Updated: Wednesday, 16 May 2012, 12:24 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 16 May 2012, 12:01 PM EDT
State Farm Indiana paid $3.5 million for dog bit claims in 2011 for 139 claims. California topped the 2011 list with over 500 bites costing State Farm California over $20 million dollars.
Dog bites throughout the united states cost insurers a total of $479 million in 2011, about $60 million more than in 2010. In 2010 average claim was worth $26,166.
Many factors determine a dog's propensity to bite: heredity, training, socialization, health, victim's behavior. State Farm and the American Human Association recommend responsible behavior and caution around all dogs, including family pets as any dog may bite.
State Farm's Top 10 States for State Farm Dog Bite Claims in 2011
| State | Number of claims | Claims paid (estimated) |
| 1. California | 527 | $20.3 million |
| 2. Illinois | 309 | $10.0 million |
| 3. Texas | 219 | $5.1 million |
| 4. Ohio | 215 | $5.4 million |
| 5. Pennsylvania | 197 | $4.9 million |
| 6. Michigan | 181 | $7.0 million |
| 7. Florida | 157 | $5.1 million |
| 8. Indiana | 139 | $3.5 million |
| 9. New York | 133 | $6.1 million |
| 10. Minnesota | 117 | $3.5 million |
Almost five million people are attacked or bitten by dogs every year. Visit the American Humane Association for more information on dog bites and dog bite prevention.
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