Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railway Co. v. Petit

Mr. Justice G-uhter delivered the opinion of the court: Action to recover damages for personal injuries. Verdict and judgment for plaintiff. Defendant appeals: - The evidence, sufficient for the jury, tended to show the following facts: Defendant was operating an electric railway between Cripple Creek and Victor, this state; plaintiff was a pássenger for hire [328] thereon; defendant had been repairing a section of this road between said points, and, temporarily, this section, to the extent of about 250 feet, was not in use; when the car in which plaintiff was riding reached, on its way to Cripple Creek, this section of the road, the passengers were instructed to change cars; this was done by walking over the section under repair and taking another car; plaintiff, in maldng the change, .left his car, and started along the railway toward the Cripple Creek car; the hour was dark, and the way dimly lighted; plaintiff walked the ties for some distance, but the traveling there being unsafe because of the absence of ballast and the ties being elevated above the ground, he abandoned the ties, and took the ground immediately outside the rail; when about 100 feet from the Cripple Creek car, he stepped into an open hole made for a trolley pole, and sustained serious injuries at the knee joint; as stated, he had .a verdict and judgment for damages so sustained. 1. It is said there was an absence of proof that defendant was negligent in this: There was no evidence that defendant dug the hole into which plaintiff stepped, or that the hole had existed á sufficient time to charge defendant with notice of its presence. .There was evidence that the defendant’s railway was electric; there was evidence that the hole was close to defendant’s track, and dug for a trolley pole. "We think such evidence, in the absence of explanation, justified the conclusion that defendant dug the hole; Further, the accident was about 2 o ’clock in the morning. The hole must have been dug not later than the preceding day, and was uncovered when the accident occurred. [329] Defendant knew that the way would be traveled by its passengers in the darkness of the following night. It was guilty of negligence in not using reasonable care to see that the way was reasonably safe before the night came on. If it had exercised such care, it would have discovered the presence of the hole, and would have rendered it safe. Defendant, therefore, was charged with notice of the defective condition of the way. Further, the relation of carrier and passenger existed between plaintiff and defendant when he was passing from one car to the other, and it was the duty of defendant to use reasonable care to have the way over which plaintiff was- to pass in a reasonably safe condition. — Chicago & A. R. R. Co. v. Winters, 175 Ill. 293; St. Louis S. W. R. Co. v. Griffith, 12 Tex.Civ. App. 631; Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co. v. The State, 60 Md. 449, 463. As the relation of carrier and passenger existed while the plaintiff was passing over this way, and as the way was in an unsafe condition, and from such condition the accident resulted, a prima facie case of negligence was made out against defendant, and the burden was then upon it to show the absence of negligence in the unsafe condition of the way. — Denver Cons. Tramway Co. v. Rush, 19 Colo. App. 70, and authorities there cited. There was no evidence to overcome this prima facie case. 2. It is contended that plaintiff was guilty of such contributory negligence as to bar a recovery. It would serve no useful purpose to go into the details of the evidence on this point. It must suffice to say that, under the evidence, the question of contributory negligence was one of fact for the jury, and they resolved it for plaintiff. [330] 3. It is said the award was excessive. This was in the amount of $1,000.00. A severe injury was done to the knee joint, the upper and front portion of the ligaments thereof being torn loose, and the muscles in that region seriously sprained. In consequence, plaintiff was confined to his bed for one week, suffered great pain for about two weeks, and has suffered more or less pain since, and it is uncertain how long, at times, he will suffer pain from this injury. Plaintiff went upon crutches for sixty days, was unable to work for eighty-three days, and, to some extent, his injuries are permanent. Plaintiff ha.s paid the surgeon in charge of his case $25.00. “It is exclusively the province of the jury to estimate and assess the damages; and the amount to be allowed in such cases as this rests largely in their sound, discretion. They are to take into consideration all the direct consequences of the injury received, such as bodily pain suffered, the loss of time and pecuniary expenses occasioned thereby, and the permanent injuries, if any, resulting therefrom.” —Wall et al. v. Livezay, 6 Colo. 465, 474. "We are not justified in disturbing the verdict of the jury on this point. 4. No error was committed by the court in charging that the jury should take into consideration the pain suffered as a consequence of the injury in estimating the damages sustained therefrom. — Wall v. Livezay, supra. The record is free from reversible error. Judgment affirmed. Affirmed. Chibe Justice G-abbebt and Mr. Justice Maxwell concurring.