A party seeking to vacate a default must satisfy the two-pronged burden of showing a meritorious claim or defense and a reasonable excuse for the default (Goncalves v. Stuyvesant Dev. Assocs., 232 A.D.2d 275). The mere fact that there was an accident causing plaintiff's injuries is insufficient to show liability on the part of any of the defendants (Shkoditch v. One Hundred Fifty William St. Corp., 17 A.D.2d 168, affd 16 N.Y.2d 609). Nor does plaintiff's failure to maintain contact with his attorney and to keep himself apprised of the progress of his lawsuit constitute a reasonable excuse for his default (see, Dudley v. Steese, 228 A.D.2d 931; compare, Reyes v. New York City Hous. Auth., 236 A.D.2d 277).
Concur — Rosenberger, J. P., Nardelli, Tom and Andrias, JJ.