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9 N.J. Misc. 556

Toth v. Baksa

Supreme Court of New Jersey

Decided May 15, 1931

Supreme Court of New Jersey · decided 1931-05-15

Relies on Hoppock v. Easton Transit Co.

Decided 1931-05-15

Per Curiam.

¶1This is defendant’s rule for new trial in an automobile accident case, plaintiff having received a verdict of $5,000 *557for personal injuries and damages to his automobile. The reasons under the rule are that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence and the damages excessive.

¶2We think that neither is well founded. The plaintiif was driving his Chevrolet car north on Pershing avenue in Camden and the defendant was driving an Essex car south on the same highway. The plaintiffs story was that the defendant negligently turned out from behind a line of cars in the face of his approaching car and that a side-swiping collision resulted, from which injuries were received causing him to lose parts of two fingers, producing considerable pain, and impairing his earning power. The testimony on liability fairly presented a question for the jury. A number of witnesses testified on each side supporting the respective contentions, but this only emphasized that the question was for the jury and the result reached was justified.

¶3While the damages seem fairly high, we cannot say that they are so excessive as to justify the intervention of the court. Plaintiif was a laborer obliged to work with his hands. He lost part of the index and adjoining fingers, besides receiving injuries to his face and left side; he had approximately $500 expenses and loss of wages. For injuries somewhat similar damages in the sum of $3,850 were sustained by this court in the case of Hoppock v. Easton Transit Co., 77 N. J. L. 342, and this at a time when the purchasing power of money was appreciably higher than it is now.

¶4The rule will be discharged.

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