Motorcyclist dies after dog causes Summerfield Township crash
Lance Dusseau, 47, of Petersburg, died Sunday night after a loose dog ran into the path of two motorcycles.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the crash was reported at 9:18 p.m. Sept. 13 on Ida West Road, west of Summerfield Road, in Summerfield Township.
According to the preliminary investigation, Clayton Dusseau, 19, also of Petersburg, was riding west with Lance Dusseau when a dog entered the road from the south shoulder. The dog ran into the left saddlebag of Clayton Dusseau’s motorcycle and was knocked into the path of Lance Dusseau’s motorcycle.
The dog hit Dusseau who lost control, swerved off the road and hit a mailbox post. He fell from his motorcycle and came to rest on private property south of Ida West Road.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s office said he was not wearing a helmet.
Clayton Dusseau, who was wearing a helmet, brought his motorcycle to a controlled stop on the south shoulder. He was not injured.
The sheriff’s office said alcohol was not a factor. Summerfield Township firefighters, Monroe Community Ambulance and sheriff’s victim services personnel assisted at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information can call the sheriff’s Traffic Services Division at 734-240-7541. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Michigan or by calling 1-800-SPEAKUP.
Can a dog owner be responsible for a motorcycle crash?
Yes, if the owner’s failure to use reasonable care in controlling the dog causes the crash and resulting injuries.
Michigan’s leash law, MCL 287.262, prohibits owners from allowing dogs to stray unless properly held on a leash. A limited exception applies to working dogs accompanied by their owner or an authorized handler while actively performing the work for which they were trained.
A violation can support a negligence claim, but it does not automatically establish liability. The claim still requires proof connecting the owner’s conduct to the crash and injuries.
Does no-fault insurance cover a motorcycle crash involving a dog?
No, if the crash involves only motorcycles and an animal, without a qualifying motor vehicle. Michigan law excludes motorcycles from the definition of a motor vehicle under MCL 500.3101.
An injured motorcycle operator may instead need to seek medical benefits through health insurance or medical coverage purchased with the motorcycle policy. Those benefits are separate from a negligence claim against someone responsible for the crash.
Michigan Legal Center’s explanation of Michigan motorcycle accident claims and no-fault benefits describes why the vehicles involved matter when identifying possible insurance coverage.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles motorcycle accident and wrongful death claims.
If you were injured or lost a family member in a motorcycle crash involving a loose dog, Contact Michigan Legal Center to ask about possible claims and insurance coverage.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.