PREFACE A new edition of this work has been made imperative by the vast increase in automobile litigation, and a correspondingly rapid development of the law since the publication of the last edition. In fact, cases arising from the use of the automobile have become so numerous as to render the adoption of a plan of selective treatment necessary. However, no case of any real importance has been intentionally omitted. The increased use of automobiles in all lines of transportation has been so rapid that in 1923 there were more than 15,000,000 machines registered in the United States; this being 23.9 per cent. in excess of the number registered in 1922. The ratio of accidents has unfortunately kept pace with the increase in number of cars, in spite of nation-wide organized effort to make this popular mode of conveyance less hazardous. Some idea of the total number of persons injured may be gathered from the fact that 12,000 to 15,000 deaths result annually in the United States from automobile accidents. Thus, it will be seen, that the automobile has become one of the main sources of litigation. As an incident of the use of the automobile as a common conveyance, there has developed an important branch of insurance law. The last chapter covers this subject, and special pains have been taken to include all cases relating thereto. It is thought that this chapter treats the subject in a more exhaustive manner than can be found in any other work. The publishers and the author express to the members of the profession their sincere appreciation of the liberal patronage of the former editions of this work, and hope that this edition will meet with like approval. St. Louis, October 10, 1924. C. P. BERRY. |