Fleck v. Altoona & Logan Valley Electric Railway Co.

Opinion by Kephakt, J., The plaintiff, a retail milk dealer, was using Green avenue one of the main thoroughfares of the city. Most of the vehicles going to and from either side of the city travel upon this avenue. Both sides of it are occupied by wholesale and other business houses among which is [503] the market house. As the plaintiff traveled south from Ninth street this avenue on the east was partly torn up or in use by teams traveling from Tenth to Ninth street. The west side was occupied by three teams and an automobile and as the avenue was only twenty-six feet in width it was necessary for him to use a portion of the street occupied by the tracks of the defendant. Before leaving Ninth street his son looked back for a car. Seeing none approaching, the plaintiff drove a distance of 150 to 200 feet towards Tenth street and was about to turn off the tracks when he was struck. The plaintiff says that at no place after he left Ninth street could he have sooner left the tracks, being prevented by the conditions above stated. He knew that cars traveled only in the direction in which he was going, and after leaving Ninth street he did not again look back to see if a car was coming. Defendant’s negligence consisted in not having its car under proper control. Was the plaintiff guilty of contributory negligence? It was not negligence per se for him to be upon the tracks and while on the tracks driving his wagon his right “in certain particulars, is subordinate to that of the railway; the street car has, because of the convenience and exigencies of that greater public which patronizes it, the right of way; whether going in the same direction ahead of the car, or in an opposite* one to meet it, the driver of the wagon must yield the track promptly on sight or notice of the approaching car; but he is not a trespasser because upon the*track; he only becomes one if, after notice, he negligently remains there”: Thatcher v. Central Traction Co., Appellant, 166 Pa. 67; Dyer v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co., 58 Pa. Superior Ct. 634. It was, therefore, the plaintiff’s duty to take greater care when he was using the tracks of the company than he would while driving on the highway outside of the tracks. He should exercise reasonable judgment and care such as the law requires of a prudent man diligent for his own protection and that of his property. If warning were given him it [504] was Ms duty to leave the tracks; but, though the warning were given, which he denies, if it was impossible for the plaintiff to leave the tracks, the defendant was bound to observe these circumstances and so have its car under control as to give the plaintiff a reasonable opportunity to get off the tracks. “Although the defendant company was entitled to the right of way its employees were bound to exercise the right in such a manner as to give those driving along the track a reasonable opportunity to get out of the way when notified of the approach of a car”: Friedland v. Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway Company, Appellant, 59 Pa. Superior Ct. 539. The plaintiff having looked back at Ninth street where his vision was unobstructed for two squares and no car being in sight, he proceeded along a street blocked on either side in such manner as prevented his leaving the tracks, and considering the crowded condition of the* street under the facts as here presented we cannot say as a matter of law that he was guilty of contributory negligence in not looking back before his wagon was struck. This case is clearly distinguishable from Speakman v. Philadelphia & West Chester Traction Company, Appellant, 42 Pa. Superior Ct. 558. In that case the plaintiff had ample room to drive alongside the tracks. His negligence consisted in driving so close to the tracks as to prevent the cars from passing. The assignments of error which complain of the refusal of various points are overruled. They were all dealt with by the court in its general charge, if not fully answered, and present no substantial reason for reversal. The charge carefully covered the law and the facts and presented the defendant’s case fairly to the jury. The plaintiff’s case did not rest solely on the testimony of one witness but of several witnesses, and, though contradicted by others, their credibility was for the jury. The number of witnesses testifying to the same circumstances as related by the plaintiff does not bring the case within the line of authorities urged by appellant as controlling the charge of the [505] court; nor do we feel that reversible error was committed in tbe refusal of tbe court to order a continuance of tbe case when counsel for tbe appellee stated to tbe jury tbe value of tbe borse that was injured. It was tbe assertion of a fact known to exist as distinguished from an unliquidated sum to be made up from various facts and conditions. It cannot be likened to a statement of tbe amount of damage claimed in an action for personal injuries or other actions of like nature. Tbe assignments of error are overruled and tbe judgment is affirmed.