California Dog Bite Claims Led Nation in 2010

Los Angeles, CAThe amount of money dished out in California dog bite claims last year was the highest in the nation, exceeding $11 million, according to a recent report conducted by State Farm.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">The release from the company indicates that there were 369 dog bite claims in California in 2010, with seven of the incidents resulting in fatalities. Across the country, there was a total of nearly 3,500 claims that paid out more than $90 million last year.

The statistics, which were published ahead of National Dog Bite Prevention Week from May 15–21, showed that children make up more than 60 percent of all dog bite victims.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites each year, with the rate of related injuries highest in children between the ages of five and nine.

Last year, of the 33 dog bites that resulted in fatalities, 20 involved young children, according to the State Farm release.

Illinois, Ohio and Texas followed California in the amount of money paid to settle dog bite claims in 2010.