Although dogs are considered man's best friend, they're also a significant source of insurance claims, especially for homeowners. In 2016 alone, dog bites and other dog-related injuries accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners liability claim dollars, costing more than $600 million, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) and State Farm, the largest writer of homeowners insurance in the United States.
The category of “other” dog-related injuries generally includes dogs knocking down children, cyclists, and the elderly, for example, all of which can result in fractures and other blunt force trauma injuries. The category also includes U.S. Post Office worker attacks, many of which take place while mail is being delivered to a dog owner's residence.
I.I.I.'s analysis of homeowners insurance data found that the number of dog bite claims nationwide increased to 18,123 in 2016, compared to 15,352 in 2015 — an 18 percent increase. The average cost per claim, however, decreased by more than 10 percent. The average cost paid out for dog bite claims was $33,230 in 2016, I.I.I. found, compared with $37,214 in 2015 and $32,072 in 2014.
“The decrease in the 2016 average cost per claim could be attributed to a decrease in the severity of injuries,” said Loretta Worters, a vice president with the I.I.I. “But the average cost per claim nationally has risen more than 70 percent from 2003 to 2016, due to increased medical costs as well as the size of settlements, judgments and jury awards given to plaintiffs.”
Be a responsible dog owner
Remember that even normally docile dogs may bite when they're frightened or when defending their puppies, owners or food. As a responsible pet owner, the best way to protect yourself from liability is to prevent your dog from biting anyone in the first place. Dogs become dangerous when their humans don't train them well, breed them irresponsibly, or neglect them.
“The family veterinarian should be the first stop for any pet owner with behavioral concerns,” said Dr. Melissa Bain, American Veterinary Medical Association member and specialist in animal behavior. “They can advise you as to whether there is a medical component for which medication may be an appropriate element of an integrated treatment program, and whether or not a referral to a behavior specialist is warranted.”
In recognition of National Dog Bite Prevention Week 2017, from April 9–15, here are the 10 states with the highest insurance claims for dog bites across the U.S. (For more state specific information, go to the I.I.I.'s interactive map.)
Related: 8 tips for preventing dog bites
University of Georgia Bulldogs mascot Que watches on the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college football game Oct. 31, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. between Georgia and the University of Florida. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
10. Georgia
Number of claims: 462
Average cost per claim: $29,351
Total claims paid out: $13.6 million
Related: 12 factors impacting dog bite claims
Service dogs stand with their trainers as they wait to go through security screening at Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport during a training exercise, April 1, 2017, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
9. New Jersey
Number of claims: 537
Average cost per claim: $53,685
Total claims paid out: $28.8 million
Related: 7 tips for adding a pet to the family this holiday season
Fans walk their dogs on the base path after a baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners during the Bark in the Park promotion, June 21, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
8. Michigan
Number of claims: 782
Average cost per claim: $27,877
Total claims paid out: $21.8 million
Related: 15 preventable homeowners' insurance claims and how to avoid them
Resident nursery dog Blakely rests with a cheetah cub in the nursery at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, April 29, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
7. Ohio
Number of claims: 850
Average cost per claim: $34,265
Total claims paid out: $29.1 million
Related: Can you obtain additional living expense coverage for family pets?
Chicago Fire four-legged fans enjoyed the soccer club's first-ever “Dog Days of Soccer” event presented by Beneful® in Toyota Park on Aug. 10, 2013. Dogs, seated with their owners, gave a paws-up to their hometown club and took home fun dog-themed goodies in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Scott Boehm / AP Images for Beneful)
6. Illinois
Number of claims: 910
Average cost per claim: $42,837
Total claims paid out: $39.0 million
Related: Breweries and distilleries ask: Are dogs welcome?
Louis Marquez carries his dog Chocolate through floodwaters after rescuing the dog from his flooded apartment April 19, 2016, in Houston. Storms dumped more than a foot of rain in the Houston area, flooding dozens of neighborhoods. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
5. Texas
Number of claims: 924
Average cost per claim: $21,760
Total claims paid out: $20.1 million
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Rosalie Donlon
Rosalie Donlon is the editor in chief of ALM's insurance and tax publications, including NU Property & Casualty magazine and NU PropertyCasualty360.com. You can contact her at [email protected].
