Opinion
May 24, 1937.
June 25, 1937.
Negligence — Contributory — Guest in motorcycle sidecar — Excessive speed — Failure to object.
A guest in a motorcycle sidecar, who permits it to be driven at an excessive rate of speed without admonishment by him of the driver, is contributorily negligent.
Before KEPHART, C. J., SCHAFFER, MAXEY, DREW, LINN, STERN and BARNES, JJ.
Appeal, No. 4, Jan. T., 1937, from judgment of C. P. Lackawanna Co., Nov. T., 1932, No. 55, in case of Andrea Guiducci v. John Mason. Judgment affirmed.
Trespass for personal injuries. Before SHULL, P. J., specially presiding.
The opinion of the Supreme Court states the facts.
Verdict and judgment for defendant. Plaintiff appealed. Error assigned, among others, was refusal of new trial.
John Memolo, with him John J. Sirotnak, for appellant.
Walter L. Hill, of O'Malley, Hill, Harris Harris, for appellee, was not heard.
Argued May 24, 1937.
On a clear, dry day plaintiff was riding as a guest in a motorcycle sidecar on the way to the mines where both he and the driver were employed. Defendant was driving an automobile in the opposite direction along the same highway and was making a left-hand turn into an intersecting street, as the motorcycle approached. A collision occurred from which plaintiff suffered severe injuries. The jury found both defendant and plaintiff guilty of negligence and their verdict, as molded, was for the defendant specifically.
There is ample evidence to sustain the finding that appellant was guilty of contributory negligence. The motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed without admonishment by him of the driver. The terrific force of the impact corroborates the testimony that the motorcycle was driven at an excessive speed. If the jury believed these facts it could find appellant had concurred in his driver's negligence.
Appellant took no exception, either special or general, to the charge, and failed to suggest any correction or amplification at its conclusion when given the opportunity by the court. But it may be said that, considering the charge as a whole ( Casey v. Siciliano, 310 Pa. 238, 241), it is an accurate expression of the law applicable and not confusing.
Judgment affirmed.