Thanksgiving is one of the main occasions for families to get together and celebrate the holidays. However, there are a few things to consider for insurance purposes and for the safety of your family and guests.

The National Safety Council (NSC) outlines that over 500 people could lose their lives in the US alone during this 2022 Thanksgiving holiday. Alcohol consumption during the celebration may be one of the causes for this, and along the same lines, driving while intoxicated can be risky. In fact, there are numerous other potentially harmful activities that people engage in during this time or could be exposed to. To that end, let’s examine the patterns of accidents that occur during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Trends of Accidents Occurring Around Thanksgiving

Every year, house fires, car accidents, and other accidents happen across the country during Thanksgiving. To put that into perspective, 2300 residential building fires between 2017 and 2019 were reported on Thanksgiving Day. This led to property losses of $26 million.

Likewise, numerous reports of various accidents occurring before, during, or after the Thanksgiving holiday come out each year. Here is a list of some of the accidents that are most reported over the holiday period:

• Home Fires
• Car Accidents
• Food Poisoning
• Slips and Falls

These mishaps may occur to you or as a result of you. The fatalities have been occurring as a result of carelessness while in a festive mood, which can seriously damage your bank account, property, or health.

Carelessness surging from the festive mood can cause serious damage to property, health, and eventually financial health. So, while Thanksgiving is certainly a great time to get together with family and friends, it is also important to keep a few things in mind so that everyone can enjoy the holidays. Those who are not adequately covered can easily lose their holiday cheer as a result of these mishaps.

Checking Up on Your Insurance Policies

Checking your insurance policies to make sure they cover all the areas that might be impacted by these accidents is crucial if you want to overcome these mishaps. These are a few insurance policies that should be remembered and checked upon during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Home Insurance Policy

As outlined above, the US fire department receives thousands of reports of residential fires every year. To prevent draining your savings in the event of a fire, it is crucial to have the appropriate home insurance policy in place.

Auto Insurance Policy

Car accidents also surge around the Thanksgiving holiday every year. The NSC has already estimated the number of fatalities for the year 2022, and countless minor accidents or injuries can have a significant financial impact. Therefore, it would be ideal to purchase auto insurance or renew it around the holiday season.

Valuable Property Insurance

If you have valuable items in your home, home insurance may not always be sufficient. This can apply to your jewelry, stamp collection, furs, sporting goods, or other gear, for example. It’s, therefore, best to cover your valuables with valuable property insurance.

Umbrella Insurance

In the event that someone is harmed or contracts a disease while visiting your home, this insurance policy is a boon. If someone sues you because of a fire accident or food poisoning case while they are staying at your place, having an umbrella policy gives you additional protection. This policy is best for unforeseen circumstances that may arise during Thanksgiving dinners and is always taken as an additional layer of protection on top of your other policies.

Precautions To Take: Home and Visitor Safety

It is advisable to take some precautions to prevent any hassles and mishaps during the holiday season:

• If you’ve had alcohol, don’t drive. Instead, make plans that will allow you to spend the night at the last location you visit and have a good time there.
• As winter approaches, some areas may experience snow, making driving unsafe and increasing your risk of accidents; thus, make sure to drive slowly and safely.
• If you plan to cook a Thanksgiving dinner, install smoke detectors in your home.
• To prevent kitchen fatalities, keep your fryers out of the reach of children and visitors.
• Be on guard until the meal is finished cooking and until everything is wrapped up.
• Make sure there are no slippery areas in your home, and if there are, warn guests to watch their steps or, better yet, fix the area before guests arrive.

The Final Word

The holiday season is a little different for the insurance landscape than it is for the rest of the world. To prevent any major disasters, everyone should get ready in advance for what might happen. At Gonzalez Insurance, we provide numerous services to assist you in choosing the best insurance plans for your protection. Get in touch with us to receive a quote that is specifically tailored to your needs. And do enjoy a happy family feast on Thanksgiving.