A recent Hartford Courant article reports that while the number of dog-bite insurance claims decreased nationally by 1.4% from 2011 to 2012, the costs of settling dog-bite claims increased by 1.2%, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Dog bites account for one-third of all dollars paid by insurers for homeowner liability claims. The average cost of a dog-bite claim was $29,752 in 2012 compared to $29,396 the year before. The Insurance Information Institute attributes this increase to higher medical costs for the injured person, as well as larger settlements, judgments, and jury awards to plaintiffs.
