Bigelow v. Johnson

• Decision Date: 05 May 1981
• Docket Number: No. 1,1
• Court: North Carolina Supreme Court
• Parties: Michael D. BIGELOW, by Guardian ad Litem, John Joseph Bigelow v. Jeffrey D. JOHNSON et al. Jeffrey D. JOHNSON et al. v. James Marion MILLICAN and Millican Construction Company.

Page 347

277 S.E.2d 347

303 N.C. 126

Michael D. BIGELOW, by Guardian ad Litem, John Joseph Bigelow v. Jeffrey D. JOHNSON et al.

Jeffrey D. JOHNSON et al. v. James Marion MILLICAN and Millican Construction Company.

No. 1.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

May 5, 1981.

Parker & West by Gerald C. Parker, Greensboro, for plaintiff-appellant Michael D. Bigelow.

Nichols, Caffrey, Hill, Evans & Murrelle by Lindsay R. Davis, Jr., Greensboro, for defendant-appellee Jeffrey D. Johnson.

Perry C. Henson and Jack B. Bayliss, Jr., Greensboro, for defendants-appellees James M. Millican and Millican Const. Co.

COPELAND, Justice.

Plaintiffs set forth several arguments in support of their allegation that the Court of Appeals erred in affirming the trial court's order entering directed verdicts in favor of defendants. We have carefully reviewed each of plaintiffs' contentions and find that directed verdict was properly granted in favor of defendant Johnson, but improperly granted in favor of defendants Millican and Millican Construction Company. For the reasons stated below, we reverse that portion of the Court of Appeals' decision which affirmed the entry of directed verdicts in favor of defendants Millican and Millican Construction Company.

Plaintiffs first allege that the Court of Appeals erred in holding that since plaintiffs' vehicle was not equipped with an adequate headlamp within the definition of the applicable statutes, plaintiffs were contributorily negligent as a matter of law. G.S. 20-129(c) sets forth the headlamp requirements for motorcycles as follows:

"Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one and not more than two headlamps which shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in G.S. 20-131 or 20-132. The headlamps on a motorcycle shall be lighted at all times while the motorcycle is in operation on highways or public vehicular areas."

The section of G.S. 20-131 pertinent to this appeal provides:

"(a) The headlamps of motor vehicles shall be so constructed, arranged, and adjusted that ... they will at all times mentioned in G.S. 20-129, and under normal atmospheric conditions and on a level road, produce a driving light sufficient to render clearly discernible a person 200 feet ahead."

The question before us on this appeal is whether the flashlight which plaintiffs attached to the motorcycle on which they were riding sufficed as a "headlamp" within the meaning of these statutory provisions. We agree with the trial court and the Court of Appeals that it did not.

Although G.S. 20-129(c) and G.S. 20-131(a) do not contain a specific definition of a "headlamp" beyond the requirement that it project a driving light sufficient to render clearly discernible an individual 200 feet ahead, we believe that the Legislature's use of the term "headlamp" indicates that not just any light source possessing the requisite brightness will suffice. In the absence of an indication by the Legislature to the contrary, it is presumed that words in a statute are to be accorded their natural and ordinary meaning. Wood v. J.P. Stevens & Co., 297 N.C. 636, 256 S.E.2d 692 (1979); Simms v. Mason's Stores, Inc., 285 N.C. 145, 203 S.E.2d 769 (1974). Webster's Third New International Dictionary 1042 (1971) refers to a "headlamp" as synonymous with a "headlight," which is defined as follows: "A light usu(ally) having a reflector and special lens and mounted on the front of a ... motor vehicle for illuminating the road ahead." Thus, in its ordinary meaning a "headlamp" signifies not only a light constructed to project a powerful beam, but also a light constructed to diffuse this beam through "a reflector and special lens" in order to better illuminate the road ahead and serve as a warning to other vehicles. Our conclusion that the Legislature employed the term "headlamp" in its ordinary sense is further supported by the language of G.S. 20-131(a) which specifies that a headlamp must be "so constructed, arranged, and adjusted" as to provide the requisite visibility. By the use of this phrase we believe the Legislature intended that a "headlamp" within the contemplation of the statute be one that was specifically designed and constructed for use as a headlamp. While we do not attempt to set forth in detail the particular design or construction that would satisfy the statutory definition, we do hold that the five-cell flashlight which plaintiffs attached to the motorcycle in this case falls short of the headlamp requirement. The flashlight was not constructed to diffuse its beam of light and was never intended or designed for use as a motorcycle headlamp.

Johnson's failure to equip his vehicle with an adequate headlamp, in violation of G.S. 20-129, constituted negligence as a matter of law. Reeves v. Campbell, 264 N.C. 224, 141 S.E.2d 296 (1965), Correll v. Gaskins, 263 N.C. 212, 139 S.E.2d 202 (1964); Oxendine v. Lowry, 260 N.C. 709, 133 S.E.2d 687 (1963). When a statute prescribes a standard, the standard is absolute. "No person is at liberty to adopt other methods and precautions which in his opinion are equally or more efficacious to avoid injury." Aldridge v. Hasty, 240 N.C. 353, 360, 82 S.E.2d 331, 338 (1954). See also Stockwell v. Brown, 254 N.C. 662, 119 S.E.2d 795 (1961); Bondurant v. Mastin, 252 N.C. 190, 113 S.E.2d 292 (1960). Consequently, Johnson's failure to use a "headlamp" as required by statute was negligence per se, and no substituted light could negate his negligence.

However, plaintiff Bigelow may not maintain an action against Johnson to recover damages resulting from Johnson's negligence, for we likewise find Bigelow contributorily negligent as a matter of law. It is well established that a motor vehicle passenger must exercise due care for his own safety. Atwood v. Holland, 267 N.C. 722, 148 S.E.2d 851 (1966); Dinkins v. Carlton, 255 N.C. 137, 120 S.E.2d 543 (1961); Sorell v. Moore, 251 N.C. 852, 112 S.E.2d 254 (1960). A passenger cannot acquiesce in a continued course of negligent behavior on the part of the driver and retain the right to claim damages from him for injuries resulting therefrom. Lawson v. Benton, 272 N.C. 627, 158 S.E.2d 805 (1968); Bogen v. Bogen, 220 N.C. 648, 18 S.E.2d 162 (1941). The uncontested evidence in the case sub judice establishes that it was Bigelow who suggested the use of the flashlight as a substitute for the original headlamp and assisted in attaching it to the motorcycle. Bigelow admitted that he voluntarily rode with Johnson on the motorcycle with full knowledge of the substituted flashlight. Under these circumstances, we hold that Bigelow's actions in riding with Johnson on a motorcycle that was not equipped with an adequate headlamp constituted contributory negligence as a matter of law, and the Court of Appeals' decision upholding the entry of a directed verdict in favor of Johnson on Bigelow's claim against him is affirmed.

Although we find both Bigelow and Johnson negligent as a matter of law, we cannot hold as a matter of law that their negligence was a proximate cause of the collision and the injuries resulting therefrom. Negligence bars recovery only if it is a proximate cause of the injuries complained of; otherwise, it is of no legal importance. Griffin v. Ward, 267 N.C. 296, 148 S.E.2d 133 (1966); Taney v. Brown, 262 N.C. 438, 137 S.E.2d 827 (1964); Short v. Chapman, 261 N.C. 674, 136 S.E.2d 40 (1964). The facts of the present case give rise to conflicting inferences of causation. From the evidence presented it is possible to infer that plaintiffs' negligence in failing to equip the motorcycle with an adequate headlamp was a proximate cause of the collision. It is equally possible, however, to infer that the collision was solely caused by defendant Millican's negligence in breaching his duty...