How To Safely Trick-Or-Treat This Halloween

Boo! As the spookiest time of the year approaches, you may be preparing to watch a few scary movies, carve an epic jack-o’-lantern, and hit up the neighborhood for a pillowcase full of sweet Halloween candy. While you don’t actually need to worry about razor blades, drugs, or poison in your sweets, there’s still plenty to watch out for as you and the kiddos set out trick-or-treating this October. Please read on for some devilishly simple Halloween safety tips from your neighbors at Stewart Law Offices.

Trick-Or-Treating Walking Safety

Make sure everyone in your family understands the following rules for walking safely while trick-or-treating this Halloween:

• Always cross the street at corners, using signals and crosswalks when possible
• Always look left, right, and then left again when you cross the street
• Put your phone and other electronic devices away and stay alert as you cross
• Make eye contact with drivers and other road users when you cross in front of them
• Walk on sidewalks where available
• Walk on the far left side of the road, facing traffic, if there is no sidewalk
• Keep an eye out for cars that are turning, backing up, or moving unpredictably
• Never dart out into the street or from in between parked cars
• For older kids, stick to familiar, well-lit areas when trick-or-treating solo

Halloween Costume Safety

Locating family members, friends, or familiar faces can be difficult in the sea of masks and costumes on Halloween night. Drivers may also have trouble navigating through large crowds of candy-seekers. You can make your trick-or-treating costumes easier to spot from a distance by:

• Decorating costumes and candy bags with reflective tape or stickers
• Choosing lighter-colored fabrics for costumes, masks, bags, and shoes
• Using face paint or makeup rather than covering faces up with masks
• Handing out glow sticks or flashlights to help kids see and stay visible
• Checking for fit ahead of time to avoid trips and falls over trailing hems

Driving Safety Tips for Halloween

If you plan on driving to a costume party or another spooky event this Halloween, you can keep yourself and others safe by:

• Never driving if you have been drinking or using drugs
• Putting away your phone and other distractions while behind the wheel
• Slowing down and staying extra cautious in residential areas
• Avoiding the roads during the prime trick-or-treating hours (5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)
• Taking special care around intersections, medians, and curbs
• Entering and backing out of driveways and side streets carefully
• Turning headlights on earlier, ideally as soon as it is dusk outside

For All Personal Injury Cases, Call Stewart Law Offices Today

If you or someone close to you gets hurt in a car accident or another incident in Rock Hill this Halloween, reach out to Stewart Law Offices for help. We handle cases across South Carolina and portions of North Carolina, too. Contact our office today to speak to a personal injury lawyer in Rock Hill who can answer your questions and review your case during a free, confidential consultation.

The post How To Safely Trick-Or-Treat This Halloween appeared first on Stewart Law Offices.

from Stewart Law Offices, Official Legal Blog - 13 Page of 13 https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/blog/how-to-safely-trick-or-treat-this-halloween
via https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/blog

Safety Tips During Hurricane Season

Hurricanes are a serious concern if you live in the Carolinas. These destructive storms can wreak havoc across a wide area, destroying and endangering lives wherever they go. The team at Stewart Law Offices wants to make sure everyone in our communities adequately prepares for hurricane season.

When Is Hurricane Season in the Carolinas?

According to the North Carolina State University Climate Office, hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean runs from about June 1 to Nov. 30 every year, give or take a few weeks. The storm season tends to peak in early to mid-September, but a tropical storm or hurricane can happen anytime around that six-month window. For instance, Tropical Storm Andrea formed off the coast of North Carolina in May 2007, while Tropical Storm Zeta formed in late December of 2005 and lasted into 2006.

Hurricanes are incredibly dangerous, and it is important to take proper precautions as the season approaches. Each year the South Carolina Emergency Management Division puts out a hurricane guide. You can find the 2022 edition.

Tips for Staying Safe

Here are a few hurricane safety guidelines to keep in mind to keep yourself and your family safe through storm season in the Carolinas:

Before the Storm:

• Pay attention to local weather forecasts to know if a storm is headed your way.
• Know the difference between storm watches (which are issued 48 hours in advance of an anticipated storm’s landfall) and storm warnings (which are given 36 hours in advance of a storm’s predicted landfall).
• Make an evacuation plan with your family so everyone knows what to do and where to go if a storm hits.
• Clean up debris in your yard and bring in large outdoor furniture, which can be thrown by a hurricane’s winds.
• Know your evacuation zone and your evacuation route. If you live in South Carolina, you can find information on hurricane evacuation zones here and learn about hurricane evacuation routes here.
• Make a hurricane emergency kit that will last for several days. Some things to add to the kit include food, water, any medications you need, a flashlight with batteries, an emergency radio, basic first-aid materials, and some emergency cash.
• Charge your cell phone and other critical electronic devices. Keep a spare charger in your emergency kit.

During the Storm:

• Listen for storm updates and evacuation orders over the radio.
• Stay inside until the storm has fully passed.
• Stay away from windows and exterior doors.
• If your home is in danger of flooding, turn off your circuit breakers.
• If the power fails, turn off your major appliances to protect them from a sudden surge.
• If your home begins to flood, move to the highest floor in your home but do not enter your attic, as you may become trapped.
• If your home is damaged or you receive an evacuation order, proceed to a nearby shelter or other safe place.
• Do not try to swim or drive through floodwaters because you could drown or otherwise hurt yourself.

After the Storm:

• Listen for updates from local authorities, particularly for any food or water contamination notices.
• Do not make any phone calls unless absolutely necessary because the phone system will likely be jammed. Use text messages or social media to talk to friends and family members.
• Be careful when cleaning your home, especially with electrical hazards and floodwaters.
• Never use backup generators or grills inside.
• If your home has suffered water damage, start repairs right away to prevent mold from setting in.
• Take pictures of all the damage to your home before filing an insurance claim.

Stewart Law Offices Values Community Safety

The team at Stewart Law Offices wants to make sure everyone in our community is safe in the event of a hurricane. If you run into trouble with the insurance company after a storm, contact our office to find out how we may be able to help.

The post Safety Tips During Hurricane Season appeared first on Stewart Law Offices.

from Stewart Law Offices, Official Legal Blog - 13 Page of 13 https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/blog/safety-tips-during-hurricane-season
via https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/blog

Why Bicycle Helmets Are Important

Wearing a helmet while riding your bike is one of the best ways to protect yourself if you are involved in an accident. Here, the legal team at Stewart Law Offices explains why wearing a bike helmet is so important and provides some bicycle safety tips for cyclists in our community. Contact our office to speak to a bicycle accident lawyer in Rock Hill if someone else’s negligence injured you.

The Importance of Wearing a Helmet

The purpose of wearing a helmet while riding your bike is to protect your head from a severe or traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the event of a crash. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 800 people die in bicycle accidents in the United States annually, and another 500,000 people are treated in emergency departments for bike-accident injuries. Roughly two-thirds of all fatal bike accidents and one-third of bike accidents resulting in injury involve head and face injuries.

Because you are at risk of a TBI in the event of a bicycle accident, it is imperative to protect yourself by wearing a helmet. Research indicates that wearing a helmet while riding a bike can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. Because injuries to the head can be serious and are often fatal, wearing a helmet could save your life.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries

In addition to TBI and injuries to the face, other common injuries from bicycle accidents include:

• Spinal cord injuries (SCI)
• Injuries to internal organs
• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Soft-tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, and tears
• Burns and road rash

Bicycle Safety Tips

Bicyclists are among the most vulnerable road users because they have little to protect them in case of a crash. In addition to wearing a helmet, here are some bicycle safety tips you can follow to decrease your risk of being involved in a collision or facing serious injury:

• Wear bright, reflective clothing to make yourself more visible to motorists and other road users
• Keep your bike in good working order
• Equip your bike with front and rear reflectors
• Use designated bike lanes on the road when they are available
• Use proper hand signals to let others on the road know when you are turning or making another maneuver

For All Personal Injury Cases, Call the Stewart Law Offices Today

Were you hurt in an accident while riding your bike in Rock Hill? If so, an experienced bicycle accident attorney in Rock Hill could help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, repairs to your bike, and more. Contact Stewart Law Offices to learn more about your legal options during a free initial consultation.

The post Why Bicycle Helmets Are Important appeared first on Stewart Law Offices.

from Stewart Law Offices, Official Legal Blog - 13 Page of 13 https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/blog/why-bicycle-helmets-are-important
via https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/blog