Christian v. Commercial Ice Co.
Christian v. Commercial Ice Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Mary B. Christian, aged over eighty years, was injured by a team of the defendant company, at the intersection of Thirteenth and Walnut streets in Philadelphia. The old lady was going east along the south side of Walnut street, and when at the west
When the street car stopped, Miss Christian stepped from the curb to cross Thirteenth street; passed on the crossing between the rear of the car and the wagon following it, and when in the ■act of passing from the car rails to the eastern side of Thirteenth street, was struck by the pole of the wagon and sustained injuries, which have been measured in a verdict of $728.
Miss Christian died from other causes prior to the trial, and plaintiff’s proof was adduced through a disinterested eye witness, who detailed the facts producing the injury, and after the accident expostulated with the driver for driving at such a rate of speed in a crowded part of the city as he had morning after morning been doing, and received in reply the driver’s idea of right and duty, “ that people had no business to go across when wagons were going across, that he had a perfect right to drive as he wished, and did not care for anybody at all.”
The driver was called by the defendant and testified that at the time of the accident, three covered wagons and a couple without covers followed the car; that he saw Miss Christian step down from the curb stone, but thought she intended to get on the car; that he was driving at a jog trot and didn’t stop, and “ saw her umbrella coming between the car and the covered wagon and halloed ‘look out there.’ I was about ten feet away .from the crossing, and the brake wasn’t such an extra good brake at the time, and I first put it down as far as I could. I stopped the team and knocked her down.”
Defendant submitted as points, “There is no eAddence of defendant’s negligence in this case, as ought reasonably to satisfy you thereof, and therefore I instruct you upon the whole case, your verdict should be for the defendant.” And “ Under all the evidence in the case the verdict must be for the defendant,” which were refused by the learned trial judge, and in the general charge the jury were told, “ By negligence is meant the failure to perform the duty which the occasion requires. Let me say to you, that there is a joint duty upon the driver of
The case was carefully tried, the facts properly submitted, and the law correctly stated to the jury.
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mary B. Christian, by Wm. C. Scott, of the last will and testament of said Mary B. Christian v. Commercial Ice Company
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Negligence — Streets—Reciprocal duties of pedestrians and vehicles. Pedestrians and drivers of vehicles are charged with reciprocal duties of vigilant care toward each other in the use of the city street and especially at the crossings. The degree of care demanded to exonerate from negligence in regard to a collision in a city street is that care which would be expected under the circumstances from a prudent and sensible person. Negligence— Question fo r jury. Where the evidence is conflicting as to the negligence of one or both parties to a collision in a city street the case is for the jury under proper instructions from the court.