Bad doggie

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) U.S. insurers’ costs tied to dog bites surged last year to a record as the price of the average claim jumped 12 percent on higher medical fees, legal settlements and jury awards.

Bites cost the industry $478.9 million last year, compared with $412.6 million in 2010, the Insurance Information Institute said in a statement today on its website. The average claim increased to $29,396.

“The most dangerous dogs are those that fall victim to human shortcomings such as poor training, irresponsible ownership and breeding practices that foster viciousness,” according to the statement.

The attacks account for more than one-third of all liability payouts from home insurers, an industry led by policyholder-owned State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. and Allstate Corp. (ALL) A lawsuit can cost more than $100,000 in legal fees and lost wages, even if the homeowner wins, according to the institute, which says dog owners can limit confrontations by spaying or neutering the animals and keeping them from infants. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-17/dog-bite-costs-surge-to-479-million-as-claims-increase.html

[HopeHoops]

1. He's got clean teeth!

[Motown_Johnny]

2. I was bitten last year, in the heat of the summer

on one of the hottest days of the year.

I would love to see this data broken down by the month and see if the extreme heat most of the country experienced last year might have contributed to the problem.

No I didn't file a law suit. It barely broke the skin. The bite had to go through my jeans and it was mostly just bruising.

[Submariner]

3. Try to get a non-flesh biting doggie to ease the pain