Opinion ID: 1895580
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Question of Liability

Text: The evidence as to liability is conflicting, but not complicated. The accident occurred on the morning of December 20, 1966, on a public highway in the Town of Swansea, Massachusetts. The vehicles were approaching each other in opposite directions in an area not too distant from a curve in the road. The plaintiff and defendant were alone in their respective cars and they are the only persons who testified as to what actually happened just prior to, and at the moment of, impact. Their testimony as to how the accident happened, as to the speed of the motor vehicles, and as to precisely which side of the highway the impact took place, is in direct conflict. The plaintiff testified that defendant's car was on a collision course with his, and that, therefore, defendant drove onto plaintiff's travel lane where the impact occurred. The defendant's testimony, however, was that as he came around the curve, plaintiff's car was completely over defendant's side of the road, and that the impact took place 1 1/2 to 3 feet within defendant's travel lane. A police officer who was dispatched to the scene of the accident testified at the trial. He described what he saw, including the location of the damaged cars and their appearance. He also related to the court the contents of a discussion he had with defendant about the accident. The defendant's statement to the officer relating to the location of the impact was substantially the same as his testimony at the trial. However, the officer testified that his investigation showed that the accident occurred on plaintiff's travel lane. The photographs of the area and photographs showing the condition of plaintiff's automobile after the accident were introduced in evidence, and prior to taking testimony the trial justice took a view of the area involved in this accident. After reviewing the testimony and the exhibits, the trial justice found that the plaintiff had proven by a fair preponderance of the evidence that the accident occurred in plaintiff's travel lane where the left side of plaintiff's vehicle was struck by the left front of defendant's car which had crossed over into plaintiff's travel lane. He pointed out that the physical facts, the nature of the roadway, and the testimony of the parties as well as the testimony of the police officer, whom he characterized as a disinterested witness, created a barrier upon which defendant's version of the accident floundered. He also said that the facts in this case were such that defendant's version of the accident was too improbable to be worthy of belief and that if defendant's version were correct all that defendant had to do to avoid this accident was merely to turn his vehicle to the right side of the road, an area which he found to be level and without obstruction. On the basis of these findings, he concluded that plaintiff was in the exercise of due care; that he was traveling in his travel lane when struck; and that the accident was solely caused by defendant's negligence    in failing to maintain control of his vehicle in that he did not operate his vehicle within his own travel lane but rather crossed over on approaching the curve into plaintiff's lane of travel. The defendants' first contention is that the trial justice misconceived the evidence and misapplied the law on the issue of liability. We do not agree. As we have previously stated, the evidence on the issue of liability is in direct conflict. In his decision, the trial justice expressly rejected defendant's version of how the accident happened and accepted plaintiff's. He also relied on the physical facts and on the testimony of the police officer. Where the evidence is in conflict and the parties submit a controversy on the facts as well as the law to a trial justice sitting without a jury, the decision of the trial justice will not be disturbed by this court unless the findings of fact on which the decision is based are clearly wrong, or unless it is shown that in making such findings, the trial justice either misconceived or overlooked material evidence on a controlling issue. Meader v. Cosper, 106 R.I. 462, 260 A.2d 715. We conclude that the findings of fact made by the trial justice are supported by the evidence which the trial justice accepted, namely, plaintiff's testimony, the photos, and the testimony of the police officer. The defendants may disagree with the trial justice's view of the evidence, but they have failed to persuade us that in making the findings on which he based his decision, he misconceived or overlooked any material evidence. There is no merit to defendants' argument that the trial justice erred in relying on the police officer's testimony as to where the accident occurred. His testimony that his investigation revealed that the accident took place on plaintiff's side of the road was admitted in evidence without objection by defendants. After the officer was asked a further question, defendants' counsel interposed an objection. [2] However, by this time, evidence of the fact in issue was already admitted and no motion to strike was made by defendants' counsel. In the circumstances the trial justice was warranted in relying on the police officer's testimony on this issue. The trial justice based his decision on the issue of liability on his findings that plaintiff was in the exercise of due care and that the accident was caused solely by defendant's negligence in failing to maintain control of his vehicle and in crossing over into plaintiff's plane of travel. He did not base his decision on the last clear chance doctrine and, therefore, there is no need of discussing that issue here. We affirm his findings of fact and his decision on the issue of liability.