The weather outside is frightful… but your insurance shouldn’t be. With Christmas approaching, certain insurance claims are on the rise. Here are three Christmas insurance risks to be cautious about this holiday season.
Heat Your Home Safely
I know the fire is so delightful. But not when it puts your home and family at risk. According to the National Fire Protection Association, heat sources like space heaters and fireplaces cause 14% of all home fires. Space heaters are a particular liability, leading to 25,000 house fires and 300 deaths every year.
This is not to make you stop using these heating mechanisms. But make sure you are using them safely. For example, keep space heaters away from flammable surfaces, and don’t keep them running if you’re not in the room. For more exhaustive heating safety tips, check out this blog by Erie Insurance.
Avoid Christmas Tree Hazards
Without a Christmas tree, Santa’s got no place to go (see what we did there?). But Christmas trees can pose unique hazards that you should be aware of.
Christmas Tree Fires
Approximately 160 home fires are caused by Christmas trees every year. These fires result in $10 million of property damage each year. Make sure your Christmas tree is well watered and situated away from any heat sources. It’s also a good idea to turn the lights off when you’re not in the room to enjoy them.
Watch this fascinating demonstration about how quickly Christmas trees can catch fire…
Other Christmas Tree Hazards
It’s not just fires that can be a concern. Especially if they’re not set up properly, Christmas trees can be a falling hazard. If you have pets or small children, the chance of falling or injury can increase a lot. About 350 people ever year are injured from the Christmas trees. Sometimes this is because a small child ingested a light bulb, or because the Christmas tree fell on someone.
As funny as these fails can be to watch, they usually aren’t so fun to deal with when they actually happen…
Practice Defensive Driving
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! We all love a white Christmas, but snow isn’t the only driving hazard around Christmas time. Car insurance claims increase across the board during the holiday season, whether it’s snowing or not. With more cars on the road due to travel and holiday shopping frenzy, the risk of getting in an accident increases. Additionally, holiday drinking is common–and so is drunk driving. Make sure you drive carefully and defensively this holiday season to protect yourself, your loved ones, and others on the road.
Insure Your Holiday!
Christmas is probably our favorite time of year at Veritas Insurance. But with the increased Christmas insurance risks, make sure you are celebrating safely. Get in touch with our team today if you have questions about holiday safety, home insurance, or auto insurance. We are here to serve you!
