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 a year earlier, according to the Insurance Information Institute, an industry group.
About 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and almost a fifth of those incidents require medical attention, according to the institute, which cited U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
“Most people don’t make a claim,” said Kenneth M. Phillips, an attorney who represents victims of dog bites. “The reasons are pretty obvious: They might have been bitten by their own dog, or a family member’s or friend’s dog.”
The number of claims fell 7.2 percent last year to 15,352. But the average cost per claim nationally has risen 94 percent since 2003.
National Dog Bite Prevention Week is May 15 -May 21.
— Bloomberg
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