Witmer v. Bessemer & Lake Erie R. R.
Witmer v. Bessemer & Lake Erie R. R.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The single question for decision here is whether appellee should be declared guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. There is positive testimony that the driver stopped, looked and listened at the proper place before attempting the crossing and that the approaching train was not then in view. The fact that the driver did not stop his motor car at the customary place before proceeding to cross the tracks of appellant company is not seriously controverted. But even if this were a controverted question in the case under the evidence it was for the jury to determine the fact. This question was submitted to the jury, as was every other question of fact in the case, by the learned trial judge in a charge which impartially explained the respective contentions of the parties and the rules of law applicable to the facts. There can be no just criticism of the manner in which the trial judge submitted the case to the jury. It is argued for appellant that even if the driver of the motor car did stop at a proper place before proceeding to cross the railroad tracks at grade, he was not relieved from the duty of exercising due care after being committed to the crossing, and if during the time his car was on the tracks of the railroad company he saw the approaching train and could have avoided the collision by stopping his car until the train passed, it was his duty to do so, and failure to perform this duty was contributory negligence which would bar a recovery in the case. This may all be conceded but the question still remains what tribunal shall determine whether there was negligence by reason of failure to perform the duty suggested under all the circumstances of the case. It is only in clear cases where the facts are
It is also urged for appellant that the learned court below erred in instructing the jury in the assessment of damages to allow a sum not exceeding six per centum per annum for delay in payment. This was error, as has been pointed out in a recent case by our Brother
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Witmer v. Bessemer & Lake Erie R. R. Co.
- Cited By
- 15 cases
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- Published
- Syllabus
- Negligence — Contributory negligence — Automobile—Grade crossing — Damages for delay — Substantial error. 1. There is no imperative duty requiring the driver of a motor car to stop on the tracks of a railroad company, after being committed to the crossing, because there might be more danger in stopping than in going ahead. It is his duty to use due care and to proceed cautiously, even after being committed to the crossing, but there is no imperative duty either to stop or to go ahead. 2. In an action to recover damages for personal injuries occasioned by a collision at a grade crossing of defendant’s train with an automobile, in which plaintiff was riding, it appeared that the automobile was stopped at a proper place before attempting the crossing, that plaintiff and the driver of the car who was under plaintiff’s direction looked and listened, and an approaching train was not then in view, that the automobile then started across the tracks, of which there were two at that point, and was struck. Held, the question of the contributory negligence of the driver of the car was for the jury. 3. In the trial of a negligence case to recover damages for personal injuries, it is error for the court to instruct the jury that in the assessment of damages they may allow a sum not exceeding six per centum per annum for delay in payment. Where, however, the court, conceding its error on a rule for a new trial, reduced the judgment to an amount thought to be sufficient to correct the error, the judgment will be affirmed, where no assignment of error correctly raises the question.