E. R. Munro and Company is celebrating National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 15 – 21) by offering up some statistics on dog bites. The cost of dog bite claims for U.S. insurers climbed 16 percent last year on higher medical expenses and larger settlements to resolve court disputes.
The average claim increased to $37,214 in 2015 from $32,072 in 2014, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Dog bites account for more than one-third of homeowners liability claims. About 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year and almost a fifth of those incidents require medical attention.
Dog-related injuries cost the insurance industry $571.3 million, up from $530.8 million. The average cost per claim nationally has risen 94 percent since 2003.
