Overview
This case involves a civil lawsuit for personal injury damages filed by a passenger who was injured in a car crash.
The key issue was whether the passenger, who voluntarily rode with an intoxicated driver, could recover damages—and if so, whether any comparative fault would reduce the recovery.
Another central legal question was whether the driver’s conduct was the proximate cause of the accident.
Facts
The plaintiff had been drinking socially with friends and then voluntarily entered a vehicle driven by someone who was under the influence of alcohol.
While driving, the intoxicated driver lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a rollover crash. The plaintiff sustained serious injuries.
A civil suit for damages was filed against both the driver and the company that had employed the driver.
Fault Allocation
▸ Driver
Evidence showed the driver was intoxicated and speeding at the time of the accident.
However, the court found that this conduct was not the proximate cause of the crash.
In other words, although the driver’s behavior was negligent, it was not legally deemed the direct cause of the plaintiff’s injuries.
▸ Passenger(Plaintiff)
The plaintiff voluntarily entered the vehicle and either knew or should have known that the driver was intoxicated.
While this could amount to comparative negligence, the case turned not on shared fault but on whether the driver’s conduct legally caused the accident.
Court’s Ruling
The court ruled that the driver’s negligent conduct—despite being clear—did not constitute the proximate cause of the accident.
Therefore, no liability for damages was assigned, and the plaintiff's claim was denied in full.
As a result, no comparative fault percentage was calculated because there was no award of damages to reduce.