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ÔÔ€ÔÝ  Ýò òÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓ` Ü` p”XÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEE,€WESTERN€SECTIONÌà@ àAT€JACKSONó óÌÌà@ à_______________________________________________________ÌÌà à)Ìò òMOZELLA€WRIGHT€andó ó,à à)à àFayette€County€Circuit€CourtÌò òCLEVIN€WRIGHTó ó,à à)à àNo.€3579Ìà à)Ì€€€€€Plaintiffs/Appellants.à à)Ìà à)ÌVS.à à)à àC.A.€No.€02A01„9609„CV„00213ÌÙ€*ÙßR€#%"A1-j|ú†` Å `€€@ÿRßà à)Ìò òCITY€OF€ROSSVILLE,€TENNESSEEó óà à)Ìà à)Ì€€€€€Defendant/Appellee.à à)Ìà à)Ìò òAndó óà à)Ìà à)Ìò òJOHN€BEASLEYó ó,à à)Ìà à)Ì€€€€Defendant.à à)Ì______________________________________________________________________________ÌÌFrom€the€Circuit€Court€of€Fayette€County€at€Somerville.Ìò òHonorable€Jon€Kerry€Blackwood,€Judge€ó óÌÌÌÌò òLanier€Foggó ó,€Memphis,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Plaintiffs/Appellants.ÌÌÌò òCharles€A.€Sevieró ó,€SEVIER€&€PHILLIPS,€P.C.,€Memphis,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Defendant/Appellee€City€of€Rossville,€Tennessee.ÌÌÌÌOPINION€FILED:ÌÌò òAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óÌÌÌà àò òFARMER,€J.ó óÌÌò òCRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.ó ó:€(Concurs)Ìò òHIGHERS,€J.ó ó:€(Concurs)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓÓ  ÓÓ` Ü` ˜XÓà àMozella€Wright€appeals€from€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€dismissing€her€cause€ofÏaction€for€personal€injuries€sustained€in€an€automobile€accident€against€the€City€of€Rossville€(ð ðCityððÏor€ð ðAppelleeðð).× ƒ& ××  ×€€It€is€alleged€that€Mrs.€Wrightððs€injuries€resulted€from€the€negligence€of€JohnÏBeasley,€Jr.,€a€sergeant€with€the€Rossville€Police€Department.× ƒ' ××  ×€€The€trial€court€dismissed€theÏcomplaint€upon€finding€Mrs.€Wright€50%€or€more€negligent€after€a€bench€trial.€€For€reasonsÏexpressed€below,€we€affirm.€ÌÌà àThe€following€facts€are€not€in€dispute:€At€approximately€9:30€p.m.€on€April€19,Ï1994,€Mrs.€Wright€was€traveling€in€an€easterly€direction€on€Highway€57€to€her€home.€€A€vehicleÏdriven€by€Ms.€Mulligan€with€passenger,€Kathleen€Graham,€followed€a€few€car€lengths€behind.€ÏSometime€prior,€a€vehicle€driven€by€Michael€Willis€with€passengers,€Jason€Cox€and€MatthewÏHoward,€had€been€involved€in€a€one€car€accident€on€Highway€57€when€their€vehicle€went€off€theÏroad€into€a€ravine.€€The€three€removed€their€disabled€vehicle€from€the€ravine€and€repositioned€it€onÏthe€southern€side€of€and€off€the€highway.€€After€receiving€a€call€from€a€passing€motorist€concerningÏthis€accident,€Sergeant€Beasley€traveled€west€on€Highway€57,€observed€the€disabled€vehicle,Ïproceeded€down€the€highway,€turned€around€and€then€traveled€easterly€to€park€his€squad€carÏbehind€the€Willis€vehicle,€somewhat€overlapping€it€so€that€his€driverððs€side€tires€rested€on€the€eastÏbound€edge€of€the€pavement€of€Highway€57.€€As€Mrs.€Wright€approached€the€two€parked€vehiclesÏto€her€right€she€crossed€the€centerline€of€the€two€lane€highway€to€collide€head€on€with€a€vehicleÍdriven€in€a€westerly€direction€by€Ricky€Hobson.€€Ms.€Mulliganððs€vehicle€then€made€slight€impactÏwith€the€Wright€vehicle.€€The€portion€of€the€highway€where€the€incident€occurred€is€not€lit.ÌÌà àThe€controversy€in€this€matter,€quite€obviously,€concerns€the€cause€or€causes€forÏMrs.€Wrightððs€vehicle€to€cross€the€centerline€and€collide€head€on€with€Mr.€Hobson.€€AppellantsÏcontend€that€the€accident€occurred€due€to€the€negligence€of€Sergeant€Beasley€in€parking€his€vehicleÏpartially€on€the€road,€causing€an€obstruction;€failing€to€turn€his€flashing€blue€lights€on€prior€to€theÏincident;€and€opening€his€car€door€into€Mrs.€Wrightððs€path€as€she€approached.€€Although€Mrs.ÏWright€has€no€independent€recollection€of€the€incident€other€than€remembering€ð ðthe€car€on€the€leftððÏand€then€ð ðeverything€went€blank,ðð€Appellants€rely€on€the€testimonies€of€various€otherÏeyewitnesses.€ÌÌà àThe€following€testimonies€were€presented€regarding€the€disputed€facts€of€this€case:ÌMr.€Hobson€testified€that€as€he€traveled€west€down€Highway€57,€he€observed€two€parked€vehiclesÏto€his€left.€€The€vehicle€in€the€rear€had€its€headlights€on,€but€he€observed€no€flashing€blue€lightsÏprior€to€the€incident.€€Mrs.€Wrightððs€vehicle€crossed€over€into€his€lane€ð ða€little€more€than€a€foot.ðð€ÏOn€cross„examination,€Hobson€was€questioned€regarding€a€prior€statement€he€made€to€anÏinvestigator€that€he€observed€blue€lights€flashing€prior€to€the€accident.ÌÌà àMs.€Graham€testified€that€she€and€Ms.€Mulligan× ƒ( ××  ×€traveled€behind€the€Wright€vehicleÏð ðfor€some€time,ðð€during€which€she€observed€Mrs.€Wright€traveling€in€a€mannerly€fashion€and€at€aÏreasonable€rate€of€speed.€€She€observed€no€blue€lights€prior€to€the€time€of€impact.€€Prior€to€theÏaccident,€she€saw€a€car€ð ð[s]ome€distance€up€aheadðð€make€a€u„turn.€€On€cross„examination,€sheÏexplained€that€after€the€u„turn,€the€car€pulled€over€to€the€side€of€the€road€and€she€realized€it€was€aÏpolice€car€at€about€the€time€the€accident€occurred.€€When€asked€whether€she€noticed€any€reason€forÍthe€Wright€vehicle€to€veer€over€the€centerline,€she€stated,€ð ð[w]e€could€not€see€because€of€her€[sic]Ïcar€was€blocking€what€was€going€on€on€the€side€of€the€road.ððÌÌà àJason€Cox€testified€that€on€the€night€of€the€incident,€he€and€his€friends€wereÏtraveling€from€Memphis€to€their€home€in€Alabama.€€He€was€asleep€in€the€backseat€when€theirÏvehicle€went€off€the€road€into€a€ditch.€€He€and€his€friends€then€ð ðpushedðð€the€car€over€to€the€otherÏside.€€He€was€standing€at€the€trunk€of€his€car€when€Sergeant€Beasley€made€a€u„turn€in€the€road€andÏpulled€up€behind€it.€€Cox€observed€no€flashing€blue€lights€at€the€time,€only€headlights.€€Cox€statedÏthat€after€positioning€his€police€car€behind€the€vehicle,€Sergeant€Beasley€ð ðstepped€out€of€the€car€andÏstarted€to€make€his€way€over€to€us€when€the€accident€happened.ðð€€He€continued,€ð ð[Beasley]€didnððtÏreally€go€past€the€door€when€a€car€came€by€and€swerved€around€his€and€hit€another€car€inÏoncoming€traffic.ðð€€When€asked€if€Beasley€had€ð ðcleared€the€doorðð€of€his€vehicle€at€the€time€ofÏimpact,€Cox€replied,€ð ð[h]e€hadnððt€made€it€to€the€front€of€the€car,€no.ðð€€According€to€Cox,€theÏdriverððs€side€wheels€of€the€squad€car€were€ð ðabout€a€foot€or€so€on€the€road.ðð€€Cox€testified€that€heÏand€his€friends€had€not€been€drinking€that€evening€and€no€attempts€were€made€to€arrest€them.ÌÌà àMatthew€Howard€testified€that€after€the€accident€involving€his€vehicle,€he€and€hisÏfriends€ð ðgot€out€and€surveyed€the€damageðð€and€then€he€ð ðdrove€the€car€up€onto€the€other€side€of€theÏroad.ðð€€When€Sergeant€Beasley€initially€pulled€in€behind€the€car,€his€flashing€blue€lights€were€notÏon,€only€headlights.€€Howard€first€realized€that€the€vehicle€was€a€police€car€ð ð[w]hen€he€pulled€inÏclose€enough€to€where€[he]€could€see€the€outline€of€the€lights€on€the€top.ðð€€Beasley€then€attemptedÏto€get€out€of€his€car€and€the€interior€light€came€on€as€he€opened€the€door.€€Howard€described€theÏaccident,€stating:€ð ð[o]ut€of€the€corner€of€my€eye,€coming€the€other€way,€I€saw€a€vehicleÏapproaching,€and€when€the€car€came€it€swerved€to€avoid€the€door€that€was€already€opened€on€theÏside€of€the€road,€and€then€the€wreck€happened.ðð€€On€cross„examination,€Howard€admitted€makingÏan€earlier€statement€to€an€investigator€that€the€officerððs€blue€lights€were€flashing.€€By€way€ofÏexplanation,€Howard€maintained€that€the€ð ðwhole€time€frameðð€for€the€incident€ð ðwasnððt€long€at€allððÍand€that€seemingly€within€seconds€afterwards,€numerous€blue€lights€were€flashing.€€He€stated€thatÏhe€was€never€specifically€questioned€about€any€time€frame€and€that€ð ðthe€way€[he]€answered€theÏquestion€was€that€[Beasley]€eventually€did€turn€his€blue€lights€on.ðð× ƒ/ ××  ×ÌÌà àSergeant€Beasley€testified€that€as€he€traveled€west€on€Highway€57,€he€observed€aÏparked€vehicle€on€the€south€side€of€the€highway.€€He€proceeded€past,€turned€left€into€a€dead„endÏroad,€turned€around€toward€Highway€57€and€stopped€before€proceeding€onto€the€highway€to€travelÏeast€bound.€€He€then€pulled€behind€the€parked€vehicle€and€activated€his€blue€lights€as€well€as€hisÏð ðtake€downðð€lights,€which€he€described€as€ð ðtwo€very€bright€lights€directly€to€the€front€of€the€squadÏcar€.€.€.€for€the€purpose€of€illuminating€anything€on€the€front€of€the€squad€car€for€the€officerððsÏsafety€on€traffic€stops.ðð€€Beasley€explained€that€he€positioned€his€driverððs€side€tires€on€the€edge€ofÏthe€pavement€because€the€disabled€vehicle€ð ðwas€sitting€in€such€close€proximity€to€the€highway€itÏwas€creating€a€danger€in€[his]€mind€to€oncoming€motorists.ðð€€His€positioning€of€his€vehicle€in€suchÏmanner€so€as€to€overlap€the€disabled€vehicle€was€in€accordance€with€his€police€training.€€BeasleyÏstated€that€the€take€down€lights€are€ð ðdominantðð€to€the€blue€flashing€lights€and€ð ðmore€noticeableðð€toÏoncoming€traffic€to€the€front€of€the€vehicle€than€the€rear.€€If€approaching€from€the€front,€the€takeÏdown€lights€ð ðwould€be€the€first€thing€youððre€likely€to€see.ðð€€After€activating€his€lights,€BeasleyÏcontacted€the€dispatcher€to€relate€his€findings.€€He€manually€turned€on€the€overhead€dome€light€inÏhis€car€to€write€down€the€time€for€reporting€purposes.€€He€explained€that€the€dome€lights€on€aÏpolice€car€are€deactivated€prior€to€their€actual€use€by€the€department€so€that€they€do€not€come€onÏwhen€the€door€is€opened€for€the€officerððs€safety.€€Therefore,€the€light€must€be€manually€operated.€ÏAs€he€wrote,€he€heard€a€crash€and€felt€debris€come€into€his€driverððs€side€window.€€After€impactingÏwith€the€Wright€vehicle,€the€Mulligan€car€came€to€rest€next€to€the€officerððs€door€and€he€was€unableÏto€exit€until€he€motioned€for€the€driver€to€back€up.ÌÌà àOn€cross„examination,€Beasley€testified€that€the€actual€impact€occurred€when€heÏwas€looking€in€his€rear€view€mirror€waiting€for€acknowledgment€from€the€dispatcher.€€He€has€ð ðnoÏideaðð€what€caused€Mrs.€Wright€to€cross€the€centerline.€€He€admitted€preparing€a€complaint€reportÏafter€the€accident€wherein€he€indicates€that€the€incident€occurred€just€after€he€started€to€exit€hisÏvehicle.€€He€explained€that€there€are€ð ða€lot€of€things€leading€up€to€my€getting€out€of€my€vehicle€inÏpreparation€to€exit,ðð€including€listening€to€radio€transmissions.€€He€has€ð ðto€do€everything€beforeÏactually€getting€out€so€that€itððs€done€properly.ðð€€Beasley€agreed€that€if€his€door€had€been€open,€itÏwould€have€created€a€hazardous€condition€for€a€driver€traveling€in€the€east€lane.ÌÌà àJerry€Priddy,€a€lieutenant€with€the€Jackson€Police€Department,€testified€thatÏBeasleyððs€positioning€of€his€patrol€car€was€proper€ð ðfor€the€conditions€out€there€that€nightðð€and€inÏaccordance€with€the€standards€of€police€accident€investigation.€€He€explained€that€such€overlappingÏof€the€other€vehicle€provides€an€area€of€safety€for€the€police€officer€and€that€standing€between€theÏtwo€vehicles€could€prove€dangerous€if€the€police€car€was€subsequently€rear„ended€causing€it€toÏcollide€with€the€other€vehicle,€pinning€the€officer€and€possibly€others€between€the€two.€€On€cross„examination,€Priddy€confirmed€that€he€considered€Beasleyððs€positioning€of€his€vehicle€proper€fromÏthe€perspective€of€protecting€the€scene,€the€officer€and€the€young€men.€€He€was€asked,€ð ð.€.€.€youÏdidnððt€base€it€on€protecting€those€people€.€.€.€using€the€highway,€did€you?ðð,€to€which€he€replied,Ïð ð[t]hat€goes€into€it€because€if€thereððs€a€hazard€in€the€highway€and€you€donððt€block€it,€youððre€just€asÏliable€as€if€you€had€blocked€the€road.ðð€€Priddy€agreed,€however,€that€under€the€presentÏcircumstances€no€hazard€was€in€the€highway€because€the€disabled€vehicle€was€positioned€off€theÏroad.ÌÌà àTennessee€State€Trouper€Russell€Garrington€conducted€an€on„scene€investigation€ofÏthe€accident.€€He€interviewed€Hobson,€Mrs.€Wright€and€Beasley.€€He€does€not€rememberÏquestioning€the€three€men€from€Alabama.€€According€to€Garrington,€Mrs.€Wright€told€him€that€sheÏcrossed€the€centerline€to€avoid€the€police€car€stopped€on€the€south€edge€of€the€highway.€€She€alsoÍinformed€him€that€emergency€lights€were€flashing€on€the€patrol€car.€€She€made€no€commentÏregarding€the€door€on€the€police€car.€€On€cross„examination,€Garrington€stated€that€Mrs.€WrightÏwas€extracted€from€her€vehicle€with€the€ð ðjaws€of€life.ðð€€He€observed€her€in€the€vehicle€with€bloodÏon€her€face€complaining€of€pain.€€He€interviewed€her€after€she€was€removed€and€had€been€placedÏon€a€stretcher€at€the€back€of€the€ambulance.€€He€described€her€as€ð ðdazedðð€at€the€time.€€BeforeÏspeaking€with€Mrs.€Wright,€Garrington€briefly€discussed€the€accident€with€Beasley€who€informedÏhim€of€the€general€location€of€his€squad€car€at€the€time€of€the€accident€and€that€he€had€activated€hisÏblue€lights.€€Trooper€Garrington€admitted€that€he€made€no€effort€to€determine€from€other€witnessesÏthe€exact€location€of€the€patrol€car€at€the€time€of€accident,€even€though€Mrs.€Wright€indicated€thatÏthe€car€was€the€reason€she€crossed€the€centerline.€€Garringtonððs€report€depicts€the€Mulligan€vehicleÏas€also€crossing€the€centerline;€however,€no€reason€is€indicated.ÌÌà àBased€on€the€foregoing,€the€trial€court€made€the€following€findings€of€fact:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à1.€€That€Officer€Beasley€parked€his€vehicle€on€the€south€edgeÏof€Highway€57,€slightly€overlapping€the€disabled€vehicle.ÌÌà8 àà à2.€€Prior€to€parking€his€vehicle,€Officer€Beasley€activated€hisÏemergency€blue€lights,€as€well€as€his€take€down€lights.ÌÌà8 àà à3.€€In€positioning€his€vehicle€and€activating€his€lights;€OfficerÏBeasley€was€following€standard€police€procedure.ÌÌà8 àà à4.€€Officer€Beasley€did€not€open€his€door€into€the€eastboundÏlane€of€traffic€immediately€prior€to€the€accident.ÌÌà8 àà à5.€€As€plaintiff€approached€the€two€vehicles€parked€on€theÏsouth€side€of€the€road,€she€veered€her€car€across€the€center€line,Ïstriking€the€[Hobson]€vehicle.ÌÌà8 àà à6.€€By€such€action,€plaintiff€was€negligent.ÌÌà8 àà à7.€€Plaintiffððs€negligence€in€crossing€over€the€center€line€wasÏ50%€or€more€of€the€total€negligence€involved,€and,€therefore,Ïrecovery€is€barred.€€ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àAppellants€identify€the€issues€on€appeal€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àI.€€The€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findings€of€theÏtrial€judge.ÌÌà8 àà àII.€€In€evaluating€a€witnessesðð€testimony,€he€trial€court€erredÏin€relying€on€evidence€that€was€inadmissible.ÌÌà8 àà àIII.€€The€trial€court€used€the€wrong€standard€in€determiningÏwhether€Officer€Beasley€was€negligent.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àOur€review€of€the€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€in€a€nonjury€trial€is€òòò òde€novoóóó ó€uponÏthe€record,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness.€€Unless€the€evidence€preponderatesÏagainst€those€findings,€we€must€affirm,€absent€error€of€law.€€Rule€13(d)€T.R.C.P.;€òòò òe.g.,€EdwinÏB.€Raskin€Co.€v.€Doric€Bldg.€Co.ó óóó,€821€S.W.2d€948,€950€(Tenn.€App.€1991);€òòò òHackett€v.ÏSmith€Countyóóó ó,€807€S.W.2d€695,€699€(Tenn.€App.€1990).€€No€presumption€attaches€toÏconclusions€of€law.€€òòò òRichardson€v.€Tennessee€Assessment€Appeals€Commððnóóó ó,€828ÏS.W.2d€403,€407€(Tenn.€App.€1991).ÌÌà àThe€record€establishes€that€four€disinterested€witnesses€in€this€case€(Hobson,ÏGraham,€Cox€and€Howard)€testified€that€Sergeant€Beasley€had€not€activated€his€blue€lights€prior€toÏthe€accident€at€issue€here.€€Two€of€these€witnesses€(Cox€and€Howard)€stated€that€Beasley€hadÏopened€the€door€on€his€patrol€car€just€prior€to€impact.€€Sergeant€Beasleyððs€testimony€is€to€theÏcontrary.€€The€trial€court€chose€to€accredit€the€testimony€of€the€latter.€€In€so€doing,€the€trial€judgeÏdiscredited€the€testimony€of€Mr.€Hobson,€noting€his€previous€statement€to€an€investigator€that€heÏremembered€seeing€blue€lights.€€Appellants€contend€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€consideringÏHobsonððs€prior€statement€as€an€exhibit€because€it€was€unsigned€and€never€authenticated,€renderingÏit€inadmissible.€€The€record€reflects€that€Hobsonððs€statement€was€marked€for€identificationÏpurposes€only.€€Hobsonððs€testimony€indicates€his€acknowledgment€of€making€a€statement€to€theÏinvestigator.€€He,€however,€could€not€recall€his€specific€answer€to€the€question€regarding€theÏpatrolmanððs€car€lights.€€Clearly,€the€statement€was€offered€to€impeach€the€trial€testimony€ofÏHobson.€€We€find€no€error€in€the€trial€courtððs€consideration€of€the€inconsistency€between€HobsonððsÍprior€statement€and€his€testimony€at€trial.€€ÌÌà àAs€to€the€testimonies€of€Cox€and€Howard,€the€trial€court€found€the€young€menððsÏdiffering€versions€as€to€how€they€transported€their€disabled€vehicle€to€the€other€side€of€the€roadÏafter€their€own€accident€(Cox€stated€that€the€vehicle€was€ð ðpushedðð€to€the€other€side€and€HowardÏstated€that€he€ð ðdroveðð€it)€significant.€€This€discrepancy€in€their€testimonies€caused€the€trial€court€toÏconclude€that€ð ðone€of€[their]€memories€was€faulty,€or€their€degree€of€attention€.€.€.€was€focusedÏmore€on€their€plight,€rather€than€the€impending€collision.ðð€€The€court€also€noted€the€discrepancy€inÏthe€testimonies€of€Howard€and€Beasley€regarding€the€dome€light€in€Beasleyððs€squad€car.€€The€courtÏstates:ÌÌÓÓà8 àMr.€Howard€quite€emphatically€stated€that€just€prior€to€the€accidentÏhe€saw€the€dome€light€of€the€squad€car€illuminate.€€Afterwards,ÏOfficer€Beasley€opened€the€door,€and€the€collision€occurred.€€Mr.ÏCox€had€testified€that€Beasley€had€gotten€out€of€the€vehicle€and€wasÏcoming€toward€the€young€men.€€Officer€Beasleyððs€uncontradictedÏtestimony,€however,€is€that€once€the€door€of€his€squad€car€is€open,Ïthe€dome€light€is€deactivated.€€Therefore,€for€the€dome€light€to€beÏon,€Officer€Beasleyððs€door€would€have€to€be€shut.ÌÌÌÌÓÓWe€do€not€find€this€finding€by€the€trial€court€consistent€with€the€testimonies€of€the€witnesses.€ÏTrue,€Officer€Beasley€testified€that€the€dome€light€on€the€patrol€car€was€deactivated€prior€to€use€soÏthat€when€the€door€is€open€the€light€does€not€come€on.€€However,€it€was€his€testimony€that€heÏturned€the€light€on€himself€ð ðmanuallyðð€prior€to€the€time€of€impact.€€There€is€no€indication€from€thisÏrecord€that€opening€the€squad€car€door€would€turn€the€dome€light€off€if,€in€fact,€it€had€beenÏactivated€manually.€€The€court€also€called€Howardððs€credibility€into€question€on€the€basis€of€hisÏinconsistent€statements€regarding€whether€Beasleyððs€blue€lights€were€flashing€prior€to€the€accident.€ÏThe€court€specifically€found€Howardððs€attempted€explanation€of€the€inconsistency€ð ðimplausibleððÏconsidering€his€ð ðmanner€and€demeanor.ððÌÌà àMs.€Grahamððs€testimony€that€she€saw€no€flashing€blue€lights€prior€to€the€accidentÍwas€also€questioned€by€the€trial€court,€stating€that€ð ðher€attention€could€have€been€focused€moreÏdirectly€toward€the€impending€collision€tha[n]€a€close€scrutiny€of€the€officerððs€vehicle.ðð€€Ms.ÏGraham€offered€no€testimony€regarding€the€position€of€the€police€officerððs€door€at€the€time€ofÏimpact.ÌÌà àOn€the€other€hand,€the€court€found€Officer€Beasleyððs€testimony€regarding€theÏincident€ð ðdirect€and€unequivocal.ðð€€We€question€the€trial€courtððs€finding€in€this€regard€only€withÏrespect€to€the€officerððs€somewhat€less€than€consistent€statement€in€his€ð ðaccident€reportðð€that€theÏincident€occurred€just€after€he€started€to€exit€his€vehicle.€€In€any€event,€it€is€clear€from€the€recordÏthat€the€trial€court€recognized€the€significance€of€its€duty€in€assessing€the€credibility€of€theÏwitnesses€and€the€weight€to€be€given€their€respective€testimonies.€€The€court€states:ÌÌÓÓà8 àIn€evaluating€these€assessments,€the€Court€has€considered€theÏmanner€and€demeanor€of€all€the€witnesses,€as€well€as€their€ability€toÏrecollect€and€their€attitude€toward€their€testimony.€€In€reaching€theÏCourtððs€determination€on€these€issues,€the€Court€has€consideredÏcertain€points€in€the€testimony€of€each€witness€that€the€Court€deemsÏsalient€in€assessing€the€weight€each€witnessesðð€testimony€should€beÏafforded.€€ÌÌÌÓÓà àIt€is€well€established€that€this€Court€on€review€is€to€afford€considerable€deference€toÏthe€trial€judge€in€those€circumstances€where€issues€of€credibility€and€weight€of€oral€testimony€areÏinvolved.€€òòò òTenn„Tex€Properties€v.€Brownell„Electroóóó ó,€778€S.W.2d€423,€425€(Tenn.€1989).€ÏWhere€the€issue€for€decision€depends€on€the€determination€of€the€credibility€of€the€witnesses,€theÏtrial€court€is€the€best€judge€of€the€credibility€and€its€findings€in€this€regard€are€entitled€to€greatÏweight.€€This€is€true€because€the€trial€court€alone€has€the€opportunity€to€observe€the€appearance€andÏdemeanor€of€the€witnesses.€€òòò òTenn„Tex€Propertiesóóó ó,€778€S.W.2d€at€426.€€The€trial€court€will€notÏbe€reversed€on€issues€which€hinge€on€the€witnessesðð€credibility€unless€the€record€contains€clear,Ïconcrete€and€convincing€evidence€other€than€oral€testimony€which€contradicts€the€trial€courtððsÏfindings.€€òòò òGalbreath€v.€Harrisóóó ó,€811€S.W.2d€88,€91€(Tenn.€App.€1990).€€As€no€such€evidenceÏexists€in€this€record,€we€conclude€that€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€supports€the€findings€of€theÍtrial€court.ÌÌà àAs€to€the€final€issue,€Appellants€argue€that€the€standard€of€care€applied€by€the€trialÏcourt€was€whether€the€officer€acted€in€accordance€with€standard€police€procedure€rather€than€theÏappropriate€standard€of€reasonable€care.€€We€hold€that€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€SergeantÏBeasley€followed€proper€police€procedure€with€regard€to€the€accident€does€not€suggest€aÏmisapplication€of€the€law€of€comparative€fault.€€The€trial€court€found€that€Sergeant€Beasleyððs€blueÏlights€were€flashing€prior€to€the€accident€and€that€he€did€not€open€his€door€as€the€Wright€vehicleÏapproached.€€Therefore,€even€assuming€that€the€officerððs€positioning€of€his€vehicle€on€the€edge€ofÏthe€road€was€negligent€does€not€necessarily€alter€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€Mrs.€Wright€was€50%Ïor€more€negligent.ÌÌà àAccordingly,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€and€this€cause€remanded€forÏany€further€necessary€proceedings.€€Costs€are€assessed€against€the€appellants,€for€which€executionÏmay€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà à____________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àFARMER,€J.ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌCRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.€(Concurs)ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌHIGHERS,€J.€(Concurs)