Hyman v. St. Louis Transit Co.
Hyman v. St. Louis Transit Co.
Opinion of the Court
— While respondent was driving a wagon loaded with coal northward on Tenth street in the city of St. Louis, a trolley ear of the Transit Company ran into the, rear of the wagon, injuring him and the wagon. This action was brought for the consequent damages. The respondent had entered Tenth street at O’Fallon and turned north. Before making the turn he looked both ways, he says, and saw no car. Afterwards he proceeded toward Cass avenue on his route for two hundred feet or more, and without looking back' until the colliding car was nearly on him. Then he attempted to turn out of the track but was too late. He testified to hearing no bell or other- signal until almost the instant of the collision, when he heard' somebody shout a warning. Some witnesses in his be
Respondent’s counsel contends the seventh instruction for the appellant, which was the ground of the order for a new trial, is in conflict with the first instruction for the respondent, whose substance we have quoted. We see no conflict. A person threatened with harm by another’s carelessness must use ordinary care to avoid harm if he is aware of the danger, just as the other person must use care to keep from harming him. If Hyman knew of the approach of the car and that he was in danger, it was certainly his duty to make an ordinary effort to get out of the way. McGauley v. Transit Co., 79 S. W. 461; Moore v. Transit Co., 100 Mo. App. 665; Gettys v. Transit Co., 103 Mo. App. 564. This is an action for a negligent but not a willful act. If the latter element was in it, the defense of contributory negligence would be unavailable. We have examined the instructions given for both sides and in our judgment they fairly and intelligently presented the issues. The jury found a verdict for the Transit Company and must have believed Hyman was guilty of contributory negligence. There was plenty of evidence to prove he was.
The order granting a new trial is reversed and the cause remanded with the direction to set aside said order, reinstate the verdict and enter judgment for the Transit Company.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.