If You Were Involved In An Accident Caused By Brake Checking, You Can Claim Compensation As A Result Of Reckless Driving
I Was in an Accident Caused by Brake Checking… What Are My Options?
By
Madeleine Jones
June 4, 2019
Road rage comes in many forms – one of them is brake checking.
Brake checking is a dangerous practice some drivers use to influence, or even joke with, other passenger cars on the road. If done recklessly, brake checking can cause car accidents and rear-end collisions, posing serious threats to those involved.
What is Brake Checking?
Brake checking is the illegal action of suddenly activating your brakes with the intent to surprise the car behind you. Drivers brake check for several different reasons, all with the intent of provoking some sort of emotion out of the driver they are brake checking. One reason cited for brake checking places blame on the rear driver for driving too close to the vehicle in front of them. Though this habit is annoying to some, brake checking to address it will only cause damage and potential injury to both parties.
Who is at Fault in an Auto Accident Involving Brake Checking?
Brake checking is primarily a type of road rage motivated by anger. In some cases, young drivers brake check their friends for fun, resulting in serious collisions. In either context, brake checking is intentional, which is a key factor in determining who is at fault. Though this may earn some leverage in a legal setting, either driver could realistically hold any percentage of the blame. It depends on the specific context of your accident, and whether you were driving aggressively as well, which determines how much blame either party possesses. Hiring an auto accident attorney is your best bet if you’ve been involved in an accident caused by brake checking.
How Can You Prove a Brake Check?
Without a dashcam, it can be hard to hold solid proof that a car was brake checking you. Video footage provides the best form of proof because it physically shows what happened. Witness statements are the second most effective form of evidence in supporting your claim because they provide a third-party account of the event. Outside of these external methods of verification, either drivers’ claims lack the support of any other form of evidence.
Common Car Accidents Caused by Brake Checking
The most common car accident caused by brake checking is the rear-end collision. Because the lead car spontaneously activates its brakes, the car behind doesn’t always have the time, or reaction time, to stop properly. This can lead to serious auto injuries which you can read about here. In environmental contexts with low visibility or other road hazards, brake checking is more likely to cause rear-end collisions. No matter the context, rear-end collisions can pose serious injury to the passengers of the vehicle being brake checked.
Who Pays for the Damage?
Depending on your state’s insurance laws, either your personal insurance company or the at-fault driver’s insurance company will pay for the damage. Nevada follows a fault-based insurance system and a car accident lawyer will make sure you know all of your rights. All registered drivers must possess liability insurance minimums:
- $10,000 in property damages
- $15,000 in bodily injuries when only one person is hurt
- $30,000 in bodily injuries when more than one person is hurt
The at-fault driver must possess insurance that covers these minimums in case they cause an accident.
In Nevada, for all reckless driving that results in injury or an auto accident death, a driver has 10 days to submit a report of a traffic accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This form asks for information that is similar to a personal injury claim. If you choose to file a lawsuit with the local court, a driver has two years from the date of the incident to file their claim. When filing a car accident lawsuit in Nevada, the requirement is that you must submit both the DMV form and your personal injury claim.
Finding An Auto Accident Attorney In Nevada
Filing a personal injury report can help cover additional damages caused by the accident. Again, the burden of proof is necessary to push your case to success. Hiring an auto accident attorney in Las Vegas or Henderson might be the best option even if you only request a free consultation to see if your case is viable. At Cogburn Law, we offer free consultations all of the time. All you have to do is make a call. We will let you know if you have a case that could save or earn you thousands (or millions) of dollars. Here are some tips on preparing for your initial consultation.
I was hesitant about getting a lawyer for many reasons, however, the entire staff at Cogburn Law reassured me that everything would be okay. They were always very attentive and provided detailed answers to any questions I had. I would like to thank the entire staff for all of your hard work, making sure that my daughters and I were compensated for the car accident, and making sure we received all the necessary treatment. You were awesome. If you need an attorney that won’t look at you as just another case, that’ll return your calls/emails I definitely recommend this team.