Michigan Ranks In Top 10 States For Dog Bite Claims -- Again

DETROIT (WWJ) - Michigan is once again among the top 10 states in the nations for dog bite injury claims.

The Great Lakes state ranked number six in the U.S. for the number of dog bites, with 162 claims in 2013 costing $3.9 million, according to research by State Farm. That's slightly up from 2012 when 151 dog bite claims were filed.

California topped the nation with 449 claims and almost $15 million dollars paid out, followed by Illinois, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.

Any dog can bite, regardless of the breed. Education about responsible pet ownership and how to interact properly with any dog is critically important when it comes to reducing dog bite incidents.

"The most effective way to prevent dog bites is not to ban certain breeds of dog, but to raise awareness of canine behavior through education, as well as encouraging responsible dog ownership," Victoria Stilwell, internationally renowned dog trainer, said in a statement.

In 2013, State Farm paid $104 million as a result of 3,700 dog bite claims. Over the past five years, the insurer has paid $510 million for claims resulting from accidents involving a dog. Many of these accidents could have been prevented.

Top 15 States for State Farm Dog Bite Claims in 2013

1. California -- 449 claims $14.7 million paid
2. Illinois -- 309 claims $8.9 million paid
3. Ohio -- 221 claims $4.2 million paid
4. Texas -- 207 claims $4.0 million paid
5. Pennsylvania -- 180 claims $5.8 million paid
6. Michigan -- 162 claims $3.9 million paid
7. New York -- 149 claims $6.4 million paid
8. Indiana -- 146 claims $3.5 million paid
9. Minnesota -- 120 claims $4.0 million paid
10. Georgia -- 106 claims $2.1 million paid
11. Arizona -- 105 claims $2.8 million paid
12. Florida -- 93 claims $5.5 million paid
13. Oregon -- 91 claims $1.4 million paid
14. Missouri -- 88 claims $2.0 million paid
15. New Jersey -- 86 claims $4.3 million paid