This is a case in which recovery is sought for personal injuries resulting from an automobile-pedestrian collision.
In the early evening of November 25, 1974, at approximately 7:00 p. m., John Gonsoulin and Kenneth Adams, both age 17, were riding in an automobile owned by the Adams family. The two boys, both employed by a nearby hospital, went for the drive in order to smoke a marijuana cigarette during their work break. After Adams had driven but a block or twо from the hospital, he switched places with Gonsoulin so that he could eat a box of chicken and drink a coke which he had purchased earlier. Gonsoulin had briefly driven the Adams vehicle, a 1973 Volkswagen, on only one other occasion in a parking lot; therefore Adams reviewed the gears with Gonsoulin. The two boys then proceeded to drive through a residential area with Gonsoulin operating the automobile and Adams in the right front seat. The posted speed limit was 20 miles per hour, and street signs warned drivers of children playing in the neighborhood.
As Adams and Gonsoulin drove through the residential area, Adams spilled his coke between his legs and onto the seat. With the box of chicken in one hand and the coke in the other, Adams stood up and directed Gonsoulin to grab a napkin and wipe off the seat. As they attempted to clean up the *715 spill, neither Gonsoulin nor Adams was paying any attention to their direction of travel. It is undisputed that Adams did not request Gonsoulin to stop the vehicle or reduce its speed. The vehicle drifted to the left, crossed the street, jumped the curb, and struck Scott and Sheri Morris as they played in their yard. The automobile struck the curb with sufficient force to blow a tire and travel another 108 feet before cоming to a stop. Scott, age 9, and Sheri, age 10, sustained serious injuries.
Scott and Sheri Morris brought suit through their next friend, Carl M. Morris, their father who also sued individually, against Gonsoulin and Adams alleging that each defendant was guilty of negligence and that their negligent acts and omissions were the proximate causes of plaintiffs’ injuries. After suit had been filed, Gonsoulin entered into a compromise settlement agreement with plaintiffs. In accоrdance with the terms of such settlement, the trial court, on May 18, 1976, severed plaintiffs’ cause of action against Gonsoulin from the cause of action against Adams and rendered judgment in favor of plaintiffs against Gonsoulin in the amount of $350,000.00. The plaintiffs have continued to prosecute their cause of action against Adams. Subsequently, Adams filed a third-party action against Gonsoulin seeking indemnity and/or contribution, and the сase proceeded to trial in this posture.
In response to the special issues submitted, the jury found both Gonsoulin and Adams to have been guilty of negligence. The jury found that Gonsoulin failed to keep such a lookout as would have been kept by a person using ordinary care, was driving at a greater rate of speed than a person using ordinary care would have driven, and failed to make such appliсation of the brakes as would have been made by a person using ordinary care. The jury also found that such acts and omissions were a proximate cause of the occurrence in question. (Special Issues Nos. 1-6) In addition, the jury found that Adams diverted the attention of the driver from the road, instructed the driver to assist in cleaning the spilled drink while the driver was operating the vehicle, failed to request the driver to stop the car while the spilled drink was being cleaned up, and failed to request the driver to reduce the speed of the vehicle. (Special Issue No. 7) Such acts and omissions on the part of Adams were found by the jury to have constituted negligence which was a proximate cause of the occurrence in question. (Special Issues Nos. 8 and 9) The jury also found that after Adams had diverted the driver’s attention from the road, Adams failed to keep such a lookout as would have been kept by a person using ordinary care in the same or similar circumstances and that such failure was a proximate cause of the occurrence in question. (Special Issues Nos. 10 and 11) Finally, the jury determined that 60% of the negligence was attributable to Gonsou-lin and 40% of the negligence was attributable to Adams. (Special Issue No. 12) Thе jury refused to find that on the occasion in question, Gonsoulin was driving the vehicle under the influence of marijuana. (Special Issue No. 14)
The total damages found by the jury in regards to the injuries sustained by Scott Morris were $2,290,000.00. The elements of damage which could be considered by the jury were physical pain and mental anguish, physical impairment, and reasonable compensation for the necessary medical exрenses, hospital care, nursing services, medicine, and physician fees. These elements included both those required or suffered in the past and those which in reasonable probability will be required or suffered in the future. In addition, the jury could consider Scott Morris’ loss of earning capacity which in reasonable probability will be suffered in the future after reaching age 18. In regards to the injuries sustained by Sheri Morris, the jury found damages totaling $165,000.00. The elements of damage which could be considered by the jury were physical pain and mental anguish suffered in the past and which, in reasonable probability, will be suffered in the future and disfigurement. In addition, the jury could consider reasonable compensation for necessary medical expenses, hospital care, nurs *716 ing services, medicine, and physician fees which may have been required in the past or which will, in reasonable probability, be required in the future.
Upon motion by plaintiffs, the trial court reduced the total damages assessed by the jury from $2,455,000.00 to $2,370,400.00. The trial court then rendered judgment that plaintiffs recover $948,160.00 from Adams (40% of $2,370,400.00). From this adverse judgment Adams, appellant, has perfected this appeal predicated upon twenty points of error.
The primary question raised by appellant on appeal is whether appellant, a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident here in question, breached any duty owed by him to plaintiffs. Appellant contends that he had no duty to request the driver to stop the car or slow down while the spilled drink was being cleaned up, had no duty to keep a proper lookout, and breached no duty by asking the driver for a napkin. Under the facts of this casе, appellant argues that the trial court erred in placing a duty for the safe operation of the automobile upon appellant. We disagree.
The duty of a passenger in an automobile is measured by the same standard of care as that of the driver; the test applied is reasonable care, the care a reasonably prudent person would exercise under like circumstanсes. However, the conduct required of a passenger to satisfy that duty may be quite different from that required of the driver.
Edmiston v. Texas & New Orleans Railroad Company,
The general rule regarding a passenger’s duty to keep a proper lookout is stated in
Dudley v. Whatley,
“Ordinarily a passenger, not being in charge of the operation of the automobile, is not required constantly to keep a lookout. He may rely on the driver to keep watch unless he knows from рast experience or from the manner in which the car is being driven on the particular trip, that the driver is likely to be inattentive or careless.” (Emphasis added.)
See also Edmiston v. Texas & New Orleans Railroad Company,
supra,
A passenger must protest the driver’s excessive speed when the speed is such that a reasonable man would realize its excessive character.
Edmiston v. Texas & New Orleans Railroad Company,
supra;
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company v. Sheppard,
supra;
Brister v. Lasiter,
Whether or not a legal duty exists under a given state of facts and circumstances is essentially a question of law for the court.
Webb v. City of Lubbock,
Whether or not a passenger’s conduct, аs measured by the standard of ordinary care, constituted negligence is a question of fact for the jury.
Langham v. Talbott,
Appellant’s points of error nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15 and 16 are hereby overruled.
Appellant’s seventeenth point of error contends that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the opinion of Officer Preckwinkle regarding the speed of the vehicle in question because the witness was not quаlified to give such testimony. Officer Preckwinkle, a state trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety since 1967, testified that although he was unable to make a definite determination of the vehicle’s exact speed, it was his opinion that the Volkswagen was traveling in excess of twenty miles per hour at the time the occupants lost control of it. Appellant argues that this is the only evidence of excessive speed and that its erroneous admission was therefore reversible error. We disagree.
Officer Preckwinkle was at the scene of the accident within thirty minutes of its occurrence in order to make an investigation. His investigation included interviewing the occupants of the Volkswagen as well as observing the physical evidence. In addition to formal training in accident investigation, the witness investigated an average of between 500-800 accidents per year. In conjunction with this education and experience, Officer Preckwinkle based his opinion on the point at which the vehicle began to drift to the left, the result of the vehicle’s impact with the curb, the weight of the car, and the distance the vehicle traveled before coming to a stop. It is within the trial court’s discretion to determine whether a partiсular witness is qualified to testify as an expert, and the trial court’s decision will not be disturbed on appeal unless a clear abuse of discretion is shown.
Moore v. Grantham,
In the event the trial court did erroneously admit Officer Preckwinkle’s opinion, we believe it was harmless error. Rule 434, T.R.C.P. Appellant bаses his position upon the false premise which equates the maximum posted speed limit with reasonable speed. The issue submitted to the jury was not one of statutory speed limit violation, but one of common law negligence, was the vehicle’s speed excessive under the circumstances. Speed may be excessive even though it does not exceed the posted speed limit. Although a motorist may nоt be exceeding the speed limit, he remains under a duty to drive no faster than a reasonably prudent person under like circumstances.
Fitzgerald v. Russ Mitchell Constructors, Inc.,
The record discloses that both Gon-soulin and Adams testified that they were going twenty miles per hour and that neither was keeping a proper lookout. It was dusk, and both occupants of the vehicle knew that children were at play in the area. The driver was unfamiliar with the car. Gonsoulin testified that he was driving in fourth gear, the highest, at the time of the accident. The plaintiffs were playing within about twenty feet of the curb, but the vehicle traveled approximately 108 feet be
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fore coming to a stop. The car hit the curb with sufficient force to blow out one of the tires. We therefore conclude that other evidence existed in the record from which the jury could have concluded thаt, under the circumstances, the vehicle was being driven at an excessive rate of speed. Officer Preckwinkle’s testimony was merely cumulative and corroborative of other evidence and, even if his opinion was inadmissible, it would at most be deemed harmless error.
Adams
v.
Smith,
Appellant’s seventeenth point of error is overruled.
Appellant next contends that the trial court erred in overruling appellant’s motion in limine regarding the possession of marijuana by Gonsoulin and Adams. Appellant admits in his brief that no objection was made during the trial when the marijuana possession was raised. Appellees argue that appellant has failed to preserve the error, if any, and we agree.
The overruling of a motion in li-mine may be error, but it is never reversible error.
Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company v. McCardell,
Appellant’s nineteenth point of error argues that the trial court erred in permitting plaintiffs to file a trial amendment increasing the damages prayed for by plaintiffs from apрroximately $3,000,000.00 to about $5,000,000.00. It is well settled that the allowance of trial amendments is within the sound discretion of the trial court, and unless it is clearly shown that such discretion has been abused, its order granting or refusing a trial amendment will not be disturbed.
State of Texas v. Beever Farms, Inc.,
Appellant asserts a number of points of error raising legal and factual sufficiency attacks against Special Issues Nos. 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Special Issue No. 3 inquired of the jury whether on the occasion in question Gоnsoulin was driving at a greater rate of speed than a person using ordinary care would have driven, to which the jury replied in the affirmative. In special issues 7, 8, and 9, the jury found that appellant diverted the driver’s attention, instructed the driver to assist in cleaning up the drink, failed to request the driver to stop the vehicle while the spill was cleaned, and failed to request the driver to reduce his speed; that such acts and omissions constituted negligence on the part of appellant; and that such negligence was a proximate cause of the occurrence in question. Finally, in special issues nos. 10 and 11, the jury answered that appellant, after diverting the driver’s attention, failed to keep such a lookout as a person using ordinary care would have kept under the same or similar circumstances, and that such failure was a proximate cause of the occurrence in question.
*719
In determining a “no evidence” point, which is a question of law, we may consider only that evidence, if any, and the reasonable inferences therefrom, which viewed in its most favorable light, supports the jury finding and we must reject all evidence and inferences which are contrary to the finding.
Biggers v. Continental Bus System, Inc.,
In determining a factual sufficiency point, we must consider and weigh all the evidence to determine whether the verdict is so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust and the finding therefore be set aside and the cause remanded for a new trial.
Garza v. Alviar,
By his final point of error, appellant asserts that the trial court erred in including the element of disfigurement in the damage issue with regards to Sheri Morris because there was no pleading to support the submission of such element of damage. Plaintiffs’ petition with regards to the injuries suffered by Sheri Morris alleged:
“When the Defendant and his driver struck SHERI MORRIS, she was severely injured. She sustained a compound fracture of the right thigh, three fractures in her pelvis, a fracture of the right upper arm, a fracture of the left upper arm, and a fracture of the left clavical. She was confined to a hospital bed, shrouded in casts for a month and a half and thereafter was in a hospital bed at home in a body cast for several months. When all of the casts were finally removed, she had a shortening of the right leg. In addition to the substantial pain and suffering the young girl has already experienced, she now faces an uncertain future with additional surgery a distinct probability.”
No special exceptions were directed by appellant towards plaintiffs’ pleading.
In the absence of any special exception, the petition will be liberally construed in the pleader’s favor and to support the judgment.
Scott v. Gardner,
Appellee Gonsoulin presents a single cross point of error which contends that the trial court erred in failing to dismiss Adams’ third-party action because Gonsoulin, third-party defendant, is not a necеssary or proper party to this case or appeal. Appellee Gonsoulin argues that under section 2(e) of Article 2212a, Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann., he has been released of all further liability to any party on account of the accident which is the basis of the lawsuit. Therefore argues Gonsoulin, having no interest or stake in the outcome of this litigation, he should be *720 dismissed and not required to participate any further.
The procedural uncertainties under seсtion 2, Article 2212a, supra, have been the subject of recent discussion.
See Deal v. Madison,
We have considered all of appellant’s points of error and appellee’s cross point of error, and the same are hereby overruled. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.