Armstrong v. Conestoga Traction Co.
Armstrong v. Conestoga Traction Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The plaintiff recovered a verdict in the court below of $29.87, as damages for injuries sustained to Ms wagon, harness, etc., in a grade crossing accident in the City of Lancaster, the only assignment of error being the refusal of the court to affirm a point submitted by the defendant, that under the law and evidence the verdict of the jury should be for the defendant, and for refusing to enter judgment non obstante veredicto.
The accident happened at nine o’clock in the morning, when the plaintiff, who was driving his milk delivery wagon, crossed the tracks of the defendant company. In approaching the crossing there was an unobstructed view of 100 feet. The plaintiff testified that he stopped before entering upon the track, listened, did not hear any signal, and in crossing the wagon was struck with such force that it and the horse were dragged about thirty feet. The plaintiff’s witnesses corroborated him to a certain degree, but stated that when the horse and wagon were on
In this case, after observing the duty of stopping, looking and listening, the plaintiff entered upon the crossing at a walk, and was struck by the defendant’s car moving at a rate of 12 to 15 miles an hour, in a thickly settled part of one of our inland cities. Electric street railway companies have not the exclusive use of their tracks, but in their use their rights are superior to those of the traveling public, and their cars have the right-of-way. No one is warranted in assuming that if he first reaches the crossing he may go on, and that the full duty of care and
A jury would be warranted in finding that this plaintiff had fully complied with the legal requirements, and entered upon the tracks after stopping, looking and listening. He walked his team across the tracks. The time, place and circumstances are elements to be considered in determining whether he took a traveler’s chance in getting over or whether he exercised reasonable care under the circumstances. It was the duty of the motorman to have his car under proper control, and it was equally the duty of the plaintiff to not enter upon the tracks without exercising due care and having entered upon the crossing to proceed with due diligence. The subject-matter of the testimony of the witnesses was very important, yet, the manner in which the facts were evolved on the trial would rightly have a considerable weight in determining the credibility of the witnesses.
In our opinion it is a very close case, and it was submitted to the jury in a charge that is not alleged to be erroneous. After further consideration by the trial judge in review of the evidence the rule for judgment non obstante veredicto was discharged, and judgment entered upon the verdict.
We are not convinced that there is such reversible error as would warrant another trial of this case.
The judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.