While driving south on White Plains Road, Devon Perry and his passenger Priscilla Rodriguez were involved in a multi-vehicle accident.
Perry claimed that he was driving about a car length behind Emanuel Salazar when the latter "stopped short," causing Perry to swerve into northbound traffic and then crash into Gustavo DeLeon's car.
After Rodriguez sued Salazar and DeLeon, seeking compensation for her injuries, the defendants sought the case's dismissal. When the Bronx County Supreme Court granted that request, Rodriguez appealed.
Because Perry failed to explain-away his failure to maintain a "reasonably safe speed and distance," and since his claim Salazar "stopped short" wasn't enough (on its own) to justify Perry's actions, or to establish negligence by the other drivers, the Appellate Division, First Department, thought that dispute had taken a fitting turn.
Break down!
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Rodriguez v. Chapman-Perry