The Morgan & Morgan Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide: From Safety Tips to Morgan Family Recipes

Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, togetherness, and—of course—a big feast.

As the country’s largest personal injury law firm, however, we here at Morgan & Morgan know that accidents can mar this special day, so we’re here to help make your holiday a huge success.

Avoiding Personal Injuries During Thanksgiving

Between bustling kitchens, crowded homes, and packed schedules, Thanksgiving can be as hectic as it is merry. Here are some quick tips to help you enjoy the day without any unnecessary trips to the ER.

Kitchen Safety First

The kitchen is the heart of Thanksgiving, but it’s also one of the most dangerous places if you’re not careful. 

• Stay Alert Around Hot Surfaces: Keep pot handles turned inward and never leave stovetops or ovens unattended.
• Avoid Overcrowding: Too many cooks in the kitchen can lead to accidents. Assign tasks to keep things organized. Set some hors d'oeuvres out to lure guests away from your main course prep.
• Knife Safety: Always use sharp knives (they’re safer than dull ones!) and cut away from yourself.
• Prevent Fires: If you absolutely must deep fry your turkey, do it outdoors on a flat surface, away from your home, and never use a frozen bird—it’s a recipe for disaster.

Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents

With guests coming and going, the risk of slip-and-fall injuries increases.

• Keep Walkways Clear: Remove tripping hazards like shoes, toys, and bags from entryways and hallways.
• Clean Up Spills Immediately: Whether it’s gravy, wine, or melted ice, promptly wipe up spills to avoid accidents.
• Use Proper Lighting: Make sure staircases and outdoor walkways are well-lit, especially for evening gatherings.

Be Mindful of Allergies and Food Safety

• Label Dishes: If you’re hosting, label dishes with common allergens like nuts, shellfish, or dairy.
• Avoid Cross-Contamination: Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meats and other ingredients.
• Cook Food to Safe Temperatures: Use a meat thermometer to ensure your turkey reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F.

Take Precautions to Avoid Food Poisoning

Food poisoning can be common during the Thanksgiving holiday. Reasons for food poisoning can include:

• Eating contaminated foods
• Improper hygiene after handling raw turkey
• Eating food past its “use by” date
• Leaving leftovers out at room temperature for too long
• Improperly thawing and reheating foods
• Undercooking meat
• Eating food that was handled by someone who is ill

Many foods and treats we enjoy at Thanksgiving, such as turkey, deli meats, shellfish, and soft cheeses, can be prone to contamination with dangerous bacteria. Even if you are not cooking at home and plan to eat out at a restaurant, you could be at risk of food poisoning due to a lack of restaurant hygiene or inexperienced staff.

Restaurants are legally obliged to serve you safe food. If you or a loved one suffered from serious food poisoning or other severe conditions due to eating contaminated foods, you could have legal recourse and sue the restaurant.

When you’re the chef, be sure to check labeling for proper storage of all food items and expiration dates.

Staying Safe on the Road: Tips for Holiday Travel

While the kitchen has its risks, so does the road on the way to the festivities. Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and with packed highways comes an increased risk of accidents. Here’s how to ensure you and your loved ones make it to dinner safely.

Plan Ahead

• Check Traffic and Weather Reports: Stay informed about potential delays or hazardous conditions.
• Leave Early: Give yourself plenty of time to avoid rushing, which can lead to poor decisions on the road—and sometimes even a Home Alone situation.
• Expect Heavy Traffic: Traffic is never enjoyable, even less so when there is a special destination you want to get to on time. Think about all the other people on the road who are equally eager to get where they're going and the likelihood of them making driving errors because of being hurried. Stay alert and plan for delays.
• Get a Good Night's Rest Before Traveling: Driving is a skill that requires the full use of your faculties. Drowsy driving is more hazardous than many people realize, yet the consequences can be disastrous. Make sure to get rest before embarking on a long journey, and take rest periods when you need to. Stop and get coffee, walk around, and if you're traveling with a companion, ask if they can switch out with you from time to time.
• Map Your Route Prior to Travel: Planning ahead will let you know how long it will take to get there, reveal road closures and traffic jams, and alleviate stress. When planning a long haul, it's not always possible to know road conditions, as they can change at any time. Still, under most circumstances, you'll be better off planning out your route ahead of time rather than fiddling with the GPS while traveling 75 mph down the highway.

Practice Defensive Driving

• Avoid Distractions: Put the phone down, program your GPS before leaving, and keep your focus on the road.
• Watch for Impaired Drivers: Thanksgiving is a time for celebration, and unfortunately, drunk driving incidents spike during the holiday. Be extra vigilant at night.
• Also, Don’t Be an Impaired Driver: It should go without saying, yet accidents that involve alcohol occur every day. The holidays are undoubtedly a time for revelry. Still, your poor decision to get behind the wheel after drinking could have a tragic outcome for your family or someone else's. Likewise, it would be best if you never got behind the wheel under the influence of recreational drugs or prescription medications that impact your ability to be a responsible driver. You’ll get your egg nog soon enough. Get there safely first.
• Follow the Rules: Everyone wants to get to their destination safely, and while traffic can be exasperating, don't allow it to interfere with good driving habits. Impatient drivers cause accidents all the time. However, by legal standards, an impatient driver who causes an accident is also a reckless driver. Avoid the temptation to tailgate. That only infuriates the driver in front of you. Stay in your lane, as frequent lane switching may only result in your getting two car lengths ahead. Of course, this kind of advancement is hardly worth getting into an accident. Likewise, cutting other drivers off isn't worth a road rage incident. Slow your roll and do your best to enjoy the view.

Vehicle Preparedness

• Check Your Car: Inspect your tires, brakes, and lights before hitting the road. Don’t forget to fill your gas tank! 
• Pack an Emergency Kit: If you’re traveling far, be sure to include essentials like a flashlight, first aid supplies, water, snacks, and jumper cables.
• Strap on Your Seatbelt: The final step of preparing your vehicle is securing its driver: you. While seatbelts have no power to prevent accidents, they do have demonstrable and significant powers to save you from serious injury. Passengers should buckle up for the same reason, and it's the law.

Buckle Up for Safety

It might seem simple, but wearing your seatbelt is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and your passengers during an accident.

The Leading Causes of Thanksgiving Car Accidents

Anytime you have an increase in road traffic, the risk of getting into an accident escalates. Still, traffic is just one of the factors that make driving during this time dangerous. 

More Motorists on the Road

An immense amount of people will be traveling to nearby and far-off destinations throughout the country during the Thanksgiving break. It's not surprising that the number of motor vehicle accidents will spike because of this. Some people may only drive a few miles to their grandparents, and others may have a journey that takes them hundreds of miles from home. One thing is certain, though. Whenever more drivers are on the road, the chances of getting into a collision surge.

Bad Weather

Depending on where you live and where you're driving to, bad weather conditions increase during this time of the year. Weather can be erratic, and it's not uncommon to find yourself suddenly within a rain, ice, or snowstorm. Driving while it's raining or snowing is always hazardous, but one of the most dangerous conditions a driver might come across is black ice. 

This danger can result from rain that freezes on the asphalt or snow that melts and then refreezes. The reason it's called black ice is that it's so thin that the black asphalt can be seen through it, making it difficult for drivers to notice it and take precautions. It can form quickly in shady areas and over bridges and overpasses.

Drunk Driving

Driving while under the influence of alcohol is always a poor decision. However, when coupled with other driving hazards present during the holidays, it's a recipe for disaster. Alcohol is a staple at many holiday gatherings, and since many people have more free time around Thanksgiving, festivities, and libations are usually abundant. It's also more likely that people let their guard down around the holidays and may think it's okay to drive after just having a few drinks with friends. People who drive with an illegal amount of alcohol in their system rarely grasp the stupidity of their decisions, and it's demonstrated through slower reaction times, loss of coordination, and unsound judgment. The results can be Thanksgiving car accidents.

Drowsy Driving

One thing people usually don't consider is that driving while sleepy can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Consuming a large meal can make you feel slow and lethargic, and everyone knows that Thanksgiving gives us an excuse to overindulge. Still, even without a heavy meal in your stomach, the flurry and businesses of the holidays can leave drivers overtired and more vulnerable to falling asleep at the wheel or making rudimentary driving errors.

Motorists Not Familiar With Their Surroundings

Driving in unfamiliar territory leaves motorists at risk for accidents. They might be distracted by GPS coordinates, talking on the phone to get more specific directions or unexpected changes in the roadway. Speed limits might drop rapidly, and a driver not paying attention could end up going around a curve faster than manageable and lose control of their vehicle. Drivers who miss their turnoff might make a rash decision to cut across lanes of traffic to make sure they’re not late for Thanksgiving dinner but end up hurting others instead.

Holiday Airport Accidents

If your holiday travel will be more above ground, you should also be cautious of potential airport hazards. Like the roads, the airports will be packed with holiday-makers heading off to their Thanksgiving destinations. Busy airports entail restaurant crowds, rushing passengers, and increased vehicle traffic outside terminals. Thanksgiving accidents and injuries can be common in overcrowded airport terminals and food courts. Airport passengers and workers may experience injuries due to:

• Motor vehicle accidents outside terminals and in parking garages
• Slips and falls due to slippery floors, clutter, and food debris
• Airport shuttle accidents
• Defective elevators and escalators
• Slippery boarding ramps and walkways
• Objects falling out of airplane overhead lockers
• Violent crimes such as attacks or assaults

If you want to hold a public airport authority or airline responsible for your injuries and financial losses, consider getting an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Morgan & Morgan knows how to handle complex injury claims and can hold airlines or government agencies accountable.

If All Else Fails, Call Morgan & Morgan

If the hectic holiday ends with you suffering an injury due to someone else’s negligence, Morgan & Morgan is here to help. While we all hope our celebrations will wrap up without accidents, they can and do occur. You can call us 24/7 for a free case evaluation to learn about your legal options. 

A Special Morgan Family Recipe: Grandma Bo’s Broccoli Casserole

No Thanksgiving feast is complete without comfort food that brings everyone to the table. Typed up by Morgan & Morgan Founder John Morgan’s grandmother Bo, this delicious broccoli casserole is baked by the Morgan family every year. 

Grandma Bo’s Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of frozen broccoli, cooked and drained
• ¾ stick of butter, melted
• ¼ lb. Velveeta cheese
• Ritz crackers

Instructions:

• Put cooked broccoli into a casserole dish
• Pour about ⅓ of the melted butter over the broccoli and stir
• Cut up the cheese real fine
• Add the cheese to the broccoli and stir it in
• Crumble enough Ritz crackers to cover the top of the dish well
• Sprinkle crumbled crackers over the top of the broccoli
• Pour the remaining melted butter over the dish
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until brown and crusty

Finally, a Big Thank You From Everyone at Morgan & Morgan

As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, all of us at Morgan & Morgan want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude. 

To our clients, you trust us with your most challenging moments, and we’re honored to fight for you.

To our team, from attorneys to support staff, everyone plays a vital role in pursuing justice for the people.

And to our community, whether through advocacy, partnerships, or giving back, we are proud to be a part of the neighborhoods we serve.

Thanksgiving is about more than just delicious food and football; it’s about connection, gratitude, and cherishing the moments that matter most. From all of us at Morgan & Morgan, thank you for allowing us to serve you. Have a safe, happy, and wonderful Thanksgiving!