Case ID: wis_172/html/0537-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Siebecker, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Howe, Respondent, vs. Corey, Appellant.
    
      September 24
    
    November 16, 1920.
    
    
      Automobiles: Invited guests: Liability of driver for negligence: Contributory negligencp.
    
    1. 'A guest in an automobile who, knowing that the automobile was approaching a railroad track at • an excessive rate of speed, failed to remonstrate with defendant, the owner and driver, as to the danger of crossing the track at such speed or to ascertain whether he was keeping a proper lookout, is guilty of contributory negligence barring recovery for injuries received by him. [The question of the liability of a gratuitous carrier to his invited guest in the absence of contributory negligence of the guest, not determined.]
    2. Generally a passenger in an automobile is required to use the same care. for his safety that a reasonably careful person exercises under the same or similar circumstances, the extent - to which he may rely on the driver for his protection against danger depending on the circumstances of the particular case.
    Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Douglas county: W. R. Foley, Circuit Judge.
    
      Reversed.
    
    This action was brought by plaintiff to recover damages for injuries alleged to have been inflicted through negligence of the defendant in driving an automobile .in which plaintiff was riding.
    Plaintiff was injured on December 5, 1917, at about 8 p. m., in a collision between an automobile owned and driven by defendant', in which plaintiff was riding as an invited guest, and' a train of cars extending across Belknap street in the city of Superior. Belknap street is a straight street extending in an easterly and westerly direction for about two miles in the city of Superior. About five blocks from its easterly end it is intersected by the Soo line tracks leading to the Soo line station. Immediately adjacent to the south of the intersection are the yards of the company. The evening of the collision was a clear, cold one, with the thermometer registering around zero. It appears that the automobile lights were in a poor condition and that the windshield was "frosted/’ of which conditions plaintiff and defendant were apprised; that as they drove on'Belknap street plaintiff and defendant refrained from talking together, except casual remarks; that the defendant was keeping no lookout for obstructions, and that the car was being driven at a reckless rate of speed; that the automobile and train collided so violently that the automobile was wedged between the cars with such force that the train had to be broken apart before the automobile could be extricated; that plaintiff was severely injured by the collision. The plaintiff alleges both gross and ordinary negligence on the part of the defendant, and that he (plaintiff).was not guilty of contributory negligence. The defendant denies the negligence and that plaintiff was free from contributory negligence.
    By a special verdict the jury found that the defendant was guilty of ordinary negligence and that the plaintiff was not guilty of contributory negligence. Judgment was entered awarding plaintiff damages in the sum of $2,500 and costs, from which judgment defendant appeals.
    For the appellant there was a brief by Pickering & Rieser of Superior, and oral argument by R. M. Rieser.
    
    For the respondent there was a brief by Dietrich & Dietrich of Superior, and oral argument by H. W. Dietrich.
    
   Siebecker, C. J.

The question of the liability of a gratuitous carrier to his invited guest is presented and fully discussed in briefs of counsel. It appears that there is some diversity of opinion expressed in the adjudications on this subject in other jurisdictions and that the question has not heretofore been considered by this court. In the view we take of this case a decision of this question is not necessary for a complete determination of the legal rights of the parties, and- we therefore choose not to pass opinion on this question in disposing of the case. We are of the opinion that the record clearly establishes that the plaintiff is not entitled to recover in this case for the reason that it appears as a matter of law that his acts and conduct establish his negligence, which proximately contributed to produce the collision between the automobile and railroad train which caused the injuries and consequent damages he complains of. It is the general rule that a passenger in an automobile is required to use the same care for his safety that a reasonably careful person exercises under the same or similar circumstances. The fact that he has not charge of the automobile as driver does not absolve him from exercising care for his safety, though he' is not required to exercise the same care that is required of the driver. The extent to which a guest may rely on the driver for his protection against danger must in a measure depend upon the circumstances of the particular case.

“In general, the primary duty of caring for the safety of the vehicle and its passengers rests upon the driver, and a mere gratuitous passenger should not be found guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law, unless he in some way actively participates in the negligence of the driver, or is aware either that the driver is incompetent or careless, or unmindful of some danger known to or apparent to the passenger, or that the driver is not taking proper precautions in approaching a place of danger, and, being so aware, fails to warn or admonish the driver or to take proper steps to preserve his own safety.” Carnegie v. G. N. R. Co. 128 Minn. 14, 150 N. W. 164.
“Ordinarily it is not .the province or even proper for a guest to attempt to direct the movements of the driver. 'The situation may be different when he knows that the driver is operating the machine in a careless manner, or if he has knowledge of some danger which is not known or obvious to the driver.” See cases in Huddy, Automobiles (5th ed.) sec. 690.

Negligence of a guest may be inferred from action or. omission to act, speaking or omitting to speak, respecting the duty under all the circumstances. Accepting the hospitality 'of his friend does not excuse him from the duty of acting for his own safety as a reasonably prudent person would under like circumstances. White v. Portland G. & C. Co. 84 Oreg. 643, 165 Pac. 1005; Brommer v. Pennsylvania R. Co. 179 Fed. 577, 29 L. R. A. n. s. 924; Avery v Thompson, 117 Me. 120, 103 Atl. 4. The plaintiff in the instant case testifies frankly^ on the subject of the trip in defendant’s automobile on the evening in question. He states that he and defendant are intimate friends;' that he has-ridden with defendant in his car considerably; that on the evening in question they met about 6 o’clock and had some-drinks and lunched together until about 8 o’clock, when defendant proposed that plaintiff take a ride with him to show off his new car; that they went to the garage and got into the car and started on their, way to Belknap street; that the top was down, that the headlights were somewhat dim; that the windshield became frosted soon after starting, it being a cold winter evening, the thermometer registering ¿bout zero or a little lower; that he wore glasses and his eyesight was not good. As to the manner of driving on this trip plaintiff testifies;

“We went up John avenue t0‘ Belknap street and turned east on Belknap. A"change was made in the speed of the ■ car after we got on Belknap; the speed was gradually increased for a period of two or three blocks up to Hammond, which may be twelve blocks west of the Soo tracks. From there on until the time of the accident I think we kept about steady speed from that time on. I think I can tell from experience what speed we were going. I think he was going at least fifty miles an hour up to the time of the' collision. I did not observe the train on the Soo track until we were right on top of it. . . .1 think I mentioned to him about the speed the car was going, that we was going pretty fast. I was not watching out for obstructions in the roadway. I was taking no part in the operation of the car, because it was cold and having my head over that way [indicating] to sort of break the wind. I didn’t think there was any wind apart from what the car made.”

On cross-examination the plaintiff stated that he did not know that the defendant heard him when he 'spoke to him about the car going “pretty fast;” that this remark was made shortly after turning onto Belknap street; that thereafter he neither said nor did anything about driving sp fast.

As to his familiarity with Belknap street and the railroad crossing, he testifies that he had driven on Belknap street and knew the Soo track.

“I think I knew just as much about the presence of the tracks across Belknap street, the use that was made of, them, the night and day switching, and those facts, that have been testified to here, as Mr. Corey did. I think I was just as familiar with them as he was. Now as we approached the Soo line tracks at this tremendous rate of speed it never occurred to me again to call the danger to Mr. Corey’s attention or to see that he heard me. . . . As we drove along Belknap street I kept no lookout myself; making myself as comfortable as I could, and let Corey drive along at a speed that would suit him. As we approached the crossing I did not give it and the probability of a train being there any consideration at all. I paid no attention to see whether Corey was watching for it.or not.”

The facts, circumstances, and conditions thus disclosed and the other evidence in the case show without dispute that the plaintiff, to all intents and purposes, acquiesced in the manner the car was being driven by Corey and that he did nothing to protect himself from the imminent dangers in approaching the Soo tracks crossing in the manner they did, and of which he was as fully apprised as Corey, nor did he do anything to ascertain whether or not Corey was keeping a lookout for these dangers. To permit Corey to proceed in this reckless manner without remonstrance, in the light of plaintiff’s knowledge of the probable dangers at the Soo crossing, amounts to acquiescence in Corey’s conduct and an assumption of the hazards and dangers incident thereto. It is wholly- inconsistent with the idea that he exercised such reasonable care as the ordinarily prudent person exercises under like or similar circumstances. There is but one inference permissible to be drawn from the facts shown by the evidence, namely, that plaintiff was guilty of a want of ordinary care on the occasion in' question and that such "want of care contributed to produce the injury complained of. Fair v. Union T. Co. 102 Kan. 611, 171 Pac. 649; Jefson v. Crosstown St. Ry. 72 Misc. 103, 129 N. Y. Supp. 233. It is considered that the court erred in not awarding judgment to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint.

By the Court. — The judgment is reversed, and the cause rematided with direction to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint.