Case Name: James H. Rooks v. Houston, W. S. & P. F. R. Co.
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1896-11-13
Citations: 75 N.Y. St. Rep. 1225
Docket Number: 
Parties: James H. Rooks v. Houston, W. S. & P. F. R. Co.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 75
Pages: 1225–1226

Head Matter:
James H. Rooks v. Houston, W. S. & P. F. R. Co.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
Nov. 13, 1896.)
1. Street railroads—Injury to person on track.
The question as to whether an injury to plaintiff was caused by a car should be submitted to the jury, when he testifies that he was on the track, and heard a car behind him, just as he was struck.
2. Contributory negligence—Failure to look back.
One riding a bicycle on a street-car track need not look behind him for overtaking cars.
Appeal from trial term, New York County.
Action by James H. Rooks, an infant, by Helen Rooks, his guardian ad litem, against the Houston, West Street & Pavonia Ferry Railroad Company, for personal injuries. The complaint was dismissed, and plaintiff appeals.
Clarence C. Ferris, for appellant; Henry A. Robinson, for respondent.

Opinion:
BARRETT, J.
—There was evidence sufficient to go to the-jury that the plaintiff was knocked down by a cable car. He-testified that he was upon the cable-car track at the time of the accident. He was riding there upon his bicycle, and was utilizing the aperture between the rails which is provided for the cable, commonly called the " slot." " When I got to Nineteenth street," he testifies, " there was a noise, and. suddenly I was knocked down." He added that he was familiar-with the rumble made by a cable car, that it was a holiday, that the street was quiet at the time, that he did not see or hear any other vehicles, and that he distinctly heard the rumble and noise of a cable car behind him just as he was struck. This, under all the circumstances, was sufficient for the submission to the jury of the question whether the accident was .or was not caused by a cable car.
There was also enough to go1 to the jury upon the main questions. The plaintiff was lawfully upon the track. Laws 1890, c. 668, § 162, 163. It is true it was a place of danger,, and" the plaintiff was bound to exercise corresponding care.. Whether he did so was for the jury to determine. The trial court held him to be guilty of contributory negligence, as matter of law, because he failed to look back. No such duty was imposed upon him as matter of law. His primary duty was to look in front of him; indeed, to keep a good lookout all around. But he could not ride upon his bicycle at all,-—certainly not with safety,—and yet keep his head turned so as to observe what was going on behind. Whether his failure to observe the car at the time of, and under the circumstances, surrounding, the aficident, amounted to contributory negligence, was, to say the least, a question for the jury. He certainly had a riglit to expect the usual warning in his rear. Had that been given, he would, of course, have been bound to protect himself by getting off the track, and malting way for the approaching car. Here, however, there was no warning. The gong was not sounded. There was no whistle,cry,or notice-of any kind. The plaintiff was proceeding lawfully, and with a justifiable sense of security. The first he heard was the rumble and noise of the cable car. Immediately thereafter he was struck and knocked down.
The case, upon the facts, should have been submitted to the jury; and the judgment must therefore be reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event-
All concur.