Bush v. Murphy

85 N.Y.S. 361

• Court: Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York
• Decided: November 30, 1903
• Status: Published

Opinion

BISCHOFF, J.

The plaintiff’s wagon was being driven northly along West street, upon the right-hand car-track. A light wagon was approaching it upon the track to the left, and the defendant’s heavy truck was slightly in front of the light wagon, but to the left and clear of the left-hand track. The plaintiff’s wagon came opposite to the light wagon as the latter, going a little faster than the truck, came beside it; but the truck then attempted to swing toward and over the tracks, and, colliding with the light wagon, threw it against the plaintiff’s wagon, with the result that his horse was killed. Whether the driver of the light wagon was or was not negligent in failing to stop when the truck attempted to pass, does not affect the defendant’s liability, if the-truck driver’s attempt to cut across was also negligent; and the justice was quite authorized to find that it was. So far as appears, the truckman simply gave a signal with his hand that he intended'to take the right of way—a right not justified by reasonable prudence, in view of the position of the three wagons, but depending for its assertion mainly upon the greater size of his vehicle—and then proceeded to bring about a serious collision. From the relative station of these wagons, and the manner of approach, the person in charge of the plaintiff’s wagon could well be absolved from negligence in failing to anticipate this negligent act of the truckman or to avoid the accident, since the circumstances leading to the accident were not such as to suggest danger until the danger came suddenly upon him. The probabilities as to the nature of the impact between the truck and the light wagon are not against the testimony for the plaintiff, as the appellant asserts, in view of the particular angle at which the truck’s course may have been deflected.

Judgment affirmed, with costs. All concur.