Opinion ID: 1968365
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Separate Question With Respect to Existence of Emergency.

Text: Appellant also assigns as error the trial court's failure to include in the verdict a separate question as to whether an emergency existed insofar as the ambulance's errand was concerned. In discussing this point, appellant's brief refers to the relevance of such question in passing on the bus driver's negligence. As previously pointed out herein, this aspect of emergency, or emergency call, is entirely irrelevant to the duty owed by the bus driver to yield the right-of-way to the ambulance. It would be relevant in passing on the ambulance driver's negligence if the driver had violated certain safety rules in reliance on sec. 346.03, Stats. However, appellant on this appeal seems not to be concerned with the ambulance driver's negligence. The obvious reason for this is that the jury by their verdict did find the ambulance driver causally negligent. In any event, the determination as to whether to include a special factual question in a verdict that is not necessary in order to have a complete determination of the liability issues, usually lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. We find no merit to appellant's contention in this respect.