California is No. 1 – in dog bite claims filed last year.
This dubious honor was announced by State Farm just in time for National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which is May 20 through 26.
“It’s not the breed, it’s the bite” is one of the reasons State Farm recognizes this week, according to a news release.
“A dog’s tendency to bite depends on such factors as heredity, obedience training, socialization, health and the victim’s behavior,” the company stated.
“There are good dogs and bad dogs within every breed, just as there can be responsible and irresponsible owners of each breed. State Farm does not refuse insurance based on the breed of dog a customer owns in any U.S. state.”
More than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year. Nationally, State Farm paid more than $109 million in 2011 for nearly 3,800 dog bite claims. According to Insurance Information Institute (III) estimates, U.S. insurance companies paid nearly $479 million in dog bite claims last year.
These states made State Farm’s top 10 for dog bite claims in 2011:
1. California – 527 claims; $20.3 million in payments
2. Illinois – 309 claims; $10 million
3. Texas – 219 claims; $5.1 million
4. Ohio – 215 claims; $5.4 million
5. Pennsylvania – 197 claims; $4.9 million
6. Michigan – 181 claims; $7 million
7. Florida – 157 claims; $5.1 million
8. Indiana – 139 claims; $3.5 million
9. New York – 133 claims; $6.1 million
10. Minnesota – 117 claims; $3.5 million
PHOTO: david_shankbone