NASHVILLE - Parents are being urged to observe some safety rules this Halloween, like making sure every child has a flashlight, a mask that doesn't restrict vision and a costume that fits without dragging on the ground.

Experts also advise that parents inspect all the goodies, throwing out food that has a torn or loose wrapper. Choking hazards are another consideration, for children age five and younger.

Nashville attorney Randall Kinnard says manufacturers sometimes forget who their real consumers are and just how dangerous small, detachable items can be.

"Halloween's always dangerous. Some toys - a robot, for example, or little race cars that you open - have inside them small pieces of candy, and the pieces are so small that they can actually choke a child."

Tort reform that would restrict lawsuits continues to be touted as a way to control health care costs, but Kinnard says restricting legal damages levied against manufacturers would prompt unscrupulous parties to be less diligent about safety.

"In Tennessee, the courts are open and there are no restrictions on the amount of damages a person can receive. That's a good thing."

Kinnard was recently inducted into the Inner Circle of Advocates, an exclusive, invitation-only group composed of the top 100 trial attorneys in the country.