Opinion ID: 1894414
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: contributory negligence and comparative negligence

Text: Although Younglove was, under the circumstances of this case, guilty of negligence as a matter of law which was approximate cause of the collision, the amount of damages sustained by Prime was a question to be resolved by the jury. Even though Younglove was guilty of negligence as a matter of law, Prime's claim for damages was subject to the defense of contributory negligence. On submission of the negligence question to the jury and if the jury found Prime guilty of negligence which was slight negligence under the circumstances, § 25-21,185, Nebraska's comparative negligence statute then required the jury to determine whether Younglove's negligence was gross in comparison with Prime's negligencea factual determination for the jury. See, Hilferty v. Mickels, 171 Neb. 246, 106 N.W.2d 40 (1960); Bezdek v. Patrick, 170 Neb. 522, 103 N.W.2d 318 (1960). The district court's failure to grant Prime's motion for a directed verdict on the issue of Younglove's negligence is reversible error. Consequently, we reverse the district court's judgment entered on the verdict against Prime, and we remand this matter to the district court for a new trial.