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");
}