Case Name: JOHN A. WINFIELD v. ROBERT JACKSON SMITH and COLONIAL STORES, INC.
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1949-05-11
Citations: 230 N.C. 392
Docket Number: 
Parties: JOHN A. WINFIELD v. ROBERT JACKSON SMITH and COLONIAL STORES, INC.
Judges: Stacy, C. J., took no parkin the consideration or decision of this case.
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 230
Pages: 392–404

Head Matter:
JOHN A. WINFIELD v. ROBERT JACKSON SMITH and COLONIAL STORES, INC.
(Filed 11 May, 1949.)
1. Trial § 22a—
On motion to nonsuit, the evidence supporting plaintiff’s claim must be considered in the light most favorable for him, and he is entitled to every reasonable inference to be drawn therefrom.
2. Automobiles § 18h (2) —
Evidence tending to show that the driver of a truck was traveling 35 to 40 miles per hour in an early morning fog which limited visibility to 100 or 125 feet, that he had overtaken a vehicle traveling in the same direction and was attempting to pass such vehicle 250 or 300 feet before reaching a curve, and collided with plaintiff’s car which approached from the opposite direction, is held sufficient to be submitted to the jury on the issue of the negligence of the driver of the truck. G.S. 20-141, G.S. 20-148, G.S. 20-150.
3. Negligence § 19c—
Nonsuit on the ground of contributory negligence is error unless this conclusion is the only reasonable inference that can be drawn from plaintiff’s own evidence, taken in the light most favorable to him.
4. Automobiles § ISh (3) — Driver striking vehicle blocking highway in attempting to pass third vehicle held not contributorily negligent as matter of law.
Plaintiff’s evidence was to the effect that a heavy fog limited visibility to 100 or 125 feet, that after rounding a curve and traveling some 100 feet he first saw defendant’s truck approaching from the opposite direction when it was approximately 100 feet away and as it was in the act of passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction, that he immediately applied his brakes, that his tires skidded on the damp pavement, veering his car to the left, so that plaintiff’s left front wheel was nineteen inches to his left of the center of the highway when he struck the side of defendant’s tractor which had turned back to its right of the highway although the trailer still was blocking his lane of traffic, and that under the circumstances plaintiff did not have time to turn his ear back to the right and, because of the fog, could not see to drive on the shoulder or in the ditch to his right if he had had room or time to do so. Held: Defendants’ motion to nonsuit on the ground of contributory negligence was properly denied, defendants’ evidence in conflict with that of plaintiff being ignored.
5. Trial § 22b—
On motion to nonsuit, defendants’ evidence will not be considered except when not in conflict with that of plaintiff; it may be used to explain or make clear that of plaintiff.
■6. Automobiles § 8g—
The mere fact of the skidding of an automobile, without other evidence, does not necessarily impute negligence to the driver.
7. Automobiles § 8j—
Where a sudden emergency is created by defendants’ negligence, plaintiff will not be held to the wisest choice of conduct, but only to such choice as a person of ordinary care and prudence, similarly situated, would have made.
8. Automobiles § 18g (5) —
Physical evidence at the scene of the accident in suit held, not such as to necessarily negative plaintiff’s testimony as to speed.
■ 9. Automobiles § 12a—
Driving at a speed of 30 to 35 miles per hour in a heavy fog limiting visibility to 100 or 125 feet does not compel the conclusion that the driver was exceeding the speed at which he could stop within the range of his visibility.
Stacy, O. J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.
Winborne, J., dissenting.
Barnhill, J., concurs in dissent.
Appeal by defendants from McSwain, Special Judge, September Term, 1948, of Wake. No error.
This was an action to recover damages for personal injury sustained as result of collision between an automobile plaintiff was driving and a truck of defendant Colonial Stores, Inc., being driven by defendant Smith. It was alleged that plaintiff’s injury was caused by the negligence of defendant Smith who was at the time acting in the scope of his employment by the corporate defendant.
The collision occurred about 6 :10 a.m., 18 June, 1947, on State Highway 70, six miles west of Smithfield. Plaintiff was driving a Chevrolet passenger automobile in an easterly direction and defendants’ motor tractor-trailer truck was being operated in the opposite direction. At the locality of the collision the road was straight, though there was a curve west of this point 250 or 300 feet distant. The road was surfaced with asphalt pavement 18 feet wide with dirt shoulders 4% feet wide on each side. At the time of the collision the scene was enveloped in a heavy fog, denser near the ground, and the surface of the asphalt was damp due to moisture condensed from the fog.
The plaintiff testified his automobile was in good condition, recently inspected, and brakes adjusted, and that he was driving at speed of 30 to 35 miles per hour on his right side of the road with his parking or fog lights turned on. Due to the fog, visibility was reduced to 100 to 125 feet. After he came around the curve he saw at a distance of 100 feet away the defendant’s truck approaching at a speed of 35 to 45 miles per hour, and in the act of attempting to pass the automobile of T. H. Underwood proceeding in same direction (west), so that the truck occupied the south or plaintiff’s right-hand lane of the highway. The front of the truck was just even with the front of the Underwood car, blocking the road. Confronted with this emergency plaintiff immediately applied his brakes, and his automobile continued in same direction about 6 feet and then skidded slightly to the left. In the meantime the driver of defendant’s truck apparently becoming aware of plaintiff’s automobile at about the same time had turned to his right, 'and Underwood also had quickly turned to his right off the road and stopped. The tractor portion of defendant’s vehicle had crossed the center line of the highway to its right side, leaving the trailer still on the left or southern traffic lane, at the instant plaintiff’s automobile collided with defendant’s truck, the left front of plaintiff’s automobile striking the left side of defendant’s tractor or between tractor and trailer. Plaintiff sustained serious injury.
Plaintiff testified there were lights on the Underwood car, but he saw none on the truck; that due to the fog he could see only 100 to 125 feet in front and for that reason was driving carefully at a moderate rate of speed; that due to the unchecked speed of the truck as the vehicles approached each other he calculated only a brief space of time elapsed from the instant he saw the truck loom out of the fog 100 feet in front of him until the impact — a “split second” as he termed it; that he had no reason to anticipate the approach of a truck traveling on his right or southern side of the highway; that the truck approached so quickly and the collision so imminent he could not turn his automobile to the right and due to the fog he could not see off on the shoulder or the ditch, and that he applied his brakes and held his course. He testified he did not at any time turn his automobile to the left side of the road; that the marks on the pavement showed his rear wheels skidded and the left front wheel was 19 inches over the center line; that if he had not collided with the front portion of the tractor he would have struck the trailer which was in plaintiff’s lane of traffic. He offered evidence to show that defendant’s tractor-trailer was 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and the trailer 12 feet high. Pie testified, “it was split second timing in there from the time I saw this truck. When the car started skidding I had my hands on the wheel. It might have been that the Make on the left wheel applied a little harder than on the right, and that pulled the car that way. I guess I could have turned to my right if I had enough time; I don’t know about that. Evidently I didn’t have enough time to turn it back in the split second of time I had. The car skidded. . . . When I threw the brakes, the minute the impulse was made to put the brakes on, the car skidded.” He testified if he had turned into the ditch it might have been much worse — “you couldn’t see.” The defendant Smith, driver of defendant’s truck, testified that plaintiff applied his brakes and skidded over to his left side of the road, and that he saw the marks where he skidded. It was also in evidence that Smith said when he was abreast the Underwood car he saw the lights on plaintiff’s automobile as he came around the ■curve; that he himself was traveling 35 to 40 miles per hour, and when he saw plaintiff’s car be “speeded up a little.” Underwood testified that at tbe time of tbe collision tbe truck bad slowed up and was gradually coming to a stop. Tbe patrolman wbo was offered as a witness by tbe defendants testified tbe only tire mark left by tbe truck was a slight dragging at tbe point of impact.
The defendants offered evidence tending to show that plaintiff’s automobile struck tbe truck two feet over tbe center line; that tbe marks of plaintiff’s tires gradually veered to bis left; that from tbe point they started to tbe point of impact was 90 feet; that skid marks were straight down tbe highway on bis right side-for approximately 12 to 15 feet; then it was a sidewise skid leading to point of impact with all four tires making an impression; that at tbe beginning it was not sidewise, but as it got to about tbe center of tbe road it began sidewise sliding off toward tbe side. “Tbe sidewise marks went in tbe neighborhood of 75 or 78 feet before tbe point of impact”; that at tbe time of collision tbe tractor was entirely on its right side of tbe road, and only tbe rear end of tbe trailer was in tbe left or southern lane of traffic, occupying some 4 or 5 feet of that lane, and that there was room for an automobile to pass by using a portion of tbe shoulder. Defendant Smith testified be could see 300 feet. Underwood testified be could see only 100 to 125 feet, that it was very foggy making it difficult to drive. He said while there was room for a cai-to have passed on tbe shoulder on tbe right, if tbe driver “could have seen where be was going. Tbe fog was keeping him from seeing. I couldn’t see.” ... “I got off tbe highway. It was quick work.” He said if the plaintiff bad kept straight on down the highway be would have bit tbe trailer. Plaintiff testified: “I skidded nothing like as much as 90 feet. I didn’t travel that far between tbe time I saw tbe car and this happened. From tbe time I applied my brakes and went 3 or .4 or 5 feet straight and then started skidding to tbe left, I won’t say it was over 10 feet altogether. Tbe whole business wasn’t over 10 feet. I didn’t see a skid mark there approximately 90 feet.” Defendant Smith, tbe driver of tbe truck, did not testify to tbe rate of speed of plaintiff’s automobile other than to call it “a pretty good rate of speed.”
Defendants’ motion for judgment of nonsuit was denied, and their prayers for peremptory instructions were refused. Tbe jury answered tbe issues as to negligence and contributory negligence in favor of tbe plaintiff and awarded damages in sum of $4,000. From judgment on tbe verdict defendants appealed.
J. M. Broughton and C. Woodrow Teague for plaintiff, appellee.
Ehringhaus ■& Ehringhaus for defendants, appellants.

Opinion:
DeviN, J.
Tbe question chiefly debated on the defendants' appeal in this Court was the correctness of the ruling below denying the defendants' motion for judgment of nonsuit. While not conceding evidence of actionable negligence on the part of defendants, it was urged that from the plaintiff's evidence it necessarily followed as a matter of law that he was chargeable with contributory negligence, barring recovery.
Keeping in mind the established rule that on the motion for nonsuit the evidence tending to support the plaintiff's position must be considered in the light most favorable for him, and that he is entitled to the benefit of every reasonable inference to be drawn therefrom (Nash v. Royster, 189 N.C. 408, 127 S.E. 356), we think there was evidence of negligence on the part of the driver of defendants' truck, in that he drove on his left side of the road in attempting to pass another motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction at a time when he was within 300 feet of a curve, his vision obscured by a heavy fog, at a speed of 35 to 40 miles per hour, and meeting an oncoming automobile traveling in the lane of traffic into which he had thus driven his truck. Plaintiff's evidence would seem to indicate not only failure on defendants' part to observe the rule of the prudent man under the circumstances, but also to show violation of several provisions of the statutes regulating the operation of motor vehicles on the highway. G.S. 20-141 (c) ; G.S. 20-148; G.S. 20-150. Accordingly evidence of such improper and unlawful conduct, proximately resulting in injury to the plaintiff, warranted submission to the jury of the issue of defendants' negligence. Joyner v. Rail, 210 N.C. 663, 188 S.E. 209; Tarrant v. Bottling Co., 221 N.C. 390, 20 S.E. 2d 565; Conley v. Pearce-Young-Angel Co., 224 N.C. 211, 29 S.E. 2d 740.
The defendants both by their motion to nonsuit and by prayers for peremptory instructions to the jury present the question whether from the evidence of the plaintiff there was such a showing of contributory negligence on his part as to preclude recovery. For the determination of the question thus raised the rule is that judgment of nonsuit on the ground of contributory negligence should not be granted "unless the plaintiff's evidence, taken in the light most favorable to him, so clearly establishes such negligence that no other reasonable inference or conclusion can be drawn therefrom." Dawson v. Transportation Co., ante, 36. And in the consideration of this motion the court "must ignore that which tends to establish another and different state of facts or which tends to contradict or impeach the testimony presented by the plaintiff." Bundy v. Powell, 229 N.C. 707, 51 S.E. 2d 307. To justify the allowance of the defendants' motion on this ground contributory negligence must be established by plaintiff's evidence so clearly that no other conclusion seems permissible. Atkins v. Transportation Co., 224 N.C. 688, 32 S.E. 2d 209. "As tbe burden of proof upon tbe issue of contributory negligence, was upon defendants, it is tbe settled rule in tbis jurisdiction that judgment of nonsuit on tbis ground can be rendered only wben a single inference, leading to that conclusion, can be drawn from tbe evidence." Hampton v. Hawkins, 219 N.C. 205, 13 S.E. 2d 227; Hobbs v. Drewer, 226 N.C. 146, 37 S.E. 2d 121; Cole v. Koonce, 214 N.C. 188, 198 S.E. 637; Manheim v. Taxi Corp., 214 N.C. 689, 200 S.E. 382.
Examining tbe evidence in tbis case in tbe light of these principles, we find tbis factual situation: According to plaintiff's testimony, on an early morning in June be was driving an automobile east along tbe highway at a speed of 30 to 35 miles per hour, a fog limiting bis vision to 100 to 125 feet, wben suddenly there loomed out of tbe fog tbe bulk of a large tractor-trailer bearing down on him in bis or south lane of traffic at a distance of 100 feet. As tbe width of tbe pavement was only 18 feet, and tbe truck, 8 feet wide, was in tbe act of passing another automobile proceeding in same direction, tbe entire roadway was blocked, and the truck was traveling toward him at tbe rate of 35 to 40 miles per hour. As tbe plaintiff expressed it, tbis sudden emergency required "split-second" action. He immediately applied bis brakes and kept bis course. Guthrie v. Gocking, 214 N.C. 513, 199 S.E. 707. But tbe surface of tbe asphalt pavement was moist as result of tbe fog, and tbe application of brakes caused tbe tires to skid and tbe automobile after moving forward 6 feet veered slightly to tbe left, so that tbe left front wheel was 19 inches over tbe center line of tbe road wben it struck defendants' tractor which bad been pulled to the right, leaving tbe trailer still in tbe south lane of traffic. Under circumstances requiring instant action, according to bis testimony, plaintiff did not turn bis automobile to tbe left, and did not have time to turn it back to tbe right; could not, on account of the fog which was denser near tbe ground, see to drive on tbe shoulder or in tbe ditch on bis right if be bad bad room or time to do so. He testified if be bad not skidded but gone straight be might have missed tbe tractor but would have bit the trailer.
On tbe other band the defendants call attention to the admitted fact that tbe collision occurred 19 inches over the plaintiff's left side of the center of tbe road, and it is argued that according to plaintiff's statement there is the reasonable inference to be drawn therefrom that be could and should have controlled the movement of bis automobile and turned it back to the right in time to have avoided tbe collision. Tbe defendants further call attention to tbe testimony of tbe highway patrolman as to tbe tire marks be observed on the highway tending to show that the brakes on plaintiff's automobile were applied 90 feet from the point of impact, and that after moving straight 12 to 15 feet, the tires slipped or skidded sidewise for "75 or 78 feet to the collision, 2 feet over the center line of the road. The defendants deduce from this that plaintiff was driving at so high a speed that he could not control his automobile, and that under the circumstances of fog and moist pavement his speed showed a total disregard for the requirements of ordinary prudence, was under the circumstances negligent, and constituted a proximate contributing cause to his injury. However, the evidence of the patrolman was offered by the defendants and was not admitted by the plaintiff, and may not be considered on the motion to nonsuit. The credibility of the witness was a matter for the jury. The- rule as stated by Chief Justice Stacy in Harrison v. R. R., 194 N.C. 656, 140 S.E. 598, is that in considering the motion for nonsuit "the defendant's evidence, unless favorable to the plaintiff, is not to be taken into consideration, except when not in conflict with the plaintiff's evidence, it may be used to explain or make clear that which has been offered by the plaintiff." Gregory v. Ins. Co., 223 N.C. 124, 25 S.E. 2d 398; Bundy v. Powell, supra. The plaintiff testified the truck was only 100 feet away when he was first able to see it, and that it was approaching on his side of the road at 35 to 40 miles per hour. He points out that according to the testimony the driver of defendants' truck first slightly accelerated his speed, then slackened, so that though plaintiff applied his brakes and materially reduced his speed, not mucji more than a few seconds could have elapsed before the truck traversed the remaining portion of the space of 100 feet that on first view separated the meeting vehicles, and that if the plaintiff's evidence be accepted with all permissible inferences in his favor, his automobile could not have skidded 90 feet, or 75 feet sidewise, in the direction of the rapidly approaching truck within the time and space shown by plaintiff's testimony. Moreover, plaintiff testified to the contrary. He denied that he skidded anything like 90 feet. He said that when he applied his brakes he went straight 3 or 4 or 5 feet, and then skidded to the left, and that the entire distance covered was not more than 10 feet. He declared he did not turn his automobile to the left. It may be that plaintiff was mistaken, and that the distance between the vehicles was much greater than that stated by him; or he was traveling much faster than the limit he fixed. Here was a conflict in the testimony which the court properly submitted to the triers of the fact. Conflicting testimony necessitates trial by jury. Stallings v. Ins. Co., ante, 304; Lavender v. Kurn, 327 U.S. 645 (653). The mere fact of the skidding of plaintiff's automobile without other evidence of fault on his part, would not necessarily impute negligence to the driver. Springs v. Doll, 197 N.C. 240, 148 S.E. 251; Butner v. Whitlow, 201 N.C. 749, 161 S.E. 389; Waller v. Hipp, 208 N.C. 117, 179 S.E. 428; Clodfelter v. Wells, 212 N.C. 823, 195 S.E. 11; Williams v. Thomas, 219 N.C. 727, 14 S.E. 2d 797; Hoke v. Greyhound Corp., 227 N.C. 412 (420), 42 S.E. 2d 593. The circumstances here were materially different from those appearing in York v. York, 212 N.C. 695, 194 S.E. 486. In judging plaintiff's conduct on this occasion consideration must be given to the sudden emergency with which, according to his testimony, he was confronted, and he should not be "held to the same deliberation or circumspect care as in ordinary conditions." Hinton v. R. R., 172 N.C. 587, 90 S.E. 756. The standard of conduct is that of the prudent man under like circumstances. According to plaintiff's testimony the emergency was created by the negligent conduct of the defendants. Under these circumstances the rule is stated in Ingle v. Cassady, 208 N.C. 497, 181 S.E. 562, as follows: "One who is required to act in emergency is not held by the law to the wisest choice of conduct, but only to such choice as a person of ordinary care and prudence, similarly situated, would have made." Hoke v. Greyhound Corp., supra; Butner v. Spease, 217 N.C. 82, 6 S.E. 2d 808; Beck v. Hooks, 218 N.C. 105, 10 S.E. 2d 608; Sparks v. Willis, 228 N.C. 25, 44 S.E. 2d 343.
We do not think the plaintiff's own testimony "proves him out of court" (Hayes v. Tel. Co., 211 N.C. 192, 189 S.E. 499; Godwin v. R. R., 220 N.C. 281, 17 S.E. 2d 137), nor are there indisputable physical facts which necessarily negative his oral evidence. Powers v. Sternberg, 213 N.C. 41, 195 S.E. 88; Wallace v. Longest, 226 N.C. 161, 37 S.E. 2d 112. Driving at 30 to 35 miles per hour, with objects on or moving along the highway visible for 100 to 125 feet, would not seem to compel the conclusion that he was driving faster than his ability to stop within that distance. Tyson v. Ford, 228 N.C. 778, 47 S.E. 2d 251; Allen v. Bottling Co., 223 N.C. 118, 25 S.E. 2d 388; Caulder v. Gresham, 224 N.C. 402, 30 S.E. 2d 312.
After careful consideration of the record in the case at bar, in relation to the defendants' motion, we cannot hold as a matter of law that on the evidence presented by the plaintiff his conduct on this occasion, under the circumstances as detailed by him, fell below the required standard of reasonable care and prudence, nor do we think on this'evidence contributory negligence has been so clearly established that no other reasonable inference can be drawn therefrom. The issue of contributory negligence was for the jury rather than the court, and there was no error in refusing the peremptory instruction prayed for.
The defendants noted numerous exceptions to the judge's charge, but upon an examination of the charge as a whole we think the trial judge stated the principles of law applicable to the determinative issues in substantial accord with well considered decisions of this Court, and we are unable to find error therein, or in the rulings on the reception of testimony, which would warrant awarding another hearing. The jury bas determined the facts in favor of the plaintiff, and the result will not be disturbed.
In the trial we find
No error.
Stacy, C. J., took no parkin the consideration or decision of this case.