Dog bite claims are rising across the insurance industry — and we're seeing it, too

Dog-related injury claims are climbing across the insurance industry. In 2025, U.S. insurers paid $1.862 billion in dog-related injury claims, up 18.6% from 2024. The number of claims rose to 28,450, a 25.6% increase in just one year and a 57% increase over the past decade.

That national trend is also showing up closer to home. Mutual Assurance has seen an increase in dog bite-related claims as well, mirroring this national trend.

While most dogs are beloved family companions, the financial and physical consequences of a bite can be serious. Triple-I reports that the average cost per claim in 2025 was $65,450. Even though that was down from 2024’s unusually high average, it still represents a 97% increase over the past decade, driven by higher medical costs and larger settlements and jury awards.

This matters because dog bites are not rare incidents. Triple-I says dog bites remain “a serious public health concern,” with more than 4.5 million bites reported each year in the United States. Children are especially vulnerable. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children are the most common victims and are more likely to suffer severe injuries, especially to the head and neck.

As Triple-I’s Janet Ruiz put it, “We’ve seen a 25 percent increase in dog bites in 2025, and yet, most dog bites are preventable. Children are especially vulnerable.” She added, “Prevention starts with understanding how dogs communicate and teaching children how to interact with them safely.” 

Why this matters for homeowners

Standard homeowners and renters policies typically provide liability coverage for dog-bite claims, often in the $100,000 to $300,000 range. But if a claim exceeds that limit, the pet owner may be responsible for the excess, including legal expenses. Triple-I also notes that once a dog has bitten someone, an insurer may charge a higher premium, exclude that dog from coverage, or, in some cases, decline renewal.

For many families, that creates a coverage gap they may not have considered. Triple-I notes that an umbrella policy may be worth considering because “a single lawsuit—even if won—can end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.” 

A few common examples of how these claims happen

Dog bite claims are not limited to severe attacks. They often arise from everyday situations involving familiar pets.

One common scenario is a delivery or service visit. In its 2025 dog bite awareness campaign, the U.S. Postal Service said dog attacks on postal employees rose to more than 6,000 cases in the prior year. One Pennsylvania letter carrier described a recent incident in which a dog pushed through a door and bit him on the wrist, requiring medical treatment.

Another common scenario involves children interacting with dogs they know well. The American Academy of Pediatrics says most bites involving young children happen during normal daily interactions and often involve the family dog or another familiar dog.

And some claims involve injuries beyond puncture wounds. Triple-I’s dog-claim data includes not only bites, but also other dog-related injuries such as fractures or blunt-force trauma, which means a claim can arise when a dog jumps on, knocks down, or otherwise injures someone.

Why the problem may be growing

There are simply a lot of dogs in American households. Triple-I, citing the American Pet Products Association’s 2024–2025 survey, says U.S. households own about 68 million dogs. Triple-I’s 2026 blog further summarizes that roughly 45% of homes include at least one dog, or about 90 million pet dogs nationwide.

More dogs does not automatically mean more bites, but it does mean more opportunities for preventable incidents, especially when children, visitors, contractors, delivery workers, and unfamiliar situations are involved.

Prevention still matters most

The encouraging part of this story is that experts consistently say many dog-bite injuries can be prevented. Triple-I and the National Dog Bite Prevention Week coalition recommend:

• supervising children around dogs at all times,

• socializing dogs gradually,

• learning signs that a dog is stressed or uncomfortable,

• keeping dogs leashed or securely separated from visitors and delivery workers,

• and making sure pets are healthy, because dogs in pain or distress may be more likely to bite.

For homeowners, the takeaway is simple: dog ownership comes with liability risk, and that risk is increasing across the industry. Reviewing your liability limits, understanding any pet-related restrictions in your policy, and taking practical steps to prevent injuries can help protect both your family and your finances.

---

Sources:

• Insurance Information Institute, Spotlight on: Dog bite liability.

• Triple-I Blog, Dog-Related Injury Claims on the Rise in 2025 (April 13, 2026).

• Insurance Information Institute press release, Triple-I/State Farm: US Dog-Related Injury Claim Payouts Hit $1.57 Billion in 2024 (April 16, 2025).

• Insurance Information Institute, Liability and safety tips for dog owners.

• U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Postal Service Releases Dog Bite National Rankings (May 29, 2025).

• American Academy of Pediatrics, Dog Bite Prevention Tips.