When drivers are enraged, they may act harmfully in many ways. One way in which a driver intentionally tries to cause harm to another is when they suddenly jam their brakes when driving in front of another motorist with the intent of causing a car accident. The driver knows that the motorist who strikes a car is at great risk of serious physical harm, and they are consciously putting themselves in danger. Brake-checking is a subset of road rage, and you may be entitled to significant financial compensation if you have been injured in one of these types of accidents.
Brake-Checking Is Often a Manifestation of Road Rage
New York streets are known for a high incidence of road rage. Between the congestion and the unpredictable nature of traffic, motorists often become angered with other drivers on the road, whether their emotions are justified or not. They may try to intentionally rattle a driver or harm them by doing things like cutting them off in traffic, or even intentionally trying to ram their vehicles.
Brake-checking is extremely dangerous because it can result in serious injuries. When another driver slams the brakes in front of you, there is little to no way to stop in time to avoid an accident. This practice occurs without any warning, and you may have been traveling at full speed at the time of the accident. The amount of force that is transferred to your car in the accident can be extreme, potentially leading to life-changing effects.
Brake-Checking Can Be Used to Receive Money in a Settlement
Brake-checking can be used in other contexts. The general presumption in a rear-end car accident is that the driver of the vehicle that struck the other would be to blame for the accident. Another motorist may try to take advantage of that presumption by intentionally causing a traffic accident in which they are struck from the rear. They know that you are facing an uphill battle in proving that they suddenly cut you off, and they think that the odds of receiving financial compensation are on their side. If you have been a victim of this practice, not only would you need to fight to receive compensation, but you would also struggle to prove that you were not to blame for the accident.
Even if the other driver has brake-checked, it does not mean that they are automatically fully at fault for the accident. Their insurance company may still try to blame you in some form or fashion. For example, they may claim that you followed too closely behind the vehicle, not allowing you enough time to stop to avoid the accident. Even though road rage is never acceptable, the insurance company may also claim that you played a role in the incident, provoking the other driver. You would need the help of an experienced car accident lawyer to defend you from these allegations, so you could receive full compensation for your injuries.
Anything can happen legally in an accident where brake-checking was involved. The range of outcomes is very wide. You could end up with a very large settlement check, or you could come away empty-handed because you were not able to avoid being found at fault for the accident. If you have been involved in one of these types of crashes, you need the help of an experienced car accident lawyer, both to prove that the other driver was at fault and to obtain the highest amount of compensation possible for you.
Contact the Brooklyn Car Accident Lawyers at Rubenstein & Rynecki Today
If you have been injured in a crash that involved brake-checking, get legal help from the Brooklyn car accident lawyers at Rubenstein & Rynecki. You can schedule a free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers by calling us today at 718-522-1020 or submitting our online contact form. With our office located in Brooklyn, New York, we proudly serve clients throughout New York City, including Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
