PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – In the midst of all the Halloween fun, the last thing you want to worry about is getting into legal trouble.

However, you may be shocked to learn that Halloween lawsuits occur for very common reasons.

It is a holiday that is not ordinary, and children in particular act in extraordinary, thoughtless ways.

When trick-or-treaters come calling the last thing you want is for them to become trick-or-trippers on your sidewalk.

“If you know you have a defective condition that children and their parents could pass on, put up a sign,” said attorney Robert. F. Daley, partner at Robert Pierce and Associates. “Put a cone. Do something to alert people to it if, if you can’t, light it.”

In addition to eliminating trip hazards, Daley said dogs are also a problem.

“When somebody comes to the door, (the dogs) get pretty excited,” he said.

He also offered a word of caution — don’t assume “my dog ​​would never do it.”

“People are coming to the door, ringing the doorbell, knocking on the door, dressed as vampires, witches, clowns and the like,” Daley said. “It can put a dog in a state of anxiety. And even, I think, a normal, gentle dog that’s in a state of anxiety might be, you know, at risk of biting out of fear.”

So you might put Fluffy in a back room with music playing or the TV on, or move your candy distribution center to get the dog and tripping hazards out of the picture.

“You might consider moving it in front of the steps so people don’t have to walk,” he explained.

Daley also recommended avoiding homemade treatments because you want to limit your liability when it comes to things like food poisoning.

He said any risk of foodborne illness rests with the candy manufacturer, and in the event of an allergic reaction, it’s up to the parents to screen the candy in transit.

As always, be careful behind the wheel.

“Kids between the ages of 4 and 8 are about ten times more likely to be hit by a vehicle during trick-or-treating than otherwise,” Daley said.

If you have neighbors who offer adults shots or beers with the kids, Daley stresses moderation, and if you’re sharing those things, be extra careful.