Court Opinion

ID: 9744876
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 22:21:32.000901+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:52.789212
License: Public Domain

MATHIAS, Judge,
concurring.
I concur with the reasoning and result reached by the majority, but I write separately to emphasize that application of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur in cases involving injury arising from motor vehicle accidents has been and will continue to be proper only in unusual cases. In those motor vehicle cases in which the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur has been raised, our courts have generally held that it does not apply. See eg. Haidri v. Egolf, 430 N.E.2d 429, 432 (Ind.Ct.App.1982); Dimmick v. Follis, 123 Ind.App. 701, 706-07, 111 N.E.2d 486, 489 (1953).
However, under the unique single vehicle incident at issue, the evidence presented at trial revealed that any reasonably probable, proximate cause of the alleged injuries was under the control of the bus driver. Therefore, I am constrained to agree that the trial court abused its discretion when it refused to instruct the jury on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur.