protect your home and property.

"Before the festivities begin, take a couple minutes to understand how your insurance can protect you on Halloween, and on every other night of the year," said AAA Colorado spokesman Skyler McKinley. "A few key steps will take the fright out of Halloween night."

Halloween Safety Advice

• Follow safe pumpkin protocol. Keep lit jack-o-lanterns, candles, matches and lighters out of children's reach. Use flameless candles if possible. If a Halloween candle does cause a fire, a standard homeowners or renters insurance policy may provide coverage for fire-related damages.
• Light up the night. Keep pathways outside of your home well-lit and clear of objects to avoid injuries to party guests or trick-or-treaters. In the event that someone is injured on your property, the liability portion of your homeowners or renters insurance policy may provide coverage. 
• Prepare for pranksters. Avoid having your car vandalized or stolen by parking it in a secure and well-lit area. Make sure the windows are up and the doors are locked. The optional comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy typically covers damage due to vandalism.
• Beware the brew. Hosting a grown-up party? Keep an eye on your guests and make sure you have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and snacks on hand. You may be covered by liability portions of your homeowners or renters policies for mishaps at your own home, but it's best to avoid them altogether. 
• Keep an eye out for Wolverine and Wonder Woman. Turn on your car's headlights earlier in the day to increase visibility on the road. Drive slowly in residential areas and watch out for costumed kids that may be crossing streets or darting out from between parked cars. 

What your insurance covers:

Per the Insurance Information Institute, most homeowners, renters, and auto insurance policies will provide coverage for these Halloween-related mishaps: 

• Vandalism. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies will provide coverage for vandalism. In the event that your car is vandalized, the optional comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy covers damage. 
• Fire. Always play it safe with open flames, but if a Halloween decoration causes a fire and damages your property, your homeowners or renters policy should cover fire-related losses, up to policy limits.
• Injury. You may be covered under the liability portion of your homeowners or renters insurance policy -- up to specified limits -- in the event that someone is injured on your property. A standard policy also includes no-fault medical coverage -- up to specified limits -- that allows the injured person to file their claim directly with your insurance company.

Unfortunately, there is no known insurance that covers Nov. 1 sugar headaches. Happy Halloween, from your friends at AAA! Stay away from that candy corn.

About AAA Colorado

More than 680,000 members strong, AAA Colorado is the state's most-trusted advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 58 million members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services - as well as member-exclusive savings. For more information, visit AAA.com.