Nabangga ng tren sa riles

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | March 18, 2023

Dear Chief Acosta,

Kami ng aking pamilya ay bumabiyahe papuntang Bicol nang kami ay biglang mabundol ng isang tren sa may railroad crossing. Nang panahon na ‘yun, may kurbada ang riles, kaya hindi namin maaaring makita kung may paparating na tren at wala rin akong narinig na busina na may paparating na tren. Ako ay nakaasa sa signal light at boom barrier na noong panahon na ‘yun ay hindi naman nakailaw at ang boom barrier ay nakataas. Kami ay nakasunod sa isang sasakyan na may limang metro ang layo sa amin at sinundan ko lamang ito. Ang sasakyan na aming sinusundan ay nakatawid nang maayos, habang ang aming sasakyan ay tinamaan sa harapang bahagi. Kami ay nagsampa ng kaso para mabawi ang danyos na aming natamo.

Ayon sa tugon ng operator ng tren, kami ay mayroong contributory negligence na siyang dahilan kung bakit kami naaksidente at dahil dito, hindi kami maaaring humingi ng danyos. Tama ba ito? – Mike

Dear Mike,

Ang sagot sa iyong katanungan ay sinagot ng Korte Suprema sa kasong Philippine National Railways et al. v. Purificacion Vizcara et al. (G.R. No. 190022, February 15, 2012, Ponente: Retired Honorable Associate Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes), kung saan sinabi ng Korte Suprema ang pamantayan upang masabing mayroong “contributory negligence” ang isang partido sa isang aksidente:

“As to whether there was contributory negligence on the part of the respondents, this court rule in the negative. Contributory negligence is conduct on the part of the injured party, contributing as a legal cause to the harm he has suffered, which falls below the standard which he is required to conform for his own protection. It is an act or omission amounting to want of ordinary care on the part of the person injured which, concurring with the defendant’s negligence, is the proximate cause of the injury. Here, we cannot see how the respondents could have contributed to their injury when they were not even aware of the forthcoming danger. It was established during the trial that the jeepney carrying the respondents was following a ten-wheeler truck which was only about three to five meters ahead. When the truck proceeded to traverse the railroad track, Reynaldo, the driver of the jeepney, simply followed through. He did so under the impression that it was safe to proceed.

It bears noting that the prevailing circumstances immediately before the collision did not manifest even the slightest indication of an imminent harm. To begin with, the truck they were trailing was able to safely cross the track. Likewise, there was no crossing bar to prevent them from proceeding or, at least, a stoplight or signage to forewarn them of the approaching peril. Thus, relying on his faculties of sight and hearing, Reynaldo had no reason to anticipate the impending danger. He proceeded to cross the track and, all of a sudden, his jeepney was rammed by the train being operated by the petitioners. Even then, the circumstances before the collision negate the imputation of contributory negligence on the part of the respondents. What clearly appears is that the accident would not have happened had the petitioners installed reliable and adequate safety devices along the crossing to ensure the safety of all those who may utilize the same.”

Gaya sa iyong kaso, ang iyong pag-asa sa signal light at sa nakataas na boom barrier bilang mga indikasyon na maaari kang dumaan sa nasabing railroad crossing ay naaayon lamang sa mga sirkumstansya. Hindi masasabing mayroong contributory negligence sa iyong parte, sapagkat ikaw ay umasa lamang sa mga traffic signals na siyang nagbibigay ng impormasyon kung maaari bang dumaan sa riles. Ikaw ay umasa lamang sa iyong mga mata at tainga upang alamin kung nararapat tumawid sa riles.

Dahil wala ka namang anumang nakita o narinig, minarapat mong ligtas na tumawid sa nasabing riles. Kaya ang nasabing aksyon ay hindi maaaring makonsiderang contributory negligence, kung wala namang ibang impormasyon na magpapakita na dapat ay nakita mo ang paparating na peligro.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.