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Jackson, MS (April 17, 2017) — The state of Mississippi has a low ranking in one area but this time it’s a positive place to be. According to State Farm® claims data the company paid fewer dog bite claims in Mississippi in 2016 than in most states. State Farm ranks Mississippi at 36th in the nation with $796,545 paid on 20 dog bite claims across the state. The state of California topped the nation at number 1 with $16.8 million dollars paid on 433 dog bite claims.
State Farm paid over $121 million as a result of 3,660 dog bite claims across the nation in 2016, an increase of 15 percent.
“State Farm does not exclude homeowners or renters insurance coverage because of the breed of dog owned,” says State Farm spokesman Roszell Gadson. “Under the right circumstances, any dog might bite, regardless of breed.” Homeowners should talk to their insurance agent about coverage under a standard homeowners policy. A personal liability umbrella policy (PLUP) provides extra coverage for homeowners.
State Farm recommends the following tips to keep people safe from dog bites.
1 Learn canine body language. Too often people misunderstand or miss signals that a dog is uncomfortable. For example, a dog that yawns might not necessarily be tired. Yawning can also be a sign of stress.
2 Give dogs space. Dogs can feel threatened when strange people touch them, so take pressure off by giving them the choice to come into your space first to say hello.
3 Be humane. Dogs that are raised and trained humanely are more confident and less likely to bite than dogs that are trained using punitive methods or equipment designed to intimidate and cause pain.
About State Farm®
The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its nearly 19,000 agents and nearly 70,000 employees serve more than 84 million policies and accounts – more than 81 million auto, fire, life, health and commercial policies, and more than 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 35 on the 2016 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit https://www.statefarm.com.
