Opinion ID: 1199316
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: To descend.

Text: 1. To pass downward freely; to descend by the force of gravity; primarily, of objects freed from their suspension or support, to drop; to come or go toward the center of gravity, as of the earth, . .. In said work the adjective falling is stated as meaning that falls. In the clause loss caused by falling objects there clearly appears the idea of objects possessing the attribute of being freed from suspension or support, to drop; to descend by the force of gravity. As applies to a truck, as an object, the reference in the clause is to a truck possessed of a quality to pass downward freely; to descend by the force of gravity. We hold that the term falling objects, as used in the instant insurance policy, means objects impelled by the force of gravity. Under the evidence herein, the truck was impelled by impact with the bridge to an impact or collision with plaintiff's automobile. Although the angle from which the second impact occurred was downward, we conclude that the truck was not a falling object within the meaning of the insurance policy. In 5 Am. Jur., What Constitutes Collision, § 555, it is stated: The word `collision,' as used in automobile collision insurance policies, means the act of colliding, and imports a striking together or against, a violent contact, the sudden contact of a moving body with an obstruction in the line of motion. It is not necessary, in order to constitute a `collision' within the meaning of a policy insuring against damage resulting from a collision of an automobile with any other automobile, vehicle, or object, that both objects should be in motion. Most collisions occur in the violent impact of two bodies on the same place or level, and it is undoubtedly true that the word is more frequently used to express such impacts than other violent impacts. However, it is doubtful that this fact has given to the word such a common understanding of its meaning as to exclude violent impacts not upon the same plane or level. If one machine was going up and another coming down a steep hill, and they came together violently, no one would hesitate for a moment in using the word `collision.' The better rule, the safe rule, is to treat and consider the word as having the meaning given it uniformly by the lexicographers, that where there is a striking together, a violent contact or meeting of two bodies, there is a collision between them, and that the angle from which the impact occurs is unimportant. We adopt the rule of construction as stated in the last sentence above as here applicable. The evidence herein goes no further than to reflect an incident resulting in damage to plaintiff's automobile that constituted a collision within the meaning of term as appears in the clause of the policy excepting coverage of loss caused by collision. The defendant's demurrer to the evidence should have been sustained. The judgment is reversed. HALLEY, V.C.J., and CORN, GIBSON, JOHNSON, O'NEAL, and BINGAMAN, JJ., concur.