Vandervelt v. Mather

90 N.W.2d 894, 353 Mich. 1, 1958 Mich. LEXIS 344
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 12, 1958
DocketDocket 72, Calendar 47,305
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 90 N.W.2d 894 (Vandervelt v. Mather) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vandervelt v. Mather, 90 N.W.2d 894, 353 Mich. 1, 1958 Mich. LEXIS 344 (Mich. 1958).

Opinions

Carr, J.

While attempting to cross Jefferson avenue on the west crosswalk of Woodward avenue, in the city of Detroit, plaintiff was struck and injured by an automobile driven by the defendant. The accident happened on May 24, 1952, at approximately 12:45 a.m. In his declaration plaintiff alleged that defendant, while driving in a westerly direction on East Jefferson, disregarded traffic control signals and proceeded through the intersection of said street with Woodward against a red light. The pleading further set forth, among other claims of negligence, that defendant failed to make proper observations and to have his automobile under control. The answer filed by defendant averred that the accident resulted from the negligence of plaintiff in proceeding into the path of defendant’s vehicle in such manner as to render it impossible to avoid the accident. The pretrial statement sets forth the material claims of the respective parties substantially as averred in their pleadings.

On the trial of the cause in circuit court before a jury plaintiff testified with reference to the occurrence of the accident and his injuries received therein. The testimony of other witnesses was also introduced for the purpose of corroborating his claims. At the conclusion of his proofs relating to the accident, counsel for defendant moved for a directed verdict alleging that said proofs were not sufficient to support a conclusion that defendant was guilty of negligence as charged in the declaration, or to justify a finding that plaintiff was not guilty [3]*3of contributory negligence barring recovery. Tbe motion was granted. Counsel for plaintiff then moved for a new trial on the ground that the court erred in directing a verdict in favor of defendant, and that new evidence of a material nature had been discovered. The motion was denied. Plaintiff has appealed from the judgment entered.

The issue presented on the appeal is whether plaintiff’s proofs, construed as strongly as reasonably possible in his favor, entitled him to have the questions of negligence, proximate cause, and contributory negligence submitted to the jury for determination. As a witness in his own behalf plaintiff claimed that at the time of the accident he was on his way home, intending to cross Jefferson avenue on the west side of Woodward avenue to a safety zone where he might board a streetcar. As he approached Jefferson he noted that the traffic lig’ht showed red for Woodward traffic. Accordingly he waited until the light changed to green, and then undertook to cross. The following excerpt from his testimony fairly indicates the substance of his claims with reference to the facts:

“Q. Now, after you left the northwest curb, what did you do then?
“A. Well, I stepped off the curb, and I looked to my left to see if any cars were making a right-hand turn. There weren’t any, and at the same time I noticed 2 cars already had stopped, one right along side the curb and one right along side that as we proceeded across the street.
“Q. Then what did you do, Mr. Vandervelt?
“A. Well, of course, I took 4 or 5 steps, and then I watched where I was going, of course, and then as we took another few steps we noticed we was nearing the tracks. Then I looked to my right to see if there were streetcars coming from Griswold avenue, and at that time somebody hollered ‘Look out.’ So I swung my head to the left again. I ob[4]*4served the green light, and I was so surprised to see this car almost on top of me.
“Q. How far away was the car when you first saw it?
“A. It wasn’t very far. It wasn’t only a few feet from me.
“Q. Then what happened next, Mr. Yandervelt?
“A. Well, I got hit, and I tried to pull back, but I couldn’t make it. I got hit. Then I rolled, and, of course, I landed about one-quarter length of the street away. * * *
“Q. What did you do, sir, when you first saw the lights turn green in your favor ?
“A. Well, when I first saw the light change from red to green, why, I looked to my left to see if any right-hand turns were being made by cars because, you know, they have the right-of-way, too, there. So there wasn’t any coming, so I started across the street, and at the same time I was looking to my left. I. seen 2 cars standing there already had stopped across the street.
“Q. That is, before you stepped off or at the time you stepped off the curb, you made this observation ?
“A. I stepped off the curb and looked to the left at the same time.
“Q. Then, is it correct to say you made this observation to which you have just referred at the time you were taking your first step off of the curb at the northwest corner of this intersection and as you were crossing Jefferson avenue, is that correct?
“A. That is right.
“Q. Then, what did you do, Mr. Vandervelt?
“A. Why, we continued our way across the street, and as, of course, I was watching where I was walking, and as we neared the main streetcar track, that is, the main westbound streetcar tracks, why, I looked to my right to see if any cars were coming, that is, the streetcars, because I was going to the streetcar to go home, and the safety zone is right beyond that. As we neared the tracks, I looked to my right to see if any cars were coming around the [5]*5corner. There wasn’t any coming, and at the same time someone hollered ‘Look out.’ So as I swung my head around, I observed the green light. Then I observed this car to my left, and it was almost on top of me, and my eyes flashed on the windshield and part of the hood.
“Q. When you heard this statement or shout of ‘Look out’ — let me correct that. Immediately before you heard this shout, tell us, if you will, sir, were you looking south — that would be ahead of'you — or were you still looking right to observe any streetcars that might have been eastbound, as I understand your testimony, but I don’t —
“A. (Interposing) Well, you see, I was looking to my right to see if a car was coming from around the corner because the cars came around from Griswold avenue.
“Q. Is that when you heard this ‘Look out’?
“A. Well, I had already looked when I heard somebody holler ‘Look out.’ Just about the same time. Then I swung my head over to see whht was going-on. As I swung- my head over, my eyes observed the green light. It went around further, and I observed the car, and it was almost on top of me. I tried to get away, but I couldn’t. I pulled myself back, but I was hit.”

Plaintiff’s witness Edward Darlak was walking directly behind plaintiff as the latter started to cross Jefferson avenue, and corroborated the claim as to the condition of the light when the parties were at the northwest corner of the intersection. He stated that when the plaintiff left the curb the light was green for north and south traffic. He noted the approach of defendant’s car and shouted “Look out.” Apparently the warning- came too late.

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Vandervelt v. Mather
90 N.W.2d 894 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1958)

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Bluebook (online)
90 N.W.2d 894, 353 Mich. 1, 1958 Mich. LEXIS 344, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vandervelt-v-mather-mich-1958.