McLaughlin v. Pittsburgh Railways Co.
McLaughlin v. Pittsburgh Railways Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The plaintiff in this case was riding in a disabled automobile, which was being towed by means of a rope, behind an auto truck. The evidence as to just what occurred is somewhat conflicting, but it seems that while the driver of the auto truck was attempting to cross diagonally a street car track there was a collision between the automobile and a street car, and as a result the plaintiff was thrown forward from her seat, against the back of the seat in front of her, and as she alleges, received some injuries, for which, in this action, she seeks to recover damages. Upon the trial, the court below held, that under the evidence, the plaintiff was to be regarded as a gratuitous guest in the automobile, without any responsibility for the contributory negligence of the driver of the auto truck. Nor were the jury permitted to take into consideration any question as to plaintiff’s own contributory negligence. The only question left to the jury was as to the negligence of the defendant company. It is not clear from the evidence that the plaintiff was merely a guest. It seems that she employed her family physician, Dr. Jackson, to go with her to bring her mother, who was ill in Pittsburgh, back to
We are also of opinion that the question, whether plaintiff by her own negligence contributed in any way to the injury, should have been left to the jury. Was it in accordance with the dictates of common prudence for plaintiff to remain in a disabled automobile, while it was being towed by a rope through the traffic of a
The second, third and fourth assignments of error are sustained. The judgment is reversed, and a venire facias de novo is awarded.
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- McLaughlin v. Pittsburgh Railways Company
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- Negligence — Street railways — Automobile — Collision — Automobile towed by truch — Injury to occupant — Gratuitous guest— Contributory negligence — Case for jury. 1. Where the occupant of an automobile touring car which has been disabled and is being towed by an auto truck, is injured as a result of a collision between a street car and the touring car while the latter is being drawn diagonally across the tracks of the defendant street railway company, the question of plaintiff’s contributory negligence in remaining in the car while being so drawn through the traffic of a public highway is for the jury. 2. In such case where it appeared that the touring car in which plaintiff was riding had been hired by her family physician for the purpose of a hurried visit to plaintiff’s mother, who was seriously ill, and that at the time of the accident, which occurred on the return trip, the ear was occupied by the plaintiff, the physician and the physician’s daughter, the question of the extent of the control which any of the occupants of the car could or should have exercised over the driver of the auto truck is for the jury. If he was for the time being in their employ, and under their control, then they were chargeable with his negligence.