Merry Christmas! The House Is on Fire

By Clint Scott | December 13, 2016

Merry Christmas The House Is on FireThe holiday season is upon us, which means some of you are going to have a lot of people running around your houses pretty soon. Big parties and holiday dinners are fun, but they can also lead to property damage. The most likely culprit? A house fire – but slippery walkways and anxious pets can lead to claims, too.

Your homeowners’ insurance policy should cover your losses in the event of a fire or other destructive force, but we bet you would prefer to not to sustain any damage at all. To help you protect yourself and your belongings this year, we’re offering you a few suggestions deigned to keep your home safe.

  • Never leave candles unattended. If you light scented candles to keep your room smelling fresh, make sure you’re in the same room they are. A lit candle can tip – certain kinds burn so hot they essentially explode – leading to a fire.
  • Be careful with your lights. If you string lights up on your house or on your tree, you run the risk of a fire hazard or an electrical short if you plug too many in at once. Use surge protectors, and make sure your wiring is up to code.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher handy. A misplaced tea towel or oven mitt can burn up quickly if you leave it on the stove. Grease splatters can also cause a flare. If you do have a fire, turn off your oven and use a fire extinguisher to put out the flame.
  • Put the dogs in a safe place. Even the gentlest dog can become agitated or frightened during a big party. The Insurance Information Institute says that the average cost of a dog bite claim is more than $37,000, so you’d do well to keep your pets someplace safe, away from guests.
  • Park in the garage. There are a lot of cars on the roads at the holidays, which means a lot of cars parked in front of houses. Add in some parents whose kids have been restless the whole trip and a dash of drunk drivers, and the chances of your car being hit while it’s parked on the side of the road increases by quite a bit. If you can, park in your driveway or in your garage, and keep your car or truck away from other drivers.

The holidays can be stressful, sure – but they’re supposed to be about good times with the people you love. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we want that to be the case for you, too. If something does go wrong, and your insurance carrier is giving you a hard time about paying for damages that are covered by your policy, we can help. To speak with a Tennessee insurance dispute attorney like Clint Scott, Brandon McWherter or Jonathan Bobbitt, please call 731-664-1340, or fill out our contact form. We maintain offices in Nashville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Jackson and Knoxville, so we’re always nearby when you need us.

Posted in Insurance Disputes