238
[19] Boss v Litton NISI PRIUS. 1832. 5 CARRINGTON & PAYNE 407.
To walk in the carriage-road does not constitute
such Contributory Negligence.
TRESPASS for injuring
the plaintiff, by driving a cart against
him. Plea - Not guilty.
It appeared that the plaintiff was walking in the carriage way
in the neighbourhood of Islington, about ten o'clock in the
evening,
when the defendant, who was driving a taxed cart,
turned out from behind a post chaise and drove against the
plaintiff, and knocked him down. A policeman, who was called as
a witness, stated that he never walked upon the foot-path, it
was in so bad a state.
Comyn, for the plaintiff,
called another witness, and was
questioning him as to the state of the foot-path, when -
DENMAN, C.J., observed - I do not think that any more evidence
need be given on that subject. The policeman has proved the
state of the path. A man has a right to
walk in the road if he
pleases. It is a way for foot-passengers as well as carriages.
But he had better not, especially at night, when carriages are
passing along.
239
Thesiger addressed the jury, and contended that the plaintiff
ought
to have used the foot-path, so that he might have avoided
any carriage passing; and that, if he had done so, the injury
would not have been sustained.
Witnesses were called to shew that the plaintiff, previous to
the injury, had a paralytic stroke.
DENMAN, C.J., in summing up, said - That all persons,
paralytic
60
as well as others, had
a right to walk in the road,
and were entitled to the exercise of reasonable care on the part
of persons driving carriages along it.
60
.
[EDITOR'S NOTE. "A measure of care appropriate to the inability or disability of those
who are immature or feeble, in mind or body, is due from those who ought
to anticipate the presence
of such persons within the scope of their own operations"; (
per Lord Sumner, L.R. [1922] 1 A.C. at p.
67).]