Court Opinion

ID: 9671146
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:31:56.233358+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:08.324757
License: Public Domain

HAMITER, Justice
(dissenting).
The accident involved in this cause occurred, as the opinion of the Court of Appeal states, within the Village of Cut Off, in Lafourche Parish. The automobile, momentarily prior to the striking of decedent, was traveling much in excess of 50 miles per hour (it skidded 125 feet after the brakes were applied), a speed which, under the circumstances, was imprudent, unreasonable, improper and prohibited by law. Rule IV of Act 286 of 1938 and Act 502 of 1948, LSA-R.S. 32:223 et seq. ■ The driver, therefore, was guilty of negligence.
Moreover, such negligence, I think, was the sole cause of the accident and death. A view of decedent, while he was crossing the thoroughfare, was unobstructed; and had the car been operated at a careful and prudent speed he could and would have been detected in ample time for an avoidance of the unfortunate mishap. Also, he was in no manner negligent. When entering the street the vehicle was at least two hundred feet away; and he, even if he observed its approach, had the right to assume that it was proceeding at the reasonable and safe speed demanded by law in that populous area.
I respectfully dissent. , .