219 N.W. 912 | Minn. | 1928
Plaintiff, on August 31, 1926, had been cutting grass and brush on trunk highway No. 5 within a mile south of Bloomington bridge, when his son-in-law, Mr. Vierling, about six o'clock p. m. picked him up in his open automobile and started towards Shakopee. After driving a few rods the car was stopped on the westerly side of the road and plaintiff stepped off to get his tools which were on the east side. He took two or three steps when he came in contact with defendant's car going in a northeasterly direction. His shoulder was injured. This action was brought to recover damages. Plaintiff was awarded $500. The size of the verdict is not found fault with. But defendant insists that he and not plaintiff was entitled thereto, and this for two reasons, viz. the evidence fails to establish any negligence in the operation of the automobile, and plaintiff's contributory negligence appears as a matter of law. In our opinion both issues were for the jury.
The road in question is somewhat winding at the place of the accident. The testimony is in conflict as to how far from where Vierling's car stopped another coming from Shakopee could be seen. Defendant places it at 300 feet; one of plaintiff's witnesses thinks only 100 feet. Defendant says he was driving about 25 miles an hour, noticed the parked car, saw plaintiff step down, but did not slow down or sound the horn until within 20 or 30 feet from him. Vierling and Gideon Pond, who were in the car, testified that defendant was going at the rate of 40 miles an hour and gave no warning. It was for a jury to say whether or not ordinary care requires an automobile driver, who sees another car stopped on the roadside with people in or about the vehicle, to slow down to such speed that in passing there would be no danger of a collision should anyone step out in the roadway from the parked car, and also whether or not one about to pass such a parked car should not give timely warning of his approach.
Chinander v. De Laittre,
The order is affirmed.