Help policyholders avoid cooking up claims this Thanksgiving

By Bill Martin

Eat, drink and be merry! Celebrate with those you are most thankful for. But don’t celebrate dangerously. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that in the last two decades, Thanksgiving calamities have resulted in almost $10 million in property loss. Homeowners risk even more in liability claims.

No one expects their Thanksgiving celebration to result in a call to the fire department or a trip to the hospital, so it’s important to remind clients of the common perils to look out for this Thanksgiving.

Cook safely this Thanksgiving - the #1 day for home fires

From the turkey to the apple pie, food is the star of the show on Thanksgiving Day. So, with most activity happening in the kitchen, agents should encourage insureds not to lose sight of all the potential risks that come along with cooking.

While the headlines are filled with fried turkey explosions, insurers see even more people grabbing onto a hot pot or leaving things on the stove as they're distracted by something else. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that Thanksgiving is the peak for home cooking fires - with more than three times the daily average! Cooking causes half of all reported home fires, more than two of every five home fire injuries, and is the second leading cause of home fire deaths.

In honor of Thanksgiving, the following are some cooking tips to help your insureds and their families have a happy, healthy and safe holiday.

Make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working.
Be sure the turkey is not frozen and is free of any excess juice before beginning cooking.
Always have a fire extinguisher ready and on hand in case of emergency.
Don't forget to set the cook timer and regularly check items in the oven and on the stovetop.
If frying a turkey, cook outside and on a flat surface, away from flammable items such as potholders, towels or paper products.
Use extra caution when lowering or raising the turkey from the pan.
If frying the turkey, be wary of overfilling the fryer with oil.
If you’re not sure whether you can safely put out a kitchen fire that has started, leave your house and call 911.

Homeowners insurance offers protection against fire damage, but prevention is better than having to file a claim for something that was avoidable. If a home is damaged by fire, homeowners insurance could repair or even rebuild the structure under a dwelling coverage policy. In addition, if any belongings are damaged, they may be replaced under a personal property coverage policy.

Be prepared for slips and falls

Fires are not the only risk when it comes to hosting a Thanksgiving gathering. Often leaves or winter weather can affect the accessibility of a home which can lead to slips or falls that could ultimately impact the homeowner.

If a guest slips on leaves or turkey grease and injures themselves, and if the host has the proper amount of personal liability coverage, any incurred legal and medical bills are covered. Yet, in some cases, not all homeowner’s insurance policies will include personal liability. In this case, if the host fails to show “reasonable care,” then the homeowner will be personally liable for the injury. It will be important for agents to review the homeowner’s policy to ensure coverage in the unfortunate case of a slip or fall.

Monitor holiday spirit consumption

Thanksgiving is a time for celebrating with family and friends, and the festivities often include one (or more) cocktails. In fact, Americans increase their drinking by 100% between Thanksgiving and the New Year, according to Beveragedaily.com.

Homeowners can mitigate risk by having alternative transportation available such as rideshares at the ready or perhaps having one of the 16- to 20-year-old attendees drive people home. Even when guests aren't driving, there are risks that can arise from alcohol consumption. Guests consuming alcohol are more likely to fall, damage other property or get into a fight, and if it's a result of over-consumption, the host can be held liable for that damage.

In addition to covering any unpredictable injuries, liability insurance can cover homeowners if one of their guests overindulges in alcohol. It's important to have host liquor liability coverage in place when planning to host any type of holiday gathering. Agents should warn homeowners that they are liable for alcohol-related mishaps such as fights or potential drinking and driving accidents that may occur during or after hosting Thanksgiving. Most of your customers will appreciate coverage for social host liability being offered to them, and you'll have it on record that you offered it should something happen later.

Insurers should advise homeowners to review their policies before offering to host this year's celebration. This can ensure they have the right protection, so Thanksgiving doesn’t end up costing more than the turkey and fixings. From cooking fires to slips and falls, with the right policy, homeowners have protection from the above calamities. This Thanksgiving, let’s be sure to give thanks for home insurance!

Bill Martin is president and CEO of Plymouth Rock Home Assurance. Contact him at [email protected].