Elaborate Halloween displays can make your home the talk of the town, but severe weather can quickly turn them into costly liabilities.
Since a very strong El Niño is still affecting fall and winter weather this year, with wetter-than-average conditions in the Gulf Coast and Southeast in particular, it’s more important than ever to be careful with your decor.
“If you leave Halloween decor up in your yard after the holiday or you face a nasty, wet front with high winds before it, the exposure you have is very real,” says Amanda Demanda, founder of The Law Offices of Amanda Demanda in Miami.
“The dangers are greatest for kids trick-or-treating, older neighbors, and delivery drivers, though you could also get hurt in your decorated yard.”
Potential hazards to be aware of
Most Halloween decor is designed for calm, dry nights, which may not be what homeowners will experience in the upcoming weeks.
While the forecast for the rest of October remains to be seen, so far the country has seen the impacts of El Nino this month with Hurricane Isaias, which brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to the Gulf.
Speaking of wind, inflatables, for example, catch wind like a sail. And if they’re not anchored properly, they can easily strike someone and cause neck and head injuries.
Electrical items pose another risk when water comes in contact with outdoor cords, and those could lead to burns or lifelong complications through nerve damage.
Slips and trips from slick steps, wet leaves, or stakes across a path may also occur and result in broken bones, head injuries, and joint injuries.
Demanda points out that falls are always at the top of the list for decorating injuries.
“I personally see electrocution and trip-and-fall injuries, where a single extension cord is enough to cause both dangers. When it spans across a wet front walk in the dark, it becomes a shock and trip risk,” says Demanda.
Juan Dominguez, founder, CEO, and managing partner of the Dominguez Firm in Los Angeles, agrees with Demanda.
“Slip-and-fall accidents are what many homeowners should be concerned about. Rain, fallen leaves, electrical cords, and decorations can cause them—especially during the Halloween season when kids are wearing masks and long costumes, which can limit their vision and natural mobility,” Dominguez explains.
How to protect your Halloween decor from severe weather
Before you set up your Halloween display, check the weather and keep an eye on it until you tear it down.
Anchor any inflatables and bring them in during high winds as they can easily come loose. Get rid of anything that someone could trip over on your walkways, such as cords, light strings, and garden hoses.
Speaking of cords, use only outdoor-rated cords and lights and plug everything into a GFCI outlet. If it’s pouring rain, consider turning any electrical components off as they don’t mix well with puddles of water.
When it comes to homeowners insurance, it could step in if something happens, but injuries often exceed those limits, so Demanda recommends investing in an umbrella policy. It may provide coverage beyond your standard policy.
If you’re unsure of what your current home insurance includes, don’t be afraid to contact your insurance agent or company for guidance. They can help you determine whether an umbrella coverage makes sense or you’d be better off increasing the limits on your current plan.
Be proactive. You don’t want to learn the limits of your coverage after an accident happens.
“Once you finish decorating, take photos so you’ll have something to show if a claim is made,” says Demanda.
Remember that preventable injuries follow the same pattern: There’s an obvious danger, and nothing was done to remedy it.
“Since it may be less obvious to you because you see it every day, walk through your yard the way a visitor would, especially a young trick-or-treater at night, and fix anything that concerns you,” adds Demanda.
At the end of the day, it’s not about avoiding Halloween decor altogether. It’s about being smart, safe, and anticipating potential weather hazards before they come.
“Possible liability is baked into just about every activity we undertake on a daily basis, whether it is driving a car or playing a game of pickup basketball. We shouldn’t let those concerns keep us from doing the things that we enjoy or otherwise we would do nothing but sit at home all day,” says Ryan Byers, attorney at Rammelkamp Bradney in Springfield, IL.
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