Summary
In Ivy v Binger, 39 Mich App 59, 60; 197 NW2d 133 (1972), this Court held that the sudden emergency instruction did not contradict the instruction regarding conduct required when in the vicinity of children.
Summary of this case from Steele v. GillisOpinion
Docket No. 10713.
Decided February 28, 1972.
Appeal from Shiawassee, Michael Carland, J. Submitted Division 2 January 31, 1972, at Lansing. (Docket No. 10713.) Decided February 28, 1972.
Complaint by Charles A. Ivy, for himself and as next friend of Eddie Ivy, against Leston Binger for negligence. Judgment for defendant. Plaintiffs appeal. Affirmed.
Sinas, Dramis, Brake Turner, P.C., for plaintiffs.
Foster, Lindemer, Swift Collins, P.C., for defendant.
This appeal arises out of a negligence suit in which the jury returned a verdict for defendant. Plaintiffs appeal as of right.
Appellants contend that the trial court erred in instructing the jury that if defendant was confronted with a sudden emergency not of his own making, then defendant could not be said to have violated the "assured clear distance ahead" statute. MCLA 257.627(a); MSA 9.2327(a).
Six-year-old Eddie James Ivy was struck by defendant's automobile when the child darted out unexpectedly into traffic. The accident occurred at a school crossing at a time when defendant admitted he knew that children would be crossing the street. The court instructed the jury that:
"The law recognizes that children act upon childish instincts and impulses. If you find that the defendant knew or should have known that a child or children were or were likely to be in the vicinity, then the defendant is required to exercise greater vigilance and this is a circumstance to be considered by you in determining whether reasonable care was used by the defendant."
In light of the above instruction on defendant's duty of care, it was not improper for the trial court to include its sudden emergency instruction. The jury was authorized to find that such sudden emergency existed only if defendant was exercising the greater vigilance required when one drives through an area where children are likely to be present. Therefore, the trial court properly instructed the jury that if defendant was confronted with a sudden emergency not of his own making then his subsequent behavior should be judged according to the way a reasonable man would act under those circumstances. See, McKinney v. Anderson, 373 Mich. 414, 419-420 (1964); Campbell v. Menze Construction Co, 15 Mich. App. 407, 414-415 (1968); Wright v. Marzolf, 34 Mich. App. 612 (1971).
Affirmed. Costs to the defendant.