Thorne v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co.
Thorne v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
According to the testimony adduced in support of plaintiff’s claim, the accident which resulted in her injuries occurred under the following circumstances. The plaintiff intending to take a southbound car, stood on the northwest corner of an intersecting street, at a public crossing which was a flagging point. While there some three or four southbound cars, with passengers occupying the front platform of each, passed without stopping. With a view to getting accomodation on the next car by approaching it at the rear, plaintiff moved northward along the pavement about the length of a car. When she saw a car coming which she thought was about to stop at the crossing, she advanced from the . pavement toward the track, intending to enter upon the car at the rear. While waiting for the car to stop she stood upon a pile of dirt a foot or more in height, and very close to the track. The car stopped, but not long enough to permit the plaintiff to board it; and when it again started plaintiff turned to get further from the track. As she did so the dirt pile on which she stood gave way and carried her foot on the track where it was run over by the wheel of the car. In making repairs and alterations to its track at this point the defendant com*
The appeal is from the refusal of the court to take off the nonsuit. The assignment of error is sustained, and the judgment is reversed with a venire facias de novó.
Reference
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- Thorne v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
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- Negligence — Street railway company — Intending passenger— Dirt piled■ beside trade — Contributory negligence — Question for Jury. ■ ■ - ■ 1. Wheré..the standard of care is fixed, and the standard of duty is defined by law and is the same under all circumstances the failure to observe it may be declared negligence by the court; but when the standard shifts with the circumstances, of the case, it must be submitted to the jury to determine what it is and whether it has been observed. 2. In an action against a street railway company to recover for personal injuries, the questions- of defendant’s negligence and plaintiff's contributory negligence are for the jury, where- it appears that in making alterations and repairs to its tracks the defendant company had excavated for a considerable distance along its line and cast the dirt in piles along the street, leaving no place cléar except at the crossing; that the plaintiff, intending to take a car arid having waited at the crossing while several cars with passengers standing on the front platform passed without stopping, proceeded up the street about a car length in the direction from which the car approached, and when she saw the car coming advanced toward the track to enter it at the rear and while waiting for it to stop stood upon a pile of dirt a foot or more in height and very close to the track; ■ that the car was of a pattern which invited passengers to enter at either end; that it stopped, but- not long enough for the plaintiff to board it, and when it started again plaintiff turned from the track and as she did so, the dirt pile on which she stood gave way and carried her foot to the track, where it was run over; it not appearing that the position the plaintiff occupied was too close to the tracks for safety under ordinary circumstances, nor apart from the accident itself that any particular danger attended the standing upon a pile or ridge of dirt such as this was.