Dog bite cases jumped over ten percent in 2007, according to a study by the Insurance Information Institute (III). The organization estimates that insurance companies now pay over $356 million per year on dog bite claims and litigation – a figure that legal experts say is likely to result in more denied claims.

Skyrocketing costs The major reason for the skyrocketing costs of dog bite cases seems to be the general increase of medical costs. The III (www.iii.org/) reports that the average cost of a dog bite claim is approximately $24,500 and that many dog bite cases can cost dog owners hundreds of thousands of dollars to resolve. While homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may cover you, legal experts say that trying to get your insurance company to actually pay those costs can be an ordeal in and of itself.

Does insurance cover dog bits?

Maybe. While homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies may cover the bite, more and more insurance companies are excluding dog bites from their policies. According to Steve Recordon, a California attorney with nearly 30 years of experience whose practice represents individuals who have been injured by dog bites, “Homeowners’ insurance or renters’ insurance may cover a victim’s damages if the dog owner has insurance. However, the trend by insurance companies is to exclude coverage in certain types of cases. For example, if the homeowner’s or renter’s dog had a previous bite, what you’ll find is that the insurance carriers are going to exclude that dog on the policy.”

How many people get bit each year?

The answer to that question might surprise you. Approximately 4.5 million people are bitten each year – many of whom are children that must seek medical attention for their injuries. Recordon says, “Children tend to suffer the most injuries and, actually, children under the age of 10 are the most susceptible. That’s probably because at these tender ages, they haven’t learned to be afraid of dogs yet and they’re running up to the dogs, grabbing them by the ears, grabbing them by the tail and they’re the ones that end up being bitten most often.”

Who’s responsible?

The question of liability in a dog bite case may depend upon where you live. Recordon explained, “California, and more than half the states in the U.S., follows a strict liability statute that means if your dog bites somebody, you’re responsible. Then you have the other states that don’t follow the strict liability statutes. Those states will allow one bite, or the ‘first’ bite, before the dog owner is responsible for the injuries.”

If you’ve been bitten by a dog, contact a lawyer whose practice focuses in this area of the law. Most work on a contingency fee basis – which means that you don’t pay anything until the lawyer has recovered for you. Consultations are free, without obligation and strictly confidential. To contact an experienced dog bite lawyer, please click here. We may be able to help.