What’s the Average Michigan Dog Bite Jury Verdict Trend Over the Past 5 Years?

Dog bite settlement and verdict values have risen substantially in Michigan and nationwide over the past decade.

The Short Answer

Michigan dog bite verdicts have trended upward in line with national averages — the Insurance Information Institute reports the average U.S. dog bite claim payout reached $65,450 in 2025, up 97% over the past decade. Michigan verdicts typically run somewhat above the national average due to MCL 287.351’s plaintiff-friendly structure. Cases involving facial injuries, child victims, infections, or psychological trauma routinely exceed $100,000-500,000 in Michigan.

Video coming soon — Solomon Radner answers this question

The Detailed Answer

Tracking dog bite verdict trends is more art than science — most cases settle confidentially, and only a small percentage actually reach jury verdicts. But the data we have shows clear upward movement.

National data (Insurance Information Institute, 2025)

The most reliable national data comes from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) annual reports:

$1.86 billion — total U.S. dog bite claim payouts in 2025
28,450 — total claims filed in 2025
$65,450 — average cost per claim in 2025
+18.6% — increase in total payouts from 2024 to 2025
+97% — increase in average cost per claim over the past decade
+57% — increase in claims volume over the past decade

These are national averages spanning all states — including “one-bite” states where victim recovery is harder. Michigan victims typically recover above these averages.

Michigan-specific trends

Michigan verdicts and settlements track national trends with some specific characteristics:

Settlement values are typically 20-30% higher than the national average due to MCL 287.351’s strict liability framework
Wayne County (Detroit) verdicts run higher than suburban counties
Cases involving children have seen particularly strong verdict growth
Facial scarring cases consistently produce six-figure outcomes
PTSD and emotional trauma damages are increasingly recognized and compensated

What’s driving the increase

Multiple factors contribute to rising verdicts and settlements:

Medical cost inflation — emergency care, reconstructive surgery, and follow-up costs have all risen
Growing recognition of psychological injury — PTSD damages were rarely awarded a decade ago; now routine
Better documentation of long-term effects — scarring revisions, ongoing care
Delivery and gig economy worker bites — high-value cases that barely existed 10 years ago
Larger jury awards generally — “nuclear verdicts” trend affects all personal injury

What this means for case valuation

Rising trend values matter when projecting your case. Settlement offers based on 2020 or 2021 averages are below current market values. We use current data to value cases — and to counter insurance company offers based on outdated benchmarks.

For more on case valuation, see our Michigan dog bite settlement value page.

What This Means for Your Case

Don’t accept settlement offers based on what cases were worth years ago. The market has moved substantially. A reasonable settlement in 2020 might be a significant under-payment in 2026. Use current data when evaluating offers — and engage an attorney who tracks current verdict trends.

Bitten by a dog in Michigan? Call 1-800-LAWSUIT or request a free case review. No fee unless we win.