Opinion ID: 1831560
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Causal Negligence of Hamlin.

Text: The first issue presented is whether there is credible evidence to support the jury's finding that Hamlin was causally negligent. The crucial question is whether either or both of the defendants were across the center line of the highway at the time of the impact. There is no evidence of any physical marks on the road and the physical damage to the cars was not helpful in deciding the question. The position of the cars after the accident, as is usually the case, [1] had no probative value. The jury had only the testimony given from the witness stand on which to base its findings. There were no independent witnesses to the accident. Only three peopleBach, Rickert and Hamlincould recount the events that preceded the collision. A fourth person present at the time of the accident, one Elizabeth Ann Stoop (now Mrs. Elizabeth Shaver), a passenger in Hamlin's vehicle, was asleep before and at the time of the accident. Hamlin testified that Rickert's car lurched into his lane at the time of impact, whereas Bach and Rickert testified that the Rickert car was on the south shoulder when Hamlin's vehicle veered into their lane and the collision ensued. Hamlin's testimony was clear, definite and positive as to the fact that he was in his own lane at impact, whereas Rickert admitted during cross-examination that he was not positive and only quite sure that he was on his own side of the road. But the jury was not required to accept the Hamlin version. Rickert did state that the Hamlin vehicle did invade his lane. Both Rickert and Bach testified that Rickert's vehicle was partly on the shoulder prior to impact. Rickert stated that he was starting to turn back onto the concrete portion of the highway immediately prior to impact. During the trial Rickert denied unequivocally that his car slid or slued at any time prior to the accident. To impeach Rickert, Hamlin's attorney presented a signed statement given just after the accident by Rickert to Ronald Helland, the Price county traffic officer, in which statement Rickert said his car slued. The weight to be given to the statement as against Rickert's testimony at the trial was for the jury to decide. The jury apparently came to the conclusion that immediately prior to the accident both automobiles overlapped the center of the highway, invading the wrong lane of traffic and thus both were negligent. Its determinations that Hamlin was causally negligent and to the extent of 40 percent are supported by credible evidence and must be affirmed. [2]