G. C. BENSON v. A. T. LARSON

Minnesota Supreme Court1916-06-23No. Nos. 19,838—(180)

133 Minn. 346

Summary · law.co

Holding. The appellate court affirmed the judgment for the defendant, finding no error in the jury's verdict on the negligence question or in the trial court's instructions regarding the motor vehicle statute.

A pedestrian was struck by an automobile while crossing a street diagonally near an intersection in Minneapolis. The defendant driver had swerved left to avoid a water wagon that was spraying in the roadway. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant, and the plaintiff appealed, arguing that the evidence demonstrated the defendant's negligence. The appellate court examined the evidence and concluded that while a verdict favoring the plaintiff might have been possible, the question of negligence was fundamentally one for the jury to decide based on the facts presented, and therefore the jury's verdict could not be overturned.

The plaintiff also argued that the defendant violated a state motor vehicle statute requiring drivers to slow down and signal when approaching pedestrians on the traveled portion of a highway. The court acknowledged that violation of such a statute can create liability independent of general negligence principles, but found no error in the trial court's instructions to the jury. The court determined that whether the statute even applied depended on the jury's view of the evidence—specifically, whether the plaintiff had suddenly appeared in front of the vehicle leaving the driver no reasonable opportunity to avoid the collision despite exercising due care.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

Whether evidence of an automobile-pedestrian collision demonstrates negligence as a matter of law or presents a factual question for the jury
Application of a motor vehicle statute requiring drivers to signal and slow when approaching pedestrians on traveled portions of highways
Whether sudden appearance of a pedestrian in front of a vehicle can preclude liability even absent compliance with statutory duties

Procedural posture

The plaintiff appealed from an order denying his motion for a new trial following a jury verdict for the defendant in a personal injury action arising from an automobile accident.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

majority opinion

Dibell, C.

This is an action to recover for personal injuries sustained by the plain tiff in an automobile accident. There was a verdict for the defendant. The plaintiff appeals from the order denying his motion for a new trial.

1. The plaintiff left his automobile at the curb on the westerly side of Bloomington avenue, in Minneapolis, about 55 feet southerly of its intersection with Lake street. Bloomington runs north and south and Lake east and west. He then started on foot diagonally across the street in a southeasterly direction. A water wagon was coming from the north on the westerly side of the avenue a few feet west of the center line. Still further to the north, on the same side of the street, the defendant was coming with his auto. The defendant turned to his left to pass the water sprinkler which was in operation. At this moment the plaintiff was hastening across the street in front of the approaching water wagon, and he and the auto came in contact just easterly of the center line of the street. He urges that the attending physical facts amount to a demonstration that the defendant was not in the exercise of such care as was required and that the verdict negativing negligence is not sustained. An examination of the evidence satisfies us that, while a verdict might have gone for the plaintiff, the question of negligence was one of fact. The verdict for the defendant cannot be disturbed.

2. By G. S. 1913, § 2632, it is provided: “Upon approaching a pedestrian who is upon the traveled part of any highway, and not upon a sidewalk, * * * every person operating a motor vehicle shall slow down and give a timely signal with his bell, horn or other device for signalling.” A failure to observe the statute, if it results in injury to one for whose protection it is enacted, brings liability irrespective of such conduct as constitutes negligence in the absence of a statute. This is the effect of Schaar v. Conforth, 128 Minn. 460, 151 N. W. 275, which involved, other provisions of the motor vehicle statute. And see Armstead v. Lounsberry, 129 Minn. 34, 151 N. W. 542, L.R.A. 1915D, 628. The court gave the statute in its charge and commented upon it. It did not expressly state that liability resulted in case a failure to observe the statute proximately resulted in injury, but in substance the rule of liability was sufficiently stated. Whether the statute applied to the plaintiff depended upon what view the jury took of the evidence. If he came in front of the auto with no opportunity for the driver, though then in the exercise of due care, to see him and take further precautions for his safety, he was not such a pedestrian as the statute intended. No charge specially applicable to the situation was asked and no exception taken at the time to that given. There was no error in refusing the request, framed in general terms, as to the effect of the violation of the motor vehicle statute, though abstractly it was correct. We have considered all the assignments urged and find no error.

Order affirmed.