Dog Bite Injury Lawsuits Cost Are on the Rise
According to a recent report based on insurance claims data, dog bite injury costs reached nearly $479 million in 2011, accounting for roughly one-third of all homeowner insurance liability claims paid out.
The report was published last week by the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), coming as National Dog Bite Prevent Week kicks off this week to raise awareness about the risk of dog attacks and promote safety tips that should be followed to reduce the risk of injury.
The I.I.I. found that State Farm, which is the largest homeowner insurance company in the United States, paid more than $109 million to resolve about 3,800 dog bite injury lawsuits or claims in 2011. The average cost paid out for dog bite claims rose 12.3% from 2010, when the average claim was $26,166.
Not only were the costs on the rise, but so were the total number of dog bite claims, with 16,292 injury claims presented in 2011, compared to 15,770 in 2010. However, since 2003, the total number of dog bite claims for the year dropped about 4%.
The study only looked at the costs associated with dog bite injuries for which insurance coverage was available and a claim was made. Unfortunately, in many cases, injuries occur within the home or as a result of an animal for which there is no available insurance coverage or assets to pay compensation.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Veterinary Medical Association, more than 4.7 million Americans are the victims of dog attacks every year and half of those are victims under the age of 14. The two groups have teamed up with the U.S. Postal Service to provide a number of preventative tips that could help parents protect their children from being bitten by a dog.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has an online brochure available on dog bite prevention. The groups give the following advice:
- Pick a breed of dog that is a good match for your home. Collies and Labrador retrievers are examples of breeds of dog that are considered generally safe around children. Consult your veterinarian for advice on choosing a breed of dog.
- Gradually socialize your pet to a variety of people and other animals so that it is comfortable in different situations.
- Train your dog to respond to commands and establish a trusting and obedient relationship between owner and pet. Avoid playing aggressive games with your dog like “tug’o’war.”
- Get your dog vaccinated against rabies and other disease.
- Get your dog neutered.
- Never leave your dog alone with a baby or small child.
- Teach your child to see if the owner of a strange dog is nearby and whether it looks friendly. Then ask the owner’s permission before attempting to pet the dog. Teach your child to let the dog sniff their hand before trying to pet the dog gently.
- Teach your child not bother a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
- Teach your child not to run past a dog.
- If a dog threatens you, remain calm, avoid eye contact and stand still until the dog leaves, or back away slowly. If the dog attacks and you are knocked down, curl into a ball protecting your face with your hands.
- Clean any small dog bites with soap and water. Seek medical attention for larger wounds and contact the dog’s veterinarian for its vaccination records.
DOG BITE INJURY LAWYERS
The personal injury lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk represent individuals who have suffered a dog bite injury that was caused the failure to adequately restrain or contain the an animal with a tendency to bite. To determine if you, a friend or family member may be entitled to financial compensation through a dog bite injury lawsuit, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
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