According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) and State Farm, the nation’s largest writer of homeowners insurance, the cost of the average claim from dog bites and other injuries is on the rise. I.I.I.’s analysis of homeowners insurance data found that the number of dog bite claims nationwide decreased 4.7 % in 2014. However, according to the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost per dog bite claim was up 100% to 64,555 in 2022, compared to $32,072 in 2014.
The average cost per claim nationally has risen more than 67% from 2003 to 2014, due to increased medical costs as well as the size of settlements, judgments, and jury awards given to plaintiffs, which are still on the upswing.
With 1,867 claims California continues to lead the list of states with the largest number of claims, followed by Ohio with 1,009 claims and New York with 965 claims, although NY state is leading with the highest average cost per claim in the country of $56,628.
The trend in higher costs per claim is attributable not simply to dog bites but also to dogs knocking down children, cyclists, and senior citizens —all of which I.I.I. says can result in fractures and other injuries that increase the severity of the losses. Experts say that even normally docile dogs may bite when they are frightened or when defending their puppies, owners, or food. The most dangerous dogs are those that suffer from poor training, irresponsible owners, and breeding practices that foster viciousness.
Victims and homeowners insurers are not the only ones paying for dog bites. Workers’ compensation for the United States Postal Service (USPS) costs about $3.7 billion a year.
Dog bites are the most common cause of injury for walking postal workers, according to the USPS.
National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 17-23, 2015) is designed to provide consumers with information on how to be responsible pet owners while increasing awareness of dog bites as a serious public health issue.
Top 10 States for Dog Bite Claims
ESTIMATED NUMBER AND COST OF DOG BITE CLAIMS (AND OTHER DOG-RELATED INJURIES) 2014 STATE RESULTS
| State | # of claims | Avg cost per claim | Value of claims ($ millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 1,867 | $33,649 | $62.8 |
| OH | 1,009 | $21,983 | $22.2 |
| NY | 910 | $56,628 | $51.5 |
| IL | 872 | $34,894 | $30.4 |
| PA | 861 | $26,211 | $22.6 |
| MI | 693 | $38,302 | $26.5 |
| TX | 621 | $16,205 | $10.1 |
| IN | 481 | $21,287 | $10.2 |
| GA | 388 | $31,497 | $12.2 |
| WI | 388 | $26,873 | $10.4 |
| State | # of claims | Avg cost per claim | Value of claims ($ millions) |
| Top 10 | 8,090 | $32,018 | $259.0 |
| Other States | 8,460 | $32,124 | $271.8 |
| U.S. | 16,550 | $32,072 | $530.8 |
Source: Insurance Information Institute, State Farm.
Dog Bite Claim Costs
ESTIMATED NUMBER AND COST OF DOG BITE CLAIMS (AND OTHER DOG-RELATED INJURIES) 2003-2014
| Year | Value of claims ($ millions) | # of claims | Avg cost per claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $324.2 | 16,919 | $19,162 |
| 2004 | $318.9 | 15,630 | $20,406 |
| 2005 | $321.1 | 14,295 | $22,464 |
| 2006 | $322.4 | 14,661 | $21,987 |
| 2007 | $356.2 | 14,531 | $24,511 |
| 2008 | $387.0 | 15,823 | $24,461 |
| 2009 | $412.0 | 16,586 | $24,840 |
| 2010 | $412.6 | 15,770 | $26,166 |
| 2011 | $490.8 | 16,695 | $29,396 |
| 2012 | $489.7 | 16,459 | $29,752 |
| 2013 | $483.7 | 17,359 | $27,862 |
| 2014 | $530.8 | 16,550 | $32,072 |
| Year | Value of claims ($ millions) | # of claims | Avg cost per claim |
| % change,2013-2014 | 9.7% | -4.7% | 15.1% |
| % change,2003-2014 | 63.7% | -2.2% | 67.4% |
Source: Insurance Information Institute, State Farm.
Updated: Sept 15. 2023.