TRIESTRAM v. WAY.

Supreme Court of Michigan

286 Mich. 13, 281 N.W. 420 (1938)

CHANDLER, J. On June 7, 1937, the plaintiff Clarence Triestram, with his father, plaintiff John Triestram, as passenger, was operating an automobile, owned by the latter, in an easterly direction on highway US-12. When about a mile east of the village of Sandstone they were involved in a collision with another car owned by the defendant Orin B. Hayes, Inc., and operated by defendant Way. Both plaintiffs sustained injuries in addition to the damage to the automobile, their suits to recover damages therefor being tried together and resulting in a verdict against both defendants. The trial court granted defendants' motions for judgments non obstante veredicto, from which action plaintiffs take this appeal.

The highway at the place of collision has a concrete surface of 20 feet in width. On the south or plaintiffs' side is to be found a row of telephone poles located three and thirteen hundredths feet from the edge of the pavement and a fence located six and twenty-six hundredths feet therefrom. Immediately south of the fence is a ditch approximately three feet in depth. On the north or defendants' side of the road is a gravel shoulder extending some nine feet beyond the edge of the pavement while farther north at a distance of approximately 25 feet from the edge of the pavement is a series of telephone poles. The accident occurred on a clear, bright, dry day at about a quarter past five o'clock in the afternoon.

According to plaintiffs' version of the accident, and which must be accepted as true in disposing of this appeal, Clarence Triestram first observed defendants' car approaching from the east at a distance of one-half to three-fourths of a mile away. At that time it was being driven close to the center line of the pavement. As it approached, it gradually crossed the center line at an angle and continued on toward the south side of the pavement until it had reached the edge thereof. During this period, Clarence Triestram had continued to watch the action of defendants' car and testified that when the cars were about 60 to 80 feet apart he realized that a dangerous situation was presented and that to avoid an accident he turned his car sharply to the north side of the pavement, intending to pass defendants on the left; and that as he crossed the center line, defendants' car swerved back to the north and that he, in again attempting to avert a collision, then tried to return to the south side of the pavement but was unable to do so before being struck by defendants. He further testified that he was not excited at the time but that the course of action pursued by him was taken in a calm and deliberate manner for the purpose of avoiding a collision, it being his opinion at the time that because of the narrow shoulder on his side of the road he could not successfully pass defendants if he remained on that side. Both cars were traveling at a speed estimated to be between 45 and 50 miles per hour. Plaintiffs' car did not stop when defendants' car was first observed and the driver of plaintiffs' car had no recollection as to whether or not he sounded the horn when he saw defendants continue to approach on the wrong side of the pavement.

Plaintiffs seek to avoid the charge that they were guilty of contributory negligence in attempting to pass defendant on the wrong side of the road upon the ground that an emergency was presented which warranted the action taken. The trial court, in granting defendants' motions for judgment non obstante veredicto, ruled that they were guilty of contributory negligence, no emergency having existed for the reason that the driver of the Triestram car was not excited at the time but acted in a calm and deliberate manner and failed to use other means at hand in an attempt to avert the impending disaster such as stopping the car or sounding the horn.

The standard of care required of one suddenly confronted with an emergency is a question frequently presented for consideration. Many cases are collected generally in the annotations in 24 A.L.R. 1308; 27 A.L.R. 1206; 79 A.L.R. 1295; and 111 A.L.R. 1030. The degree of care required in such situations, however, does not vary merely because of the existence of the unusual circumstances. The standard is neither higher nor lower, the inquiry remaining the same as to whether the one sought to be charged with negligence acted as a reasonably prudent man would act under the same or similar circumstances. Loucks v. Fox, 261 Mich. 338.

Under the facts presented by this case, it cannot be said as a matter of law that plaintiffs were guilty of contributory negligence in violating the law of the road in attempting to avoid a collision with defendants. Whether Clarence Triestram should have blown the horn, attempted to pass defendants by abandoning the pavement on his side of the highway and assumed the hazard of striking a telephone pole or the fence, stopped his car or followed any other procedure were all questions within the province of the jury in determining whether or not he acted as a reasonably prudent person in view of the existing circumstances.

The trial court believed no emergency existed because of the testimony of Clarence Triestram that he was acting in a calm and deliberate manner immediately preceding the crash. The existence or non-existence of an emergency did not necessarily depend upon the state of mind of Triestram. If the existing facts presented a situation of sudden peril requiring immediate action, plaintiff's efforts to avoid the crash should be judged in the light of those facts and not by what it might later appear he should have done had he had the opportunity to reflect. He was obliged to make an immediate decision and merely because what deliberation took place was done in comparative calm should not of itself deprive plaintiffs of the benefit of the emergency doctrine.

Defendants also submit that even if an emergency did exist plaintiffs cannot rely thereon for the reason that they created the situation by not taking some steps to avoid the same after first observing defendants' car on the wrong side of the highway one-half to three-fourths of a mile away. Plaintiffs, however, after observing defendants' car, had the right to assume that the driver thereof would also be looking and would guide the vehicle to the proper side of the road. Essenberg v. Achterhof, 255 Mich. 55. Defendants created the situation by failing to do so.

Reversed and remanded for entry of judgment on the verdict rendered. Plaintiffs will recover costs.