Let’s face it: Thanksgiving can be stressful. You must contend with traffic and crowded airports; it can be a challenge to get the whole family together, you’ll have a ton of guests if you’re hosting and there’s all the prep work that goes into cooking a big Thanksgiving feast.
The holiday has no shortage of headaches, but the last thing you need is an insurance-related incident. Think food poisoning, cooking fires, injuries or property damage during an impromptu game of football, car accidents and more. While it is unpleasant to think about now, dedicate some time before Turkey Day to head off some of these common threats.
Travel and automobile risks
As to be expected, traffic spikes during the holidays. What may be an easy trip to the hosts’ house during any other time of the year could turn into a lengthy excursion with bumper-to-bumper traffic. If you’re flying, you could also face delays—either from the weather or, as may be the case this year, air traffic issues stemming from the 2025 government shutdown.
This can be mitigated by leaving before the peak travel times, but traveling by car carries the risks of car accidents, even if you avoid the holiday rush. As always, driving carefully and alertly can prevent most of these issues: keeping your eyes on the road can help you avoid accidentally rear-ending someone, or hitting a large animal. Make sure you drive sober and get good rest before any long trips—if staying the night at the host’s house isn’t in the cards, make sure to take advantage of any rest stops along the way, so you’re not driving drowsy.
Fire, kitchen and cooking risks
The National Fire Protection Association actually found Thanksgiving to be the peak day for home cooking fires. They also found that unattended cooking was the biggest contributor behind these fires: you could be chatting with Uncle Bob about the Bills’ chances this season and before you know it, the turkey you were cooking goes up in smoke.
Paying attention to the food you’re cooking is a simple way to avoid any unexpected fires, but the surplus of guests wandering the kitchen can lead to unfortunate outcomes—someone could brush their hand on hot pot or stove, spills can lead to slip and falls, knives and matches left out in the open could accidentally become playthings for small children. Keeping traffic to a minimum in the kitchen can avoid a lot of these problems. After all, there’s plenty of time to talk after the cooking is done.
There’s also the unfortunate risk of food poisoning. Nothing spoils the season more than a bit of undercooked turkey leaving you ill, or worse. Make sure all your food is cooked properly and check the ingredients beforehand for any signs of spoilage or disease.
Special mention should go to those who are brave enough to deep fry their turkey. While it makes for a delicious bird it carries unique risks: there’s a lot of hot oil, you must manage an open flame and make sure the turkey is totally thawed before it takes a dive—moisture reacts very violently with hot oil.
To minimize risks, make sure your set up is level and is in an outdoor space with no flammable objects nearby. Only place and remove your turkey from the pot of oil when your burner is off and do so slowly to minimize spill overs. Keep your skin covered, wear personal protective equipment (heat resistant gloves or even googles) and keep a fire extinguisher close. If you deep fry safely, the turkey will come out perfect—and save you a trip to the ER, or a call to the fire department.
Risks to your personal property and injury
Everyone’s arrived at the Thanksgiving feast in one piece, and cooking all that food went off without a hitch. However, that doesn’t mean the risks have disappeared. If you’re playing games out in the yard, there could be potholes and roots to trip on. A football might go through a window, or someone might crash into a fence while trying to catch said football. Kids might roughhouse indoors, leading to broken property or injuries. If it’s not too awkward, you could ask your guests to mind the space they’re in—at the very least, you can remove any clutter from the home and yard, so no one is accidentally tripping over anything.
If you leave your home unattended for the holidays, there’s also the unfortunate risk of break-ins: this kind of crime tends to spike during the season. Keep a few lights on—or set them on a timer—and have your neighbors keep an eye on your dwelling. Make sure you lock all your doors and keep any valuables you have in a secured safe. These simple steps can keep your home safe from robbery.
Contact your independent insurance before the holiday
Yes, Thanksgiving can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. By considering the many risks that crop up during Thanksgiving, you can minimize them and enjoy a safe and fun day with family and friends. Speak with your independent insurance agent before Turkey Day so that you can have proper coverage for any risks that may crop up or learn about new risks that you have yet to consider. Everyone deserves a fun Thanksgiving free from common dangers.
Matt McDonough is PIA Northeast's writer, editor and content curator. Matt joined PIA Northeast in September 2023. Before that, he had been an editor for the online entertainment magazine Collider from 2021-23 as a copy editor for its lists section. Matt entered the world of journalism at his alma mater, SUNY New Paltz, writing and reporting for the college's student run newspaper, The New Paltz Oracle. He graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Creative Writing in 2020.
