Torts And Damages Case Digest: Pantranco North Express, Inc. V. Maricar Baesa ( !"!

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G.R. 79050-51 November 14, 1989 lear !ance "#orts an$ %ama&es' Lessons Applicable: Last

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)po*ses +aesa, t!eir 4 c!il$ren, t!e ,co spo*ses an$ t!eir son an$ 7 ot!er people boar$e$ a passen&er -eep $riven b. %avi$ ,co to &o to a picnic in ,sabela, to celebrate t!e 5t! /e$$in& anniversar. o0 t!e +aesa spo*ses 1!ile t!e. /ere procee$in& to/ar$s 2alalam River at a spee$ o0 abo*t 30 4p!, a spee$in& 5AN#RAN 6 b*s 0rom Aparri, on a ro*te to 2anila, encroac!e$ on t!e -eepne.7s lane /!ile ne&otiatin& a c*rve, an$ colli$e$ /it! it. As a res*lt, t!e entire +aesa 0amil., e8cept 0or t!eir $a*&!ter 2aricar +aesa, as /ell as %avi$ ,co, $ie$, an$ t!e rest s*00ere$ 0rom in-*ries. 2aricar +aesa, t!ro*&! !er &*ar$ian 0ile$ separate actions 0or $ama&es arisin& 0rom 9*asi-$elict a&ainst 5AN#RAN 6. 5AN#RAN 6: alle&e$ %avi$ ,co:s ne&li&ence as a pro8imate ca*se o0 t!e acci$ent an$ invo4e$ t!e $e0ense o0 $*e $ili&ence in t!e selection an$ s*pervision o0 its $river. A *p!el$ R# : 0avor o0 +aesa

,));<: 1=N t!e last clear c!ance applies t!ereb. ma4in& %avi$ ,co /!o !a$ t!e c!ance to avoi$ t!e collision ne&li&ent in 0ailin& to *tili>e /it! reasonable care an$ competence

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Generall., t!e last clear c!an&e $octrine is invo4e$ 0or t!e p*rpose o0 ma4in& a $e0en$ant liable to a plainti00 /!o /as &*ilt. o0 prior or antece$ent ne&li&ence, alt!o*&! it ma. also be raise$ as a $e0ense to $e0eat claim 0or $ama&es (or t!e last clear c!ance $octrine to appl., it is necessar. to s!o/ t!at t!e person /!o alle&e$l. !as t!e last opport*nit. to avert t!e acci$ent /as a/are o0 t!e e8istence o0 t!e peril, or s!o*l$, /it! e8ercise o0 $*e care, !ave been a/are o0 it t!ere is not!in& to s!o/ t!at t!e -eepne. $river %avi$ ,co 4ne/ o0 t!e impen$in& $an&er 1!en !e sa/ at a $istance t!at t!e approac!in& b*s /as encroac!in& on !is lane, !e $i$ not imme$iatel. s/erve t!e -eepne. to t!e $irt s!o*l$er on !is ri&!t since !e m*st !ave ass*me$ t!at t!e b*s $river /ill ret*rn t!e b*s to its o/n lane *pon seein& t!e -eepne. approac!in& 0orm t!e opposite $irection <ven ass*min& t!at t!e -eepne. $river perceive$ t!e $an&er a 0e/ secon$s be0ore t!e act*al collision, !e !a$ no opport*nit. to avoi$ it

last clear chance doctrine can never apply where the party charged is required to act instantaneously, and if the injury cannot be avoided by the application of all means at hand after the peril is or should have been discovered