Entering freeway in rainy conditions, car A slammed on brakes for no reason (with no brakelights), car B hit brakes, car C went into rear of car B and bounced back towards me, I skidded slowly into rear of car C (car A with no brakelights drove off!) We all got ticketed for failure to control. The cop intimated to me that if he didnt appear at the hearing date, that would be the end of it. I went to first arraignment date and requested to plead not guilty (no cop appeared). I was given a new date. At 2nd court date, no cop appeared, I requested again to plead not guilty but another date was fixed!

My questions:

1. Should I have specifically requested it be dismissed as no cop was there? If so, can I do this at next hearing?

2. If not, can I mitigate my case based on (a) original car causing accident not having brakelights, (b) car C bouncing back towards me and reducing my stopping distance?

Help appreciated. Thanks!