Opinion ID: 1138060
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Casual Relation Issue

Text: Conduct is a cause in fact of harm to another if it was a substantial factor in bringing about that harm. [7] Was the train's traveling at 35 m.p.h. a substantial factor in causing plaintiffs' harm? Did it contribute to that harm? Was it a cause thereof? MoPac contends that the train's speed in excess of the company imposed limits was not a cause in fact of the accident; rather, that the negligence of Herman Thomas was the sole cause. They contend that there is no evidence to prove that Thomas would have benefited from any margin of safety which might have been created by a reduction in the speed of the train from 35 to 20 m.p.h. [8] The causal connection between the excessive speed of a train and an accident is normally not that the train, if operated at the required slower speed, could have stopped in time to avoid the accident. The causal connection is that the motorist might well have had more time to hear and observe the train and stop his vehicle in time to avoid a railroad crossing accident, but for the train's excessive speed. Broussard v. Louisiana Western R. Co., 140 La. 517, 73 So. 606 (1916). Jenkins v. St. Paul Fire and Marine, 393 So.2d 851, 856 (La. App.2d Cir.1981), aff. 422 So.2d 1109 (La. 1982); Ward v. La. & Ark.Ry. Co., 451 So.2d 597 (La.App.2d Cir.1984). At the time of the accident the train was travelling at almost twice the RR's self imposed speed restriction (35 m.p.h. rather than 20 m.p.h.). The experts at trial testified that if the train had been travelling within the imposed speed limit it would have afforded Thomas approximately three additional seconds to perceive the danger and react to its presence. Those three added seconds would have greatly increased the margin of safety and reduced the risk of harm. The excessive speed of the train was a cause in fact of the accident.