Court Opinion

ID: 9571594
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:33:07.900471+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:30:40.316939
License: Public Domain

MOISE, Justice (dissenting). I cannot agree that the trial court acted properly in submitting the issue of unavoidable accident to the jury in the present case. To my mind, the controlling decisions of this court are Jontz v. Alderete, 64 N.M. 163, 326 P.2d 95; Pitner v. Loya, 67 N.M. 1, 350 P.2d 230, and Baros v. Kazmierczwk, 68 N.M. 421, 362 P.2d 798. Also, I am of the opinion that the language quoted by the majority from Lucero v. Torres, 67 N.M. 10, 350 P.2d 1028, requires a different result from that reached. See, also, 65 A.L.R.2d 12, 85, where the note writer states: “In the majority of the cases involving the striking of pedestrians at or near street intersections, instructions on 'accident/ 'unavoidable accident/ and comparable accident instructions, have been considered inappropriate.” People do not just “loom” in front of cars absent something in the proof indicating impenetrable fog or smog, or similar obstruction to vision. The majority opinion states there was no proof that appellant could have been seen by any one in the car before she was actually seen. I have always been of the opinion that a driver of a car is required to see that which is in front of him and visible, and proof of visibility of an object the size of a human being is not required. Ortega v. Koury, 55 N.M. 142, 227 P.2d 941. This is certainly true unless some reasonable basis for failure to see, other than not looking, is presented, Turner v. McGee, 68 N.M. 191, 360 P.2d 383, and even then, reason tells me that either the pedestrian or the car driver, or both, would be negligent in proceeding across an intersection under such circumstances. Here I find no reasonable explanation of the parties’ failure to see each other until the instant preceding the collision. The fact that eyewitnesses testified that they looked in both directions arid did not see plaintiff supplies no answer. They were not the ones proceeding on a collision course with plaintiff, were looking from a different angle and direction, and had no duty to notice her. Finally, I do not agree that the rule that evidence must be considered in an aspect most favorable to an appellee has any application where the issue being decided is whether or not an instruction on unavoidable accident was properly given. The true question is simply one of whether any%vidence is present in the record which would support such a theory. Lucero v. Torres, supra. That the jury has returned a verdict for defendant aids us not one whit in determining the correct answer to this problem. Under the instructions as given it is impossible to determine if the jury found defendant free from negligence, both parties negligent, or both parties free from negligence. For the reasons stated, I would reverse and remand the case for a new trial and respectfully dissent from the opinion hold ing otherwise.