Richmond & Danville R. R. v. Williams

Citations

• 86 Va. 165
• 9 S.E. 990
• 1889 Va. LEXIS 21

Syllabus

<p>1. Railroads—Duties—Liabilities.-—The duty of railroad companies is to use all reasonable care to provide and maintain safe, sound, and suitable roadway, structures, instrumentalities, and machinery, and not to expose 'its employees to risks beyond those incident to the employment, and for injuries to employees resulting from a breach of this duty, or from other negligence, those companies are liable in damages.</p> <p>2. Idem—Case at. bar.—While train was standing, conductor required plaintiff, a brakeman, to get up on a freight car and let off a brake. Unknown to him the ladder’s upper round was broken, and as he was attempting to get on the top, conductor signalled engineer to back up, and a dead-block being taken out, the cars came together and crushed plaintiff: held, the defendant company was liable, because the injury was caused by the negligence of conductor in starting the train, knowing plaintiff’s position.</p>