Contributory Negligence in Rear-End Collision Following Sudden Braking

A plaintiff sought damages from a defendant following a traffic accident, claiming the defendant's failure to maintain a safe distance was the sole cause of the collision that occurred when the plaintiff's vehicle was struck from behind. The lower court, however, found that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent by suddenly braking without warning, thereby necessitating the defendant's emergency maneuver which resulted in the impact. The Supreme Court upheld the decision, reasoning that the finding of shared fault was sufficiently established by the factual assessment of the lower court, which determined the plaintiff's sudden and unexpected braking constituted a fault that contributed to the accident, justifying the apportionment of liability.