Atlantic Coast Line Railroad v. Marshall
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad v. Marshall
Opinion of the Court
The court did not err in overruling the general
The court erred in denying the motion for a new trial on the general grounds, because the evidence did not authorize a finding that the defendant was negligent in any particular which contributed to the plaintiff’s injuries. The mere act of stopping railroad cars on a crossing for such a length of time as might be reasonably necessary in the conduct of the railroad’s business would not constitute negligence on the part of the defendants. Other facts must be shown, to place on a railroad and its employees the duty to give the traveling public warnings of the presence of the train on the crossing, in addition to. that which is given by the train itself. Mann v. Central of Ga. Ry. Co., 43 Ga. App. 708 (160 S. E. 131); Gay v. Smith, 51 Ga. App. 615 (181 S. E. 129). In this case the only other fact relied on to impose the additional duty on the part of the defendants was the presence of fog, smoke, and extreme darkness in the atmosphere. It is conceded by the defendant in error, and correctly so, that the factor of fog and smoke is necessary to establish liability in this case, and the decisions are clear and numerous on this question. Georgia Northern R. Co. v. Stains, supra, and cases cited. See also Brinson v. Davis, 32 Ga. App. 37 (122 S. E. 643). Georgia law requires headlights on motor vehicles operated on the public streets or highways which will illuminate 500 feet. Code (Ann. Supp.) § 68-316. In order to establish liability in this case, it was necessary for the plaintiff to prove by competent testimony that the fog and smoke impaired the driver’s visibility to such an extent that he did not have clear vision for 500 feet, otherwise the fog or smoke would not have been a material factor. The evidence in this case failed to
The court deems it unnecessary to pass on the special grounds.
The court erred in denying the motion for a new trial on the general grounds.
Judgment on demurrer affirmed; judgment on the motion for a new trial reversed.
070rehearing
On Rehearing.
The very vigorous motion for a rehearing challenges the court’s original conclusion and complains of its failure to set forth the evidence in more detail. Another point urged is that the court overlooked the law to the effect that the failure of a driver to be able to stop within the range of his vision is not as a matter of law such negligence as to bar a recovery by him, which would mean that the driver’s negligence in so acting was in law the sole proximate cause of the driver’s injuries, or the injuries of the guests of the driver. We did not overlook this rule of law. Before we ever get to the application of the doctrine of comparative negligence, the question whether any actionable negligence of the defendant has been shown has to be disposed of. In this case we concluded that no actionable negligence was shown, and it was not necessary to consider comparative negligence. We did not think it necessary to quote more in detail from the evidence. The entire evidence shows that the case was not tried on the theory that the driver of the automobile could not see the box car at a distance of 500 feet or less because of the existence of the condition of the atmosphere or for any other reason. We have carefully and thoroughly reviewed the evidence, and to avoid being accused of dodging the issue we shall discuss it in detail.
Movant contends that the evidence authorizes the finding that Clements, the driver of the vehicle in which the plaintiff was riding, turned on his bright lights when he was more than 500 feet from the crossing. This contention is based on the testimony of Straight, one of the defendants’ witnesses, the driver of the vehicle which Clements passed. Straight testified that Clements passed him and was 200 feet in front of him when.he saw Clements’ brake lights come on. Clements testified that as he started to pass the Straight car, and when he got where his bright lights would not blind Straight, he put on his bright lights, and that, when he turned on his bright lights, he saw something
The jury was not authorized to find that Clements could not have seen the box car at a distance of 500 feet or less by reason of the fact that, when Clements was passing the Straight car, he had the benefit of Straight’s bright lights. Straight testified that he did not remember whether he had his bright lights on. In view of this fact, as well as others, this court will not presume or say that the jury could infer that Straight’s bright lights were on. If we presumed under such circumstances that all were obeying the law, the defendant would be automatically exonerated. Besides, Clements did not testify that he could not see the train for 500 feet or less because of the fog, haze, etc. He merely stated that he did not see it until 130 feet away. His attention may have been directed toward passing the car in front and not on the road ahead.
The testimony of Eldridge A. Shaw did not warrant the inference that he could not have seen the train for 500 feet or less- by reason of the condition of the atmosphere. He testified: “Well, the atmosphere was more' or less hazy. Well, it was more or less dark and foggy or smoky-looking in the open field to the
Neither did the testimony of Barney J. Akridge authorize a finding that the driver of a car could not have seen the train for 500 feet or less by reason of the condition of the atmosphere. He testified: “It was a dark night and foggy and smoky. As to whether it was smoke or fog I observed there, well, it was more or less smoky and foggy. It was all about the Mock Road there. As to what about up and down the road, was there any haze there, yes, sir, it was practically the same up and down the road. I would say I was approximately a 150 feet, just guessing, from the crossing before I could see it. I was sitting in the back seat and Mr. Dunn and his wife were in the front seat. I don’t think I would be able to see as well as Mr. Dunn on that occasion. This smoke I have talked about, I don’t know where it came from. I don’t know whether it was coming from these
Neither did the testimony of Paul F. Dunn authorize a finding that he, while driving a car that night, could not see the train at a distance of 500 feet or less because of 'the condition of the atmosphere. He testified: “The atmosphere seemed to be hazy in the vicinity of the train. As to the condition of the weather, it was dark, I think it was about eight o’clock at night. I- was driving the car. I was, oh, roughly, 60 yards from the train before I could detect it.” To put such a construction on his testimony, would be to put a construction on it that he obviously did not intend'. Not all foggy conditions make it impossible to see 500 feet ahead on a dark night.
L. E. Cannon’s testimony did not authorize such an inference as next above mentioned. He did not purport to give testimony on whether he could or could not see the train at a distance of 500 feet or less with his bright lights on by reason of the fog. He parked his car quite a distance from the crossing and walked to the crossing. His testimony involved only the distance, 150 to 200 feet, from which he could detect the crossing while walking toward it. .
The same (as next above) can be said of the testimony of George Mock. He testified: “I don’t recall how far away from it I was before I could see it; I would imagine I was within a hundred feet of it before I could tell what the situation was. On this night when I walked down there I don’t think there was any smoke or fog in the air to hinder my visibility.” Even if we omit the last sentence of this testimony, what Mr. Mock stated in the second sentence is a far cry from saying that he could not see the train for over 100 feet. It is entirely too indefinite to-base a conclusion on it which would affect legal rights. This witness was also walking and had no intention of stating his ability to see from his automobile with bright lights burning.
The mere fact that the elevation at the crossing is 8 feet higher than it is 300 feet away would not in and of itself place a duty on the railroad to give warning, etc., that a train was on the crossing.
Judgment of reversal adhered to on.rehearing.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY Et Al. v. MARSHALL
- Cited By
- 17 cases
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- Published