A Real Scare: Defective Halloween Decorations Can Lead to Serious Injuries

Each year, families across the country transform their homes into haunted spectacles, complete with fog machines, flickering lights, animatronic ghouls, and glowing jack-o-lanterns.

But behind the fun and fright of Halloween, defective decorations can hide real dangers. Every year, people are injured by faulty products that spark fires, cause electrical shocks, or collapse unexpectedly. When that happens, the consequences can be far scarier than any costume.

At Morgan & Morgan, we fight For the People, including those hurt by unsafe or defective products. If a Halloween decoration causes injury because of a manufacturer’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. You can contact us anytime for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options and what to do next.

Common Hazards Linked to Defective Halloween Decorations

Even products that seem harmless can become dangerous when they’re poorly designed or manufactured. Some of the most common hazards include:

• Electrical Defects: Faulty wiring in string lights, fog machines, or animated decorations can cause electrical shocks or fires.
• Flammable Materials: Cheap synthetic fabrics and plastics used in costumes, props, or fake cobwebs can ignite quickly if placed near candles, light bulbs, or heating elements.
• Trip and Fall Risks: Decorations that aren’t stable or that use poorly secured cords can cause visitors, especially trick-or-treaters, to trip and fall.
• Collapsing Props: Inflatable or motorized decorations may collapse unexpectedly, injuring children or pets nearby.
• Toxic or Chemical Exposure: Some products, especially imported items, may contain harmful chemicals like lead-based paint or unsafe fumes from fog machines.

When manufacturers cut corners on safety testing or fail to include proper warnings, the result can be serious injury, property damage, or worse.

What to Do if You’re Injured by a Defective Halloween Product

If a decoration, prop, or costume caused your injury, here’s what to do immediately:

1. Seek medical attention right away. Even if injuries seem minor, electrical burns, inhalation injuries, or chemical exposure can worsen over time.
2. Document everything. Take photos of the defective product, the scene of the incident, and your injuries.
3. Keep the product and packaging. Don’t throw away the decoration, power cords, or receipts. These are crucial pieces of evidence.
4. Report the defect. Notify the retailer or manufacturer and file a report with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
5. Contact Morgan & Morgan. A skilled product liability lawyer can help determine if your injury was caused by a design defect, manufacturing flaw, or failure to warn and to hold the responsible parties accountable.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Defective Decoration?

In a product liability case, multiple parties may be responsible for your injuries, including:\

• Manufacturers who created the defective product
• Distributors or retailers who sold unsafe items without proper testing
• Importers who failed to ensure foreign-made decorations met U.S. safety standards

Under product liability law, you don’t have to prove negligence—only that the product was defective and caused your injury.

What Potential Compensation Could I Receive for a Halloween Decoration Injury?

Victims of defective Halloween decorations may be eligible to recover damages for:

• Medical bills and rehabilitation costs
• Lost wages from missed work
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• In severe cases, wrongful death

At Morgan & Morgan, we’ve recovered billions for injured clients nationwide, including victims of defective consumer products. We have the resources to take on major manufacturers and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Stay Safe This Halloween

You shouldn’t have to fear that a faulty decoration could turn your celebration into an emergency. Always check for recalls on decorations and electrical items, inspect cords and plugs before use, and avoid mixing moisture and electricity (for example, in outdoor fog machines or light displays).

But if you or a loved one has already been injured by a defective Halloween product, don’t face it alone. Morgan & Morgan is here to help. Our team is available 24/7, and hiring one of our lawyers is easy. You can get started in minutes with a free case evaluation.