White v. Greer

285 S.E.2d 848 (1982)

Harvey Rhodes WHITE, Jr.
v.
Richard L. GREER.

No. 8120SC441.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

January 19, 1982.

Van Camp, Gill & Crumpler by James R. Van Camp, Douglas R. Gill and H. Morris Caddell, Jr., Southern Pines, for plaintiff-appellant.

McLeod & Senter by Joe McLeod and William L. Senter, Fayetteville, for defendant-appellee.

CLARK, Judge.

Plaintiff contends that the issue of contributory negligence should not have been submitted to the jury and that the court erred in its instructions on contributory negligence. A defendant who asserts contributory negligence as a defense has the burden of proving it. The issue of contributory negligence should not be submitted to a jury unless there is evidence from which such conduct might reasonably be inferred. Atkins v. Moye, 277 N.C. 179, 176 S.E.2d 789 (1970); Harris v. Freeman, 18 N.C.App. 85, 196 S.E.2d 48 (1973). "A defendant, however, is entitled to have any evidence tending to establish contributory negligence considered in the light most favorable to him and, if diverse inferences can reasonably be drawn from it, the evidence must be submitted to the jury with appropriate instructions as to its bearing upon the issue." Atkins v. Moye, supra, 277 N.C. at 184, 176 S.E.2d at 793.

There was evidence that plaintiff drove his motorcycle on a municipal street over the crest of a hill at the maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour, that defendant's car proceeded at a slow speed from the eastbound lane to the left and almost entirely across the westbound lane to a private driveway before being struck at the rear fender, that plaintiff's motorcycle left skid marks on the street for a distance of 88 feet, that the crest of the hill was some 275 feet from the point of impact, and that defendant looked but did not see the motorcycle approaching when he began his turn. This evidence was sufficient, when considered in the light most favorable to the defendant, to require the submission of the contributory negligence issue to the jury, and to support the charge to the jury that it could find the plaintiff contributorily negligent in that he (1) drove at a speed greater than reasonable in violation of G.S. 20-141(a), (2) failed to keep a reasonable lookout, and (3) failed to maintain proper control.

The trial judge correctly stated the principles of law concerning a driver's duty to drive at a reasonable speed, to keep a proper lookout, and to maintain control of his vehicle. He correctly defined the burden of proof, negligence, and proximate cause, including foreseeability. The court related to the jury the specific acts or omissions which, under the pleadings and evidence, could constitute contributory negligence. We think the instructions on contributory negligence were sufficient, and no prejudicial error appears. See Clay v. Garner, 16 N.C.App. 510, 192 S.E.2d 672 (1972).

The plaintiff next argues that the court committed prejudicial error by failing to instruct the jury on the doctrine of sudden emergency. The court is required to state the law and apply the evidence thereto in regard to each substantial and essential feature of the case, even in the absence of a properly submitted request for special instructions. Johnson v. Simmons, 10 N.C. App. 113, 177 S.E.2d 721 (1970), cert. denied, 277 N.C. 726, 178 S.E.2d 832 (1971). The doctrine of sudden emergency applies in situations where defendant's negligence creates the sudden emergency and plaintiff's acts have not brought about or contributed to the emergency. The plaintiff, while under a duty to exercise ordinary care for his own safety, is not held to the standard of care of selecting the wisest course of conduct when faced with the sudden emergency, but only to act as a reasonably prudent man under similar circumstances. Rodgers v. Thompson, 256 N.C. 265, 123 S.E.2d 785 (1962); Annot., 80 A.L.R. 2d 5 (1961). The doctrine is not available to one who by his own negligence brought about or contributed to the emergency. Johnson v. Simmons, supra.

Probably a sudden emergency arises in most, if not all, motor vehicle collisions, but the doctrine of sudden emergency is applicable only when there arises from the evidence in the case an issue of negligence by an operator after being confronted by the emergency. In Rodgers v. Carter, 266 N.C. 564, 568, 146 S.E.2d 806, 810 (1966), Justice Lake commented:

"The doctrine of sudden emergency is simply that one confronted with an emergency is not liable for an injury resulting from his acting as a reasonable man might act in such an emergency. If he does so, he is not liable for failure to follow a course which calm, detached reflection at a later date would recognize to have been a wiser choice...."

In the case sub judice, the defendant does not allege and offer evidence tending to show that the plaintiff after being confronted by the emergency was negligent in the operation of his motorcycle. Defendant does not allege and contend that plaintiff was confronted with the emergency and was thereafter negligent in that he applied his brakes and continued to drive in the westbound lane rather than avoiding the collision by driving to the left in the eastbound lane. The evidence tends to show that plaintiff, if negligent, was negligent in creating the emergency in that he failed to keep a reasonable lookout, to maintain proper control, or drove at an excessive speed. In Brunson v. Gainey, 245 N.C. 152, 156, 158, 95 S.E.2d 514, 517, 519 (1956), the Court said:

"One cannot, by his negligent conduct, permit an emergency to arise and then excuse himself on the ground that he was called upon to act in an emergency....

* * * * * *

If the peril suddenly confronting the defendant was due to excessive speed or to his failure to maintain a proper lookout, the fact that care was exercised after the discovery of the peril would not excuse the negligent conduct which was the proximate cause of the injury and damage. The court should so have instructed the jury."

We find no error in the failure of the trial court to charge on the doctrine of sudden emergency.

We find plaintiff's argument that the court erred in failing to summarize the investigating officer's testimony without merit. The omission of Officer Frye's testimony concerning defendant's admission that he did not see plaintiff was not prejudicial to plaintiff since the jury found defendant negligent. Plaintiff benefited by the court's omission of Frye's testimony that plaintiff told him he saw no turn signal since this contradicted plaintiff's testimony at trial.

In summarizing the evidence for the jury, the trial judge did not name and summarize the testimony of each witness. G.S. 1A-1, Rule 51(a) provides, in part, as follows: "The judge shall not be required to state such evidence except to the extent necessary to explain the application of the law thereto; provided, the judge shall give equal stress to the contentions of the various parties." We find no prejudice to plaintiff in the court's failure to recapitulate the officer's testimony, and overrule this assignment of error.

We have examined and considered all plaintiff's assignments of error and arguments and find that plaintiff had a fair trial free from prejudicial error.

No error.

WHICHARD and BECTON, JJ., concur.