Miller v. Wagoner

356 S.W.2d 363, 1962 Tex. App. LEXIS 2372
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 28, 1962
Docket10944
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 356 S.W.2d 363 (Miller v. Wagoner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Miller v. Wagoner, 356 S.W.2d 363, 1962 Tex. App. LEXIS 2372 (Tex. Ct. App. 1962).

Opinion

RICHARDS, Justice.

O. D. Wagoner and wife, appellees, brought suit against John B. Miller, Jr., appellant, to recover damages for personal injuries sustained by Mrs. Wagoner and damage to the Wagoner automobile resulting from a rear-end collision between appellant’s and appellees’ automobiles which occurred in Austin, Texas, on December 28, *364 1958. Appellee Wagoner travelling south on a service road stopped his car at an intersection for a stop sign before entering West First Street, remaining at the stop sign to permit a car to pass which was travelling west on West First Street. While he was waiting for the car to pass appellant, .travelling south on the service road in the rear of Wagoner’s car, struck his .car in the rear, knocking it several feet .forward, and as a result of the collision Mrs. Wagoner, who was sitting in the front seat of the car, claimed a whiplash neck injury.

The case was tried to a jury which ren- ' dered a verdict for appellee O. D. Wagoner for $72.64 for damages to the automobile and $8,000.00 for damages for injuries suf'fered-by Mrs. Margarette Wagoner. Judgment having been rendered in accordance with the verdict of the jury and after his motion for new trial had been overruled, appellant perfected this appeal.

In answer to the special issues submitted the jury found (1) that just prior to the collision appellant failed to keep a proper lookout, (2) which failure was a proximate cause of the collision; (3) that appellant failed to bring his car to a standstill, (4) which failure was negligence, and (5) which negligence was a proximate cause of the collision and any resulting injuries to Mrs. Wagoner. The jury also found (6) that appellant was driving his car too close to the Wagoner car at the time and on the occasion in question, (7) which was negligence, and (8) a proximate cause of the collision and any resulting injuries to Mrs. Wagoner, and (9) that appellant failed to keep a proper lookout. In addition the jury found (11) that appellee Wagoner after bringing his automobile to a stop at the intersection did not start moving his vehicle in a forward direction and (19) that the collision was not an unavoidable accident. Appellant did not object to any of ;the; issues.

(Appellant predicates this appeal upon six points of error, Points 1 and 2 being that the jury’s answer to special issues 9 and 10 are without any support in the evidence and against the uncontradicted testimony or at least were so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to have been entirely wrong.

The jury found in answer to special issue No. 9 that just prior to the collision O. D. Wagoner did not fail to keep a proper lookout and having so found were not required to answer special issue No. 10 as to whether such failure to keep a proper, lookout was a proximate cause of ■the collision.

The rule of law governing proper lookout in rear-end collision cases is stated in Renshaw v. Countess, Tex.Civ.App., 289 S.W.2d 621, 624, no writ history, as follows:

“We think it is the law that a motorist following another vehicle must drive at a reasonable speed, keep back a reasonable distance, and keep his vehicle under reasonable control so as to provide for the contingency of a car in front suddenly stopping; that he must maintain a proper lookout for the car in front, so that he can stop without a collision or can turn out and pass the vehicle in front without getting in the way of traffic approaching from the opposite direction. A question of fact as to the existence of negligence is usually presented when one motor vehicle overtakes and strikes one in front of it, going in the same direction. The collision itself is some evidence of negligence on the part of the driver who strikes a preceding car from the rear. * * *
“We think that a prudent driver may stop at a street intersection and wait for the intersection to clear without anticipating that his vehicle will be struck by one approaching from the rear.”

In accord, Grossman v. Tiner, Tex.Civ.App., 347 S.W.2d 627, error ref., N.R.E.; *365 Neill v. Baltazar, Tex.Civ.App., 345 S.W.2d 454, error ref., N.R.E.; Hoey v. Solt, Tex.Civ.App., 236 S.W.2d 244, no writ history.

In passing upon the question of whether there is evidence to support the findings of the jury upon appeal, this Court may only consider that evidence which viewed in its most favorable light supports the jury’s findings and must disregard all evidence which would lead to a contrary result. Biggers v. Continental Bus System, 157 Tex. 351, 298 S.W.2d 79, 303 S.W.2d 359, 363. Both negligence and proximate cause may be inferred from the circumstances and it is not necessary to prove these elements by direct and positive evidence. Houston, E. & W. T. Ry. Co. v. Boone, 105 Tex. 188, 146 S.W. 533; Renshaw v. Countess, supra.

Wagoner testified that he stopped his car for a stop sign before entering West First Street and that he remained at the stop sign to permit a car to pass which was travelling west on West First Street; that prior to coming to a stop he had seen some reflections in his rear view mirror presumably coming from another car which was following; that he did not see the car but only the reflection of the lights; that he did not observe the car as it came up behind him because he assumed that since there was a stop sign, the car in the rear would also stop and he was watching the traffic ahead of him; that while his car was in gear its rear bumper was hit violently by the car driven by appellant and his car was knocked forward about 6 or 8 feet, at which time he applied his brakes and stopped the car. After the collision he got out of his car as did appellant, who came up to him and said: “I am sorry, fellow, it was my fault, I was looking the other way.”

Appellant, called as an adverse witness, was asked if he recalled having any conversation with Wagoner immediately after the collision and he' stated that he did have some conversation with Mr. Wagoner' and that they looked at the bumpers. When asked if he told Mr. Wagoner that he had not seen him before he hit him, he answered that he did not recall that he made that statement nor did he recall telling him that he was sorry that he did not see him because he was looking the other way, but when asked if he denied that he made that statement, appellant stated that he just did not recall it.

Appellant testifying in his own behalf, when asked if he and Mr. Wagoner had exchanged any words, answered as follows :

“A There might have been a few words said. However, it was two years ago; I don’t recall what conversation might have taken place.
“Q I will as you if you recall making a statement to Mr. Wagoner, in substance: T am sorry. I wasn’t looking. I didn’t see.

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356 S.W.2d 363, 1962 Tex. App. LEXIS 2372, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/miller-v-wagoner-texapp-1962.