45 N.Y.S. 120 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1897
On August 2,1896, William H. Lansing with his three daughters, of whom the plaintiff was the youngest, proceeded to hoard the defendant’s car on the curve at the junction of Prospect and Jay-streets, in the city of Brooklyn. After assisting his two older
Upon the theory that the accident did not occur at the starting of" the car, and until it had passed the distance of thirty feet, it is with much force urged that there is no support for the charge that
This cannot ordinarily be applicable to passengers seated in cars, as there may be no reasonable apprehension of danger to result to them from the movement of the cars in passing over curves in the road, and the same may be said of children in the car or under the supervision -of persons with them. In the present case the father of the ¡Dlaintiff was responsible, for the care of the plaintiff against danger so far as'he was permitted under the circumstances to exercise that care for her protection against the danger to which she was subjected. If he had time or opportunity to put her into a place of safety or to give her his protection before the car. started, and if the car started with no unnecessary jerk, then there can be no imputation of negligence against the defendant.
It may b§ observed that the duty of a common carrier towards passengers for their safety requires something more than ordinary .or reasonable card. It-calls for watchfulness and a high degree of care and skill to guard against injury to them in that relation. (Maverick v. Eighth Ave. R. R. Co., 36 N. Y. 378.) ' In view of •the circumstances, as detailed by the evidence of the plaintiff’s father, can it be said, as matter of law, that the defendant did not fail1 "tó use the care required of it and that the plaintiff’s injury was not attributable to such failure ? The defendant’s servants- having the charge of the car saw or ought to have seen the father put the child into the seat of the open car, followed by his proceeding to get aboard. The conclusion was warranted, from his evidence, that lie had no opportunity to sit down himself Or to look after the child before the car started with a quick motion and rapidly, by which he was jerked back into the seat. He adds, “ and out went the child.” Thus, according to his statement, he was prevented from doing any
The judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, costs to abide the event.
All concurred, except Bartlett, J., not sitting.
Judgment reversed and new trial granted; costs to abide the event.