Ma. Lourdes Valenzuela v. Court of Appeals

Summary

This consolidated case involves a vehicular accident on Aurora Boulevard where Ma. Lourdes Valenzuela suffered traumatic amputation of her left leg while changing a flat tire. Richard Li, driving a company car at excessive speed and under alcohol influence, struck Valenzuela's properly parked vehicle. The Supreme Court affirmed Li's gross negligence, rejecting his claims of contributory negligence by applying the emergency rule doctrine. Significantly, the Court held Alexander Commercial Inc. vicariously liable under the pater familias principle, finding the company failed to exercise proper diligence in entrusting unlimited use of a company vehicle to Li. The decision restored the original P1,000,000 moral damages award, recognizing the permanent and progressively challenging nature of traumatic amputation. The case establishes important precedent on employer liability for company vehicle accidents and appropriate moral damages for catastrophic injuries.