Criteria for Non-Negligent Explanation for Striking Vehicle from Behind Described​​​​

In finding the defendant failed to demonstrate a non-negligent reason for his striking the plaintiff’s vehicle from behind (in defendant’s motion for summary judgment), the Fourth Department explained:

A rear-end collision with a vehicle that is stopped or is in the process of stopping ‘creates a prima facie case of liability with respect to the [driver] of the rearmost vehicle, thereby requiring that [driver] to rebut the inference of negligence by providing a nonnegligent explanation for the collision’ ” …. We agree with plaintiff that defendant failed to establish as a matter of law that the accident was the result of unanticipated brake failure, a nonnegligent explanation alleged by defendant in support of his cross motion… “Where, as here, .. . defendant[] intend[s] ‘to lay the blame for the accident on brake failure, it [is] incumbent upon [him] to show that the problem with the brakes was unanticipated, and that [he] had exercised reasonable care to keep them in good working order’ ” … .  Lyons v Zeman, CA 12-02074, 479, 4th Dept, 5-3-13

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