About 68 million U.S. households own dogs, according to the American Pet Products Association’s 2024-2025 Pet Owners Survey. The American Veterinary Medical Association states there are nearly 90 million dogs living in U.S. households. About 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, most of them children.
Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability legal expenses, up to the liability limits (typically $100,000 to $300,000). If the claim exceeds the limit, the dog owner is responsible for all damages above that amount.
Dog Bite Liability and Homeowners Insurance
Some insurance companies will not insure homeowners who own certain breeds of dogs categorized as dangerous, such as pit bulls. Others decide on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether an individual dog, regardless of its breed, has been deemed vicious. Some insurers do not ask the breed of a dog owned when writing or renewing homeowners insurance and do not track the breed of dogs involved in dog bite incidents.
However, once a dog has bitten someone, it poses an increased risk. In that instance, the insurance company may charge a higher premium, nonrenew the homeowner’s insurance policy, or exclude the dog from coverage.
Some insurers are taking steps to limit their exposure to such losses. Some companies require dog owners to sign liability waivers for dog bites, while others charge more for owners of breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers, and others are not offering insurance to dog owners at all.
Some will cover a pet if the owner takes the dog to classes aimed at modifying its behavior or if the dog is restrained with a muzzle, chain, or cage.
Homeowners Insurance Liability Claims
Liability claims related to dog bites and other dog-related injuries cost homeowners insurers $1,862 million in 2025, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and State Farm®. The number of dog bite claims nationwide increased in 2025 to 28,450 from 22,658 in 2024 — a 25.6 percent increase, according to an analysis of homeowners insurance claims data by the Triple-I. The average cost per claim decreased 5.5 percent in 2025 to $65,450 from $69,272 in 2024.
The average cost per claim nationally has risen 97.0 percent from 2016 to 2025, due to increased medical costs as well as the size of settlements, judgments, and jury awards given to plaintiffs, which are trending upwards.
By state, California continues to have the largest number of claims in the United States, at 2,830 in 2025, up from 2,417 in 2024. The state with the second highest number of claims was Florida with 2,347. New York had the highest average cost per claim at $92,154, followed by Connecticut with an average cost of $87,751.