Top Holiday Risks Driving Property and Auto Insurance Claims

The holiday season is not just a time of celebration—it’s also one of the busiest periods of the year for insurance claims professionals. For property and casualty adjusters, December brings a predictable surge in claims, from house fires and frozen pipes to car accidents and slip-and-fall incidents. This seasonal spike in losses means heightened workloads and more complex investigations, especially when multiple perils converge during cold weather.

According to fire and emergency agencies, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day see the highest number of residential cooking fires annually, while decorative mishaps and heating equipment issues add to the fire risk. Adjusters handling these claims must be prepared to distinguish between accidental and negligent causes, especially when decorations or alternative heat sources are involved. Winter weather-related claims—from burst pipes to ice dam leaks—also rise, requiring careful documentation and understanding of mitigation measures like pipe insulation or roof venting.

Holiday travel and crowded parking lots bring additional challenges. Collision claims from distracted or impaired drivers and liability claims from icy sidewalks call for rapid response and thorough scene analysis. Adjusters must also be alert to the nuances of potential package theft claims, which may be rising but often fall below policy deductibles—making them more of a customer education issue than a payout scenario.

This seasonal pattern underscores the need for adjusters to manage time-sensitive investigations, verify homeowner mitigation efforts, and communicate clearly with policyholders during a high-stress period. Understanding these recurring trends can help claims professionals anticipate caseload surges, streamline assessments, and deliver efficient resolutions amid the year-end rush.