Ghosts and Goblins Aren't The Only Things to Think About on Halloween

Trick or treating is a time honored tradition each October 31. But before homeowners open their doors to the witches and superheroes that live on their block, they should consider taking precautions to make their property as safe as possible for potential trick-or-treaters.

• Check your Outdoor Lighting: Make sure your property is adequately lit before trick-or-treaters arrive.
• Inspect Your Property: Make sure the path to your door is safe. Look for cracks in the sidewalk and loose stair railings. Remove any obstacles that can lead to a trip or fall.
• Watch the Decorations: Make sure Halloween decorations are not obscuring walkways and causing hazards. Use artificial lighting instead of candles to reduce the risk of fire-related accidents. If you do use candles, make sure you extinguish them before going to bed.
• Drive Carefully: With nearly 25 million families participating in trick-or-treating each year, neighborhood streets are going to be crowded. Use extra caution while driving and if you are planning to drive, steer clear of alcohol.
• Keep Your Pets Inside: Even if your dog enjoys the parade of children that arrives on your doorstep each year, the neighborhood children may not enjoy meeting your family pet.

Homeowners can be held liable should a trick-or-treater be injured on their property. Each October many invite neighborhood children onto their property and drive on crowded neighborhood streets. Everyone needs to be extra vigilant about safety during this time and make sure they have the right amount of insurance protection.

While a homeowners policy provides a level of liability protection, it may not be sufficient protection if injuries are severe. A personal umbrella policy (PUP) works with the homeowners and auto liability coverages and provides additional protection.

Additional benefits for homeowners who may be considering purchasing a PUP policy include: 

• You will not have to face court alone. If you are sued over an incident covered under your personal umbrella policy, Allstate will retain and pay for an attorney to represent you in court.
• Your coverage goes everywhere. So, you are covered no matter where you are, including outside the U.S.
• Helps with gaps in your coverage. Homeowners and auto policies do not cover certain types of incidents, like those alleging slander. But a personal umbrella policy helps provide protection for this kind of incident as well as others.
• Allstate pays on your behalf. In the event of a covered claim, you will not have to pay out of your own pocket first and submit for reimbursement.
• Reimbursement for lost wages. You will be reimbursed for the wages lost for your absence from work for a court appearance, up to the limits specified for this benefit in the policy.