Court Opinion

ID: 9686582
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 15:56:31.776171+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:20.463911
License: Public Domain

Carr, J.
(concurring). This case has resulted from a traffic accident occurring on June 10, 1955, on a street in defendant city. Plaintiff sought to recover damages for injuries received by him on the ground of negligence on the part of defendant in the maintenance of the highway in question. He was at the time riding as a guest passenger in an automobile driven by Harold Bloom, and was being-transported to the place where he was employed.
The testimony on the trial indicated that the driver of the car was familiar with the highway and knew of the alleged defect that, as it is claimed, caused the accident. It had been his custom to avoid the defective place in the highway, when approaching on the side of the road where such defect existed, by turning to the opposite side. On the occasion in question the driver undertook to proceed accordingly but as he was so doing discovered that an automobile was approaching from the opposite direction. In consequence he was compelled, as he claimed, to drive through the depression or hole in the pavement, a course of action resulting in plaintiff’s injuries.
At the time plaintiff was not watching the highway or observing the manner in which the car was being driven. Under the circumstances disclosed by the proofs, it does not appear that any obligation rested on him to do so. He had confidence in the driver *354who was, to his knowledge, familiar with the situation and knew how to avoid the defect as he approached it. Negligence may not be ascribed to plaintiff because of his failure to watch for approaching traffic coming-from the opposite direction, or because of failure to advise the driver that they were in proximity to the defective pavement. Had plaintiff actually seen the automobile coming from the opposite direction and had reason to believe that the driver had not observed it, a different question would be presented.
Under the record the factual situation is analogous to that involved in Jones v. Daniels, 328 Mich 402. There actions for damages brought by 2 plaintiffs against defendant were consolidated for trial and on appeal. One of the plaintiffs was riding in the back seat of the car, did not see the approaching vehicle with which the collision occurred, and did not know what happened. The other plaintiff was riding in the front seat beside the driver, was not looking ahead immediately prior to the impact, but was giving her attention to a vehicle that the ear in which she was a guest passenger was passing. In commenting on the situation with reference to the plaintiff who was riding beside the driver, it was said (p 408) :
“The uncontroverted testimony of Kitty "Warren Jones shows that she was unaware of the danger. Since the duty of a guest passenger even in the front seat does not extend beyond warning the driver of dangers known to the guest, and apparently unknown to the driver, there was no negligence on her part; and the trial judge should not have submitted contributory negligence on her part as an issue for the jury’s determination.”
A like conclusion was reached with reference to the question of negligence on the part of the guest pas*355senger who was riding in the rear seat of the automobile, the Court pointing out that the duty of a guest passenger extends only to warning the driver of dangers of which the guest is aware and of which the driver is not aware, or of which the guest has reason to believe the driver is not aware.
Under the facts in the case at bar there was nothing on which to predicate a finding that plaintiff violated any duty resting on him to exercise reasonable precautions for his own safety. On the contrary, the proofs indicated the absence of such violation and, in consequence, the question of his contributory negligence should not have been submitted to the jury. The error in so doing may well have been prejudicial, and we concur in reversal for that reason. s ^ 1
: Dethmers, C. J., and Kelly, J., concurred with Carr, J.