WTF? Really, the cost of a dog bite is over $38,000?

According to StateFarm, California is number one — in dog bites.  The insurance company paid over $20 million in claims for 527 dog bites in California in 2011, averaging over $38,000 per claim.

According to the New York TImes, the nationwide average is a bit lower at $29,000 per claim.

I’m not belittling dog bites.  I’ve been bitten and it hurts and there is damage – but $38,519.92 per bite strikes me as a lot.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading!