Hernandez v. Pan American Fire & Casualty Co.

157 So. 2d 923, 1963 La. App. LEXIS 2046
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 12, 1963
DocketNo. 5953
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 157 So. 2d 923 (Hernandez v. Pan American Fire & Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hernandez v. Pan American Fire & Casualty Co., 157 So. 2d 923, 1963 La. App. LEXIS 2046 (La. Ct. App. 1963).

Opinion

LANDRY, Judge.

Plaintiff, Travis P. Hernandez, has taken this appeal from the judgment of the trial court rejecting his demands against one of the defendants and his insurer for damages occasioned ‘ plaintiff’s automobile in a three car collision.

The accident in question occurred at the intersection of Scenic Highway and Lorraine Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at [924]*924approximately 11:00 P.M., October 22, 1960. Scenic Highway is 'a four-lane paved highway running in a northerly-southerly direction and provides two lanes of travel for north and southbound motorists alike. Lorraine Street intersects Scenic Highway from the east, the two thoroughfares forming what is commonly referred to as a “T intersection” considering Lorraine Street ends at Scenic Highway and does not extend or project beyond Scenic Highway which is the superior roadway.

Immediately preceding the accident the three vehicles involved therein were all proceeding northerly along Scenic Highway in the left or inside northbound lane of travel. The lead vehicle, owned by one Russell J. Williams and being driven by defendant, Gerald J. Ayo, stopped at the intersection in the left or inside northbound lane preparatory to making a prohibited “U-turn” in order to reverse or change his direction of travel and proceed southerly along Scenic Highway. Plaintiff, following behind Ayo brought his vehicle to a stop behind Ayo in the left or inside northbound lane and while thus stopped plaintiff’s automobile was struck from the rear by an. automobile belonging to and operated by one James H. Smith who was following behind plaintiff. The force of the impact propelled plaintiff’s vehicle against the car ahead resulting in damages to both the front and rear of plaintiff’s automobile.

The learned trial court rendered judgment in favor of plaintiff against Smith by default but rejected and dismissed plaintiff’s demands against defendants Ayo and Pan American Fire and Casualty Co., liability insurer of the vehicle being driven by Ayo-. From the judgment rejecting his demands as against defendants Ayo and Pan American Fire and Casualty Co., plaintiff has appealed. No appeal has been entered on behalf of defendant Smith.

There is absolutely no dispute whatsoever between appellant and appellees regarding the facts and circumstances of the instant matter. The uncontested events giving rise to this litigation (insofar as concerns appellant’s case against appellees, Ayo and Pan American Fire & Casualty Co.) were adduced wholly by an agreed statement of facts which we herein set forth in full as follows:

“AGREED STATEMENTS OF FACTS
“It is stipulated between counsel for plaintiff and counsel for Pan American Fire & Casualty Company and Jerald J. Ayo as follows:
“1.
“The accident sued on occurred on. October 22, 1960, at about 11:30 P. M. on Scenic Highway at the intersection with Lorraine Street in Batons Rouge, Louisiana.
“2
“Lorraine Street intersects Scenic Highway from the east but does not go through Scenic Highway, the intersection being a ‘T’ intersection. Scenic Flighway at this point has two-lanes for northbound traffic and two-lanes for southbound traffic.
“3.
“Jerald Ayo was driving an automobile owned by Russell J. Williams, in a northerly direction on Scenic in. the inside lane of traffic. He stopped the car at the intersection for the purpose of turning into the southbound traffic lane to go back south on Scenic Highway, this being a ‘U’ turn maneuver.
“4.
“While Ayo was stopped, and before he had started into this turning maneuver, plaintiff, driving his automobile north on Scenic in the same [925]*925lane, stopped his car behind the Ayo car to wait for Ayo to make his turn.
“5.
“While these two cars were stopped, James H. Smith, who was also driving north on Scenic in the inside lane, did not stop and collided with the rear of plaintiff’s car, driving plaintiff’s car into the rear of the Ayo car.
“6.
“Section 89 of the Traffic Code for the City of Baton Rouge prohibits ‘U’ turns in the area where this accident occurred.
“7.
“Plaintiff’s automobile was damaged as a result of this accident to the extent of $445.94.
“8.
“At the time of the accident, Ayo was insured against liability for property damage by Pan American Fire & Casualty Company.”

We deem of considerable significance the fact that the sole act of negligence charged against defendant Ayo is his alleged negligence in stopping to make an illegal U-turn. It is not contended Ayo made a sudden stop creating an emergency situation or that he was driving without lights or failed to give proper signal of his intention to stop or make a left turn. In substance plaintiff contends defendant Ayo was attempting a U-turn in violation of a municipal ordinance and had he not attempted such illegal maneuver the accident would not have occurred. In essence learned counsel for appellant contends our esteemed brother below erred in failing to hold the negligence of defendant Ayo in stopping to make an illegal U-turn was the proximate cause of the accident.

In support of appellant’s asserted right of recovery able counsel for appellant cites numerous authorities to the effect a left turn or U-turn has repeatedly been held to be extremely hazardous and therefore must be attempted by a motorist with extreme care and only when the way is clear and such maneuver may be accomplished without danger to either approaching or overtaking traffic.

While we are thoroughly in accord with the principle relied upon by counsel for appellant and have ourselves applied the rule on innumerable occasions, it is at once apparent, from the foregoing statement of facts upon which this matter was submitted, we are not herein confronted with the normal left turn or U-turn case. According to the agreed stipulation of facts appearing of record herein (by which we are bound considering the case against appellees is predicated solely thereon), it is clear beyond all doubt Ayo was stopped in the left or inside northbound lane of travel and had not yet commenced his intended turn at the time of impact. The improper U-turn which it was his admitted intention to execute remained at the time of collision, a mere mental determination or proposed action. The stop of itself constituted no violation of the prohibitory U-turn ordinance relied upon by appellant.

We are of the opinion the case at bar must turn upon the issue of whether, under the circumstances shown, Ayo was guilty of negligence in stopping in the left or inside lane of travel on a four-lane street and, if so, whether such negligence was a proximate cause of the accident which ensued.

In view of the circumstances attending the instant case we believe Tyler v. Marquette Casualty Company, La.App., 79 So.2d 376, and the other authorities cited by counsel for appellant (dealing with left turning vehicles), inapposite to the case at bar considering defendant Ayo was not in the act of making a left turn when the collision occurred.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

LaGrappe v. Progressive Security Insurance Co.
154 So. 3d 1263 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2014)
Beard v. State
795 So. 2d 551 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2001)
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Hoerner
426 So. 2d 205 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1982)
Welch v. Thomas
263 So. 2d 427 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1972)
Viator v. Gilbert
206 So. 2d 106 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1968)
Muse v. WH Patterson & Company
182 So. 2d 665 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1965)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
157 So. 2d 923, 1963 La. App. LEXIS 2046, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hernandez-v-pan-american-fire-casualty-co-lactapp-1963.