Just put you for loop inside an if check
if(chars.Count>0){
//for all characters(aka snake segments)
//take the position of the segment before you
for (int i = chars.Count - 1; i > 0; i++) {
chars [i].transform.position = chars [i - 1].transform.position;
}
}
else{
Debug.Log("Warning:: chars Count is less than 1");
}