(CBS NEWS) Florida is once again among the top 15 states in the nation for dog bite injury claims.

Florida ranked 12th on the list in the U.S. for the number of dog bites with 93 claims in 2013 costing $5.5 million, according to a new report released by State Farm.

In the same week that a video went viral showing a hero cat saving a little boy from a random dog attack, research revealed the cost of dog bite claims has risen 45 percent in the last decade.

Additionally, the Associated Press reported last week that about 4.5 million Americans were bitten by dogs in the United States last year, including over 2 million children and 5,581 U.S. Postal Service workers, authorities announced Thursday in an effort to promote dog-bite prevention.

According to a report released by State Farm and the Insurance Information Institute, last year, dog bite liabilities in the U.S. cost insurers $483 million.

Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute, told the L.A. Times, the liability to insurers has gone up due to “increased medical costs as well as the size of settlements, judgments and jury awards given to plaintiffs, which are still on the upswing.”

Any dog can bite, regardless of the breed. Education about responsible pet ownership and how to interact properly with any dog is critically important when it comes to reducing dog bite incidents.

“The most effective way to prevent dog bites is not to ban certain breeds of dog, but to raise awareness of canine behavior through education, as well as encouraging responsible dog ownership,” Victoria Stilwell, internationally renowned dog trainer, told CBS Detroit.

In 2013, State Farm alone paid $104 million as a result of 3,700 dog bite claims. Over the past five years, the insurer has paid $510 million for claims resulting from accidents involving a dog. Many of these accidents could have been prevented.

Top 15 States for State Farm Dog Bite Claims in 2013

1. California — 449 claims $14.7 million paid
2. Illinois — 309 claims $8.9 million paid
3. Ohio — 221 claims $4.2 million paid
4. Texas — 207 claims $4.0 million paid
5. Pennsylvania – 180 claims $5.8 million paid
6. Michigan — 162 claims $3.9 million paid
7. New York – 149 claims $6.4 million paid
8. Indiana — 146 claims $3.5 million paid
9. Minnesota – 120 claims $4.0 million paid
10. Georgia — 106 claims $2.1 million paid
11. Arizona — 105 claims $2.8 million paid
12. Florida — 93 claims $5.5 million paid
13. Oregon — 91 claims $1.4 million paid
14. Missouri — 88 claims $2.0 million paid
15. New Jersey — 86 claims $4.3 million paid

Florida listed in top states for dog bite claims