Pildish v. Pittsburgh Railways Co.
Pildish v. Pittsburgh Railways Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
“A passenger who rides on a side step of a street car when it is reasonably practicable for him to go inside the car, assumes all the risks of his position and in all
In the case we are considering there was testimony to go to the jury showing that the car was crowded. “Awfully crowded, and no place to sit or stand inside the car,” the plaintiff testified. Although there was conflicting testimony as to this fact, the question whether there was available space inside the car was for the jury: Renney v. Webster Street Ry. Co., 50 Pa. Superior Ct. 579. The fact that plaintiff had given his seat to a lady and thus voluntarily taken a place of danger does not change the matter. The real question is whether all the passengers allowed upon the car could be accommodated inside the car, or whether some were compelled by necessity to stand on the running board. When such overcrowding is permitted the responsibility to all the passengers follows. The case of Paterson v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co., 218 Pa. 359, cited by appellant, as was pointed out by Brother Orlady in Renney v. Street Ry. Co., supra, does not change the rule.
The appellant contends that as the plaintiff knew of the existence of the poles and their nearness to the tracks, he should have guarded against the danger by avoiding it. The circumstances of the case are as fol
All the assignments of error are overruled and the judgment is affirmed.
Reference
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- Pildish v. Pittsburgh Railways Company
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- Negligence — Street railway companies — Passenger—Standing on running sideboard — Contributory negligence — Case for jury. Where a passenger on a summer street car by invitation of the conductor or with his knowledge and assent and from necessity because of the want of sitting or standing room inside the car, rides on the running sideboard of the car, he is entitled to the same degree of diligence to protect him from dangers which are known or may be readily guarded against as are other passengers. The fact that such a passenger has given his seat to a lady and voluntarily takes his place on the running board because there is no room within the car, does not change the rule. In such a case the question of the plaintiff’s contributory negligence is for the jury where there is evidence that the night was dark, that plaintiff had requested the conductor to stop at a certain street, that his request was disregarded, that after the car had passed the street, he turned again to apprise the conductor of his desire to alight, that in the act of turning around to attract the attention of the conductor, his head came in contact with a pole, and that the plaintiff’s knowledge of the situation of the pole was merely that which he had acquired in a casual way by having ridden upon the running board before.