Hooper v. United Traction Co.
Hooper v. United Traction Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The action in the court below was a joint one, instituted by father and son against the defendant for injuries to the son, a child of five years of age, caused by an accident alleged to be the result of the defendant’s negligence. The case was submitted without oral argument. This is usually undesirable but, because of it, we have given the more earnest heed to the testimony and the printed arguments of appellant and appellee. The case is well presented on both sides and we have little difficulty in reaching a conclusion. The defendant asked for binding instructions and the refusal to grant the request is the only error assigned.
The question of contributory negligence is not raised and the case turns exclusively upon the question of the negligence of the defendant. Was there evidence of such negligence to go to the jury? Was the speed of the car unusual and unreasonable ? Was the motorman alert and attentive to his duties ? Was the car under proper control? These were the questions as to which there was contradictory testimony. The speed at which motor cars are permitted to run within the city of McKeesport is eight miles per hour. The motorman knew this and .testifies that he was running at that rate. One of the witnesses for the plaintiffs, however, testified : “ I would say the car was running I suppose from 15 to 18 miles an hour.” This
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
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- Hooper v. United Traction Company
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- Syllabus
- Negligence — Street railways — Speed of car — Infant. In an action by a child five years old against a street railway company to recover damages for personal injuries where the question of defendant’s negligence turns upon the speed of the car, the case is for the jury, and a verdict and judgment for plaintiff will be sustained where the motorman testifies that the car was running at the rate of eight miles per hour, which was the legal rate in the city where the accident occurred, but a witness for plaintiff testifies that he supposed the car was running from fifteen to eighteen miles an hour, and it also appears that the car ran upon an up grade from eighty-five to 150 feet after the child was discovered.