6 N.Y.S. 229 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1889
This action was brought to recover damages- claimed to have been sustained by the plaintiff by reason of the conductor of the defendant’s car being thrown against the plaintiff while the car was passing a curve. The ground upon which the defendant was held liable was that the driver of the car was driving at a rate of speed such as would occasion a jolt, and thereby throw the conductor against the person of the plaintiff. It is conceded that a cause of action was made out such as entitled the case to be submitted to the jury. But it is claimed that the damages were excessive, and that the learned judge made an error in charging the jury that they might take into consideration, upon the subject of the permanency of the injury, the plaintiff’s liability to suffer more from other ailments than she would have suffered had it not been for the injury. Although the verdict seems large, in view of the injuries which the plaintiff was shown to have suffered as the result of the accident, yet it is not so excessive as to justify this court in interfering with it. It appeared that the plaintiff required medical attendance for a considerable length of time, and also that the injury she received was permanent, and would affect her during her future life. Neither does the exception to the charge afford any reason for a reversal. The evidence was sufficient to entitle the jury to come to the conclusion that there was a reasonable certainty that the results of the accident would be permanent; the physician testifying that it would last her as long as she lived, and that if she was sick from other causes the result of this injury would always complicate