With Halloween less than a month away, many businesses have begun planning out their Halloween festivities and parties, whether for employees or customers. Activities might range from simple costume or pumpkin decorating contests to full-blown parties with alcohol, live music, and spooky events and games. Although Halloween can be a great opportunity for companies to attract new customers, or provide a fun event for employees, there are some risks with Halloween parties and activities that can pose liability threats. In today's blog post, we discuss the three biggest risks companies face during Halloween celebrations.

Property Loss and Damages

While Halloween is often a fun, lighthearted event for many, some individuals take advantage of the late-night festivities to cause property damages. In fact, the largest number of commercial property damage claims occurs on Halloween, both inside and outside of businesses. Companies may find their property vandalized with graffiti and trash, or they may have valuable assets stolen from inside offices or company vehicles from thieves preying on unsuspecting employees. In addition, offices, retail stores, and restaurants with Halloween décor may suffer property damages from burning candles or lit pumpkins.

Liquor Liability Claims

Halloween is one of the busiest times of the year for restaurants, bars, and even company functions where alcohol is served. The revelry and fun of a Halloween celebration can often lead to patrons drinking too much, which can create liability issues for businesses serving alcohol. Businesses can protect themselves by not over-serving customers alcoholic beverages, and also not letting inebriated patrons drive themselves home. Instead, businesses can make taxicabs available for patrons that need to get home safely, or offer shuttle services to nearby hotels.

Bodily Harm Lawsuits

Businesses may also be exposed to liability issues from bodily harm lawsuits resulting from Halloween accidents or injuries. Most Halloween parties or events take place during evening hours, and people may trip and fall because of the poor lighting. In addition, Halloween décor on the ground may pose tripping hazards for both children and adults, resulting in injuries that could lead to bodily harm lawsuits.

Halloween can be a fun and busy time for offices, retail stores, and restaurants that celebrate with fun events and décor. However, it is important to take precautions to prevent accidents and limit company liability from individuals consuming too much alcohol or becoming injured while on the commercial property. Aegis also protects Houston area businesses with a wide variety of Commercial Insurance solutions, including General Liability, Excess Liability, Workers Compensation, Business Owners Policy, Commercial Auto, and Commercial Property Insurance. Call us today at 713-850-7622 for more information, or go online to request a free quote!