Court Opinion

ID: 9807836
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 20:17:22.08771+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:03:29.313524
License: Public Domain

Stacy, O. J.,
dissenting: Unfortunate and distressing as tbe accident in tbis case was, a careful perusal of tbe record leaves me with tbe conviction tbat no actionable negligence on tbe part of tbe defendants has been shown.
Tbe little girl ran into tbe side of tbe truck, as witness tbe following from her own evidence: “Tbe truck bit her on top of tbe bead. . . . Tbe front corner of tbe bed bit her. . . . Sbe stepped one step, just a side step. Sbe was struck straight in tbe back of tbe bead. . . . If sbe bad stood still sbe would not have been bit. . . . Q. What part of tbe truck bit her % A. Tbe corner of tbe front of tbe bed. After sbe fell forward, tbe bind wheel of tbe truck ran over her leg.” Tbis means tbe bumper, tbe fender, tbe front wheel, and tbe cab of tbe truck bad safely passed where tbe children were standing before tbe plaintiff took her “one step, just a side step,” and was struck by tbe corner of tbe bed of tbe slowly moving truck. It was tbe rear wheel, and not tbe front wheel, tbat crushed her leg. Her companions were not hurt. These physical facts permit no inference of negligence on tbe part of tbe driver of tbe truck. He did not know tbe children were waiting to cross tbe road, as was tbe ease in Smith v. Miller, ante, 170. Reasonable prevision or foresight, and not tbe gift of prophecy or clairvoyance, is all tbe law required of him. Osborne v. Coal Co., 207 N. C., 545, 177 S. E., 796. “Tbe law does not require omniscience” — Brogden, J., in Gant v. Gant, 197 N. C., 164, 148 S. E., 34.
*712Wien tie plaintiff fell, sbe was “4 or 4% feet inside tie curbing.” Tbis would indicate that sbe necessarily took more than “one little step” before coming in contact with tie truck, but tbis is not tie determining factor.
Under tie law as heretofore written, tie plaintiff is not entitled to recover. Tie case is no stronger than Fox v. Barlow, 206 N. C., 66, 173 S. E., 43, where a nonsuit was ordered.