Dog Bite Claims... How Often Do They Really Happen?

What we know:

Dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2013, costing more than $483 million.

Please make sure your current policy covers your dogs, make sure your agent knows the breed of your dog, and if your dog breed is NOT insurable under your current policy, please shop for one that will cover your dog. Not all insurance companies cover any claims that result from a dog bite, no matter the breed. Some policies you can buy online are very poor & leave you exposed to lawsuits here. Be sure your dog breed isn't excluded by your policy.

Extra Info:

“The average cost per claim nationally has risen more than 45 percent in the last decade (2003-2013), 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,” said Loretta Worters, vice president with the Insurance Information Institute.

The study noted that California had the largest number of claims at 1,919 with an average cost per claim of $33,709. New York had the second highest number of claims at 965, but had the highest average cost per claim: $43,122.