Court Opinion

ID: 9731688
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:54:25.346018+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:20.352300
License: Public Domain

Fairchild, J.
(concurring). The Chevrolet had been coming south, had given some appearance of turning toward the southwest and then had evidently made a “U” turn to the east and north. Princl left the highway, lost control, and damaged plaintiff’s property as a result of his effort to avoid hitting the Chevrolet. He did not see the Chevrolet invade his path until it was “crossways” a few feet in front of him and completely on his side of the road.
Princl had been looking at his speedometer or elsewhere during the time it took the Chevrolet to make the “U” turn. There was no traffic or other condition diverting his attention. The jury found Princl not negligent with respect to lookout and gratuitously answered that such negligence was not causal.
In my opinion the verdict can be sustained as a finding that even if Princl had been looking ahead when it first became apparent that the Chevrolet would cross his path, the additional time and space he would have had in which to avoid collision would not have been sufficient to avoid the damage to plaintiffs property. But I do not think that a driver can be excused for not watching the road by reason of looking at his speedometer.
I am authorized to state that Mr. Justice Currie joins in this concurring opinion.