As reported in the June 2017 issue of the Illinois Bar Journal, Dog bite claims are on the rise nationwide, and especially in Illinois. Illinois is second in the nation in dog-related claims in 2016. Only California is ahead of Illinois. I guess you could say that at least Illinois leads the nation in something! The average cost of a dog bite in Illinois is $43,343, and the largest dog bite verdict so far in 2017 is $940,000. So, if you have a dog, you better have good insurance because you could lose your home, and then you will be living with Fido in his dog house.