Thanksgiving and home insurance: What holiday disasters does your policy cover?

Thanksgiving up in flames: Are kitchen fires covered?

Thanksgiving is a busy day for firefighters.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, and unattended cooking is the leading contributing factor.
Cooking fires on Thanksgiving happen at a rate of 388% more than on the average day.
Cooking fires account for 80% of house fires that occur on Thanksgiving.
According to the NFPA, deep fryer fires cause five deaths, 60 injuries, destroy 900 homes and cause over $15 million in property damage every year.

Regardless of whether your fire starts in the kitchen or in a turkey fryer, always call in the fire department. Statistics show that over half (55%) of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.

Does home insurance cover cooking fires?

Yes,, cooking fires are covered, and several coverages might apply:

The dwelling coverage of your homeowners insurance will cover damage to your home, and the personal property coverage on your policy covers the home's contents,
Homeowners coverage not only protects your home but also extends to your garage and other outbuildings on your property. So, if you burn down a detached garage with a turkey fryer, you’re covered.
The loss of use section of a homeowners policy will help cover everyday expenses if your home is too damaged to live in after a Thanksgiving fire. This coverage helps cover expenses such as hotel and restaurant bills and even the cost of dry cleaning if you are unable to return to your home.

Football fumble: Does insurance cover accidental injuries?

A few drinks, that one relative who takes a tackle too seriously, or just a collision on the field: a friendly Thanksgiving football game can cause an injury in several ways. If someone has to go to the ER and comes home with a bill, home insurance can help.

Does home insurance cover guest injuries?

If a guest is injured on your property, the liability or the medical payments portion of your homeowners insurance will cover the cost of medical bills and even legal fees if you end up in court over the injuries.

Personal liability will cover incidents you are legally liable for; that means your negligence caused the injury. For example, someone slips on an icy sidewalk you didn't clear.
Medical payments coverage kicks in regardless of who is at fault. So, if a football slip causes an injury and no one to blame, this coverage applies.

Liability is a more robust coverage that covers medical bills, legal bills and even property damage for which you are legally responsible. It will pay the legal bills if you are sued over a Thanksgiving incident and will cover any settlements or judgments up to your coverage limits. If your dog bites someone, for example, and they sue, liability will cover you.

Note: Neither liability nor medical payments will cover the medical expenses of anyone who lives in your home – only guest injuries.

Undercooked turkey: What happens if your food makes someone sick?

As a Thanksgiving host, you carry liability risk if a guest goes to the hospital due to your cooking.

"If a guest at your home contracts food poisoning, you can be held liable," says Christopher Earley with the Law Office of Christopher Earley.

While most food poisoning cases resolve themselves after a day or two, in some cases, it can turn serious, and if it does, your insurance should help out.

Does home insurance cover food poisoning?

"Your homeowners general liability policy should protect you. This coverage will pay for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering associated with food poisoning. If a lawsuit is filed, your carrier will cover the costs of the litigation and will also provide you with legal representation," Earley says.

The personal liability portion of your policy will cover a variety of issues related to food poisoning. It will typically cover medical costs as well as legal fees if the food poisoning turns serious and you end up on the wrong side of a lawsuit.

EXPERT TIP: "Personal liability insurance is incredibly affordable," says Travis Biggert, President, Oklahoma and Arkansas, at HUB International, a global insurance broker. "We recommend base limits starting at $300,000 on your homeowners policy with a $1 million umbrella policy, which will kick in when your personal liability limits are reached."

The CDC offers the following tips for safe food handling on turkey day:

Safely thaw your turkey: Thaw turkeys in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water that is changed every 30 minutes. Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter.
Safely stuff your turkey: Cooking stuffing in a casserole dish makes it easy to ensure it is thoroughly cooked. Use a food thermometer to make sure the stuffing's center reaches 165°F.
Safely cook your turkey: Set the oven temperature to at least 325°F. Place the completely thawed turkey with the breast side up in a roasting pan that is 2 to 2-1/2 inches deep. Make sure the turkey has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F.

Thanksgiving DUIs: Are you responsible if you serve alcohol to someone who causes an accident?

If you serve a guest alcohol, you can be held responsible for any damage or injuries if they drive while intoxicated. Most states have social host liability laws; if a guest injures or kills someone on their way home from your party, you’re responsible.

"While each state is different, in general, if you over-serve someone in your home who is visibly intoxicated, then you can be held liable for all losses caused to any third party. For example, if you over-serve a visibly intoxicated guest and [they] then negligently cause a car accident, you can potentially be held liable to any third party that is injured under a social host liability law. However, if your intoxicated guest simply injures himself, then you would not be liable," Earley says.

Does home insurance cover guests’ impaired driving damages?

If you serve a guest alcohol at your Thanksgiving celebration and they cause a wreck after they leave, the liability portion of your home insurance will cover damages. It won’t cover your guest's injuries but will cover injuries sustained by non-negligent third parties and damage to their property.

"Most homeowners insurance policies will provide coverage in the event of a claim that stems from over-serving a guest in your home. As with food poisoning claims, your homeowners carrier will cover the claim as well as the costs associated with any lawsuit that is filed, up to your policy limits," says Earley.

How to reduce Thanksgiving risk and avoid a claim

Keep your Thanksgiving safe with the following tips:

Make sure you thaw your turkey safely and cook your defrosted turkey to the recommended temperature of at least 165°F.
Check your fire extinguisher ahead of the holidays to make sure it's functional and conveniently located.
Ask guests to make sure they have a safe and sober ride home.
Avoid animal liability incidents. If you have a dog that can be anxious with big gatherings, find your furry friend a quiet place to spend the day. Dog bites are the No. 1 liability claim against home insurance.
If your plans involve a deep fried turkey, use caution. Keep children away from hot oil and monitor your deep fryer carefully.

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