Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines v · G.R. 212252

Petitioner: Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines
Respondent: Aurora A. Lim
Citation: G.R. No. 212252
Court: Supreme Court
Division: Third Division
Decided: February 28, 2018

Summary

This case involves a passenger injury claim against a bus company for breach of contract of carriage. Aurora Lim, a university executive, was injured when her bus seat toppled over due to rusted mounting while traveling on a Philippine Rabbit bus to Baguio City in 1997. The seat failure, combined with the driver's sudden maneuvering around a curve, caused Lim to fall and sustain chest injuries. The Regional Trial Court found the bus company liable for failing to exercise extraordinary diligence required of common carriers and awarded substantial damages. The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision, and the Supreme Court ultimately upheld liability while reducing the damage amounts. The case established that gross negligence by common carriers can constitute bad faith, justifying moral damages in contractual breach cases. The Supreme Court emphasized that routine visual inspection could have prevented the accident, making the carrier's failure to maintain safe equipment a wanton disregard of contractual obligations.

Statutes applied

Civil Code, Art. 1732

Related cases

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By Intellegal Editorial Board · February 28, 2018

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