Three Valentine’s Day Accidents to Avoid
Valentine’s Day in Missouri is a time for celebrating love, from a cozy dinner in St. Joseph to a wild night out on the town in Kansas City. However, the romantic mood and increased activity can lead to unexpected dangers that disrupt your celebration. Being aware of common Valentine’s holiday hazards is the best way to ensure your evening ends with sweet memories, not a trip to the emergency room. The Missouri injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group share some simple, but effective, steps to prevent these all-too-common Valentine’s Day accidents.
Avoid Slips, Trips, and Falls on Valentine’s Day
A romantic evening often means dressing up for a night on the town. Unfortunately, this can include slick environments caused by snowy weather conditions or crowded restaurants. Unfortunately, this combination makes slip-and-falls one of the most reported Valentine’s Day accidents. To stay safe, watch out for these specific hazards:
- Icy Surfaces: February in Missouri is unpredictable. Black ice can form on sidewalks outside popular restaurants in the Crossroads Arts District or on the steps to a home in St. Joseph’s Hall Street Historic District.
- Wet Floors: Restaurants and flower shops may have freshly mopped or wet entryways from melting snow, creating a slick surface for dress shoes or heels.
- Poor Lighting and Clutter: During a home celebration, dim mood lighting, scattered petals, or loose extension cords for decorative lights can easily become tripping hazards.
Preventing a painful fall starts with simple awareness of your surroundings. If a property owner’s negligence, like failing to clear ice or mark a wet floor, causes your fall, consulting with Patterson Legal Group’s Missouri injury lawyers can make sure you’re fairly compensated.
Valentine’s Day Accidents in the Kitchen
Some people love cooking a special meal at home for Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, the kitchen can become a danger zone. The pressure to create a perfect dinner can lead to rushed actions and distractions, increasing the risk of burn injuries and cuts. Pay special attention to these common causes of kitchen injuries:
- Grease Fires: Searing a steak or frying appetizers can lead to splattering grease that ignites. Never throw water on a grease fire; instead, smother it with a metal lid or use baking soda.
- Hot Liquid and Surface Burns: Reaching over a boiling pot of pasta or accidentally touching a hot oven rack can cause serious burns in an instant.
- Defective Appliances: Many kitchen appliances generate intense heat or require heavy electrical power. Defective kitchen appliances–air fryers, ovens, pressure cookers–can cause serious injuries, such as burns and electric shocks.
Staying focused, keeping a fire extinguisher nearby, and using proper kitchen tools are your best defenses. A severe kitchen injury from a defective appliance may require the insight of Patterson Legal Group’s unsafe products attorneys to determine liability.
Related: Three Tips to Help You Avoid a Valentine’s Day Injury
Impaired Driving Increases on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day celebrations often include champagne, wine, or cocktails, which can lead to a dangerous increase in impaired drivers on Missouri roads. The risk of a Valentine’s Day accident involving a drunk driver is significantly higher after evening festivities. Key dangers include:
- Increased Traffic: Roads near popular dining spots like the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City or along the St. Joseph Parkway are busier, with more vehicles and pedestrians.
- Driver Fatigue: A long day followed by a rich meal and alcohol can severely impair reaction times, even if a driver feels they are okay to drive.
- Rideshare Shortages: High demand for services like Uber and Lyft can lead to long waits, tempting some to make the irresponsible choice to drive.
The only safe choice is to plan ahead. Designate a sober driver for the night or arrange for a taxi or rideshare service before your celebration begins. If you are injured by an impaired driver, our experienced Missouri car accident lawyers can take care of all of your legal needs.
Contact a Missouri Valentine’s Day Accidents Lawyer
Unfortunately, accidents caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness can happen no matter how many safety precautions you take. Should you suffer an injury caused by another party, know that Patterson Legal Group is available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact us for a free consultation, and our renowned Missouri injury attorneys will determine your best legal options.
You can reach Patterson Legal Group by phone at (888) 687-2400. For your convenience, you can also contact us online by speaking with our LiveChat agents or requesting your free consultation through our secure contact form. Our esteemed trial lawyers have recovered full and fair settlements for injury victims throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Reach out to us today to get the legal representation you deserve.
