144 So. 749 | La. Ct. App. | 1932
Plaintiff sues the defendant for damages caused by a head-on collision between his Chevrolet coupé driven by himself and a Ford coupé belonging to the defendant and driven by its agent while in the discharge of his duties and in the course of his employment.
Plaintiff was proceeding north on the road from Monroe to Sterlington, while the defendant's car was being driven south on the same road. This road at the time of the accident was what is commonly known as a dirt road, was ungravelled, and extremely dusty.
While plaintiff was proceeding north along this road, he met a large truck coming south. This truck, in the course of its progress, raised such a cloud of dust as to absolutely obscure the vision of the plaintiff, and for this reason he, the plaintiff, reduced his speed from twenty-five miles per hour to ten miles per hour, and continued driving as cautiously as he knew how. Immediately behind the truck the defendant's car was coming, meeting the plaintiff. In spite of plaintiff's reduced speed, there was a collision between the two. It is unnecessary to state or determine from the pleadings whether this collision occurred while the driver of defendant's car was attempting to pass the truck that had raised the dust, or if the truck had passed plaintiff's car. In plaintiff's petition it is alleged that:
"Petitioner further shows that the road was ungravelled and dusty, and the truck, which petitioner met and was in the act of passing when the collision occurred, was raising a dense cloud of dust; so much so as to obscure the vision of your petitioner and also that of anyone following behind said truck; and, for that reason, your petitioner slowed the speed of his car to about ten (10) miles per hour before attempting to pass said truck.
"Petitioner further shows that he was driving on his right-hand side of the road when meeting and passing said truck, and that the collision occurred on petitioner's right-hand side of the road.
"Petitioner further avers that the driver of defendant's automobile was driving on his left-hand side of the road, and apparently attempting to pass said truck, when the collision occurred."
Before answering plaintiff's petition, the defendant filed an exception of no cause of action leveled at the fact that plaintiff had alleged a state of facts that preclude him from recovering judgment. This exception was overruled by the judge of the lower court, and the defendant then answered the plaintiff's petition, and reconvened for damages in the sum of $553, charging that the collision was caused solely and only by the fault and negligence of the plaintiff. At the trial in the lower court, there was judgment in favor of the plaintiff for $721.65, and the defendant has appealed.
On the Exception of No Cause of Action.
It will be observed that plaintiff specifically alleged that the truck referred to in his petition raised a dense cloud of dust which obscured the vision both of plaintiff and of the driver of defendant's car. In spite of this complete obscuring of his vision, plaintiff merely reduced his speed and proceeded on his way. He should have pulled to his extreme right and stopped completely. In addition, prudence and caution would indicate that he should have turned on his lights and sounded his horn in order to warn any one that might be meeting him. *750
In the case of Castille v. Richard,
Another very similar case is that of Dominick v. Haynes Bros. et al.,
In Blashfield's Encyclopedia of Automobile Law, vol. 1, p. 370, it is said: "It is the duty of the driver of an automobile to stop his car when his vision is entirely obscured by a temporary obstruction such as a cloud of dust or smoke screen. When failure to do so would jeopardize the safety of others, then he must remain at a standstill until the obstruction has come to an end."
In view of these authorities and the plain wording of plaintiff's allegations that the truck in the case raised a "dense cloud of dust; so much so as to obscure the vision of your petitioner and also that of anyone following behind said truck," it is clear that the plaintiff has alleged a state of facts which, if true, convicts him of contributory negligence. The exception of no cause of action is good, and should have been sustained.
For the reasons assigned, the judgment appealed from is annulled and set aside, the defendant's exception of no cause of action is sustained, and the plaintiff's demands are rejected, and his suit is dismissed, with costs of both courts to be paid by him.