Dog Bite Stats & Figures

We all love our dogs. However, dogs can cause serious injuries or even death when they are not properly cared for or supervised. As attorney Brian Salvi pointed out in a WGN radio interview when discussing dog bite claims in Illinois, “At the end of the day, they are animals with instincts. Sometimes those instincts take over, and they hurt people.”

Here, our dog bite lawyers share the latest dog bite statistics and information you need to know to file a dog bite injury claim. If you or a loved one was injured from a dog bite, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Overview of Dog Bite Statistics

Dog bites can lead to serious injury and even death. The following dog bite statistics reveal just how dangerous dog bites can be:

National Dog Bite Facts

  • More than 4.5 million dog bites occur each year (NCBI)
  • 885,000 dog bites every year require medical attention (NCBI)
  • 316,000 dog bites every year result in visits to the emergency room (NCBI) 
  • Dog bites are the 13th most common reason for emergency room visits for all people in the United States and 2nd for children (NCBI)
  • The face is the most common place to be bitten by a dog (NCBI)
  • More than 28,000 dog bites every year require reconstructive surgery (American Society of Plastic Surgeons)
  • Most dog bites occur to children ages 5-9 (American Veterinary Medical Association)
  • Insurers spend about $853 million in dog bite claims in America each year (State Farm and Insurance Information Institute)
  • State Farm paid $157 million for 3,185 dog bite and injury claims in one recent year (State Farm and Insurance Information Institute)
  • 16,991 homeowner insurance policy claims were made for dog bites for the most recent year (State Farm and Insurance Information Institute)

Illinois Dog Bite Facts

  • Illinois has the second-highest number of dog bites in the country and the highest dog bite payouts in the nation (Chicago Tribune)
  • State Farm resolved 337 claims worth $9 million in one recent year for dog bite claims (Chicago Tribune)

Chicago ranks third for cities where the most postal workers have been attacked by dogs (United States Postal Service)