97 A. 563 | N.H. | 1916
The question raised by the defendant's exception is whether the evidence is sufficient to support the finding of the superior court that manifest injustice would be done, unless the plaintiff is permitted to file her claim against the defendant for the injuries she suffered. P.S., c. 76, s. 9. If it appeared that she could have no recoverable claim therefor, it would necessarily follow that a denial of her petition would not result in manifest injustice. Owen v. Derry,
It is not contended that the evidence was insufficient to warrant a finding that the embankment was a dangerous one defectively railed within the meaning of the statute giving highway travelers an action against towns for injuries suffered in consequence of such embankments. Laws 1893, c. 59, s. 1. But it is argued by the defendant that the proximate cause of the plaintiff's injuries was the icy condition of the highway, for which the town is not liable, and that if that condition had not existed she would not have fallen over the embankment. It may be conceded that the first cause of her falling was the difficulty of traveling with entire safety over the ice. But the test of the defendant's liability in such cases is not found by ascertaining the first cause or occasion leading up to the injury, but by determining whether the injury was the natural and probable result of the defendant's fault in omitting to do what ordinarily prudent men would have done in his situation to prevent such injury. An extended discussion of this subject would not be useful in view of the numerous decisions in this state in support of that doctrine. Ela v. Cable Company,
The defendant also contends that it conclusively appears that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence which would preclude her recovery. This contention is based upon her testimony that she knew of the existence of the embankment but did not notice it at the time of the accident, but hastened along walking in the "horse path," which it appeared was about two feet from the bank over which she fell. There was testimony that there was less danger of one's slipping when walking in the "horse path" than when walking on other parts of the road; that the path on the other side of the road was muddy and partly filled with water, and that the plaintiff was pretty careful where she stepped on account of the ice. She was unable to say which way she fell when she slipped, but testified that she found herself over the bank. Upon this evidence no doubt can be entertained that reasonable men might find she was exercising ordinary care under the circumstances. The mere fact that she voluntarily encountered a known danger does not establish the proposition that she was guilty of contributory negligence. Kambour v. Railroad,
Exception overruled.
All concurred. *134