Dog-Related Injuries Cause $1.12 Billion in Liability Claims

Even landlords who love dogs might want to rethink the pet policy for their buildings.  According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) and State Farm, dog bites and other dog-related injuries cost $1.57 billion in liability claims in 2024. This figure represents a 40.6% increase over the $1.12 million paid in 2023 and an 18.9% increase in the number of claims, 22,658 vs. 19,062.

More than one-third of the dog-related injury claims were filed in five states. Once again, California leads the nation with 2,417 claims, followed by Florida (1,821).

In 2024, the average cost per claim increased 18.3%, from $58,545 to $69,272. Nationally, the average cost per claim has risen 86.1% from 2015 to 2024, due to higher medical costs and larger settlements, judgments and jury awards. New York has the highest average claim cost at $110,488—24.6% higher than the next highest state, Pennsylvania ($88,668).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the U.S. More than half of dog bite victims are children, who are far more likely to sustain severe injuries.

Dog-Related Injury Implications for Landlords

Liability concerns may convince some landlords to adopt either a no-pets policy or a very restrictive pet policy. Legal website Nolo says that it’s rare for a landlord to be found liable for injuries caused by a tenant’s dog. Simply renting to a tenant with a dog does not make the landlord legally responsible for the pet’s actions.

Generally speaking, landlord liability for dog-related injuries depends on one of the following conditions:

• • Failure to remove a dog that is known to be dangerous
• • Control over the dog, such as agreeing to pet-sit in the owner’s absence

To know that a dog poses a danger, the landlord must know that it previously threatened or injured someone. Knowing that a tenant chains a dog that barks when approached, for instance, does not necessarily transfer liability to a landlord. Under such circumstances, a New York court did not hold a landlord liable for an injury caused by a tenant’s dog.

Someone who cares for or otherwise exercises control over a dog often has the same liability as the legal owner. In other words, landlords should think twice about special requests concerning pets. (Take this suggestion in the same spirit as the one about not loaning equipment to contractors.)

Insuring NYC Landlords Since 1976

Stu Cohen and the City Building Owners Insurance team specialize in insuring brownstones, small apartment buildings, and mixed-use properties in New York City. Request a complimentary, no-obligation policy review to ensure you have the right landlord insurance for your unique situation. Our risk management experts can also recommend opportunities for you to qualify for better rates and coverage.

Whether you have a pet-free or pet-friendly policy, call our office at 877-576-5200 to make sure your commercial insurance policy has the right liability protection.