What Should I Do If I Was in an Accident Caused by Brake Checking?

Brake checking is a dangerous driving maneuver, often resulting from a reckless driver’s frustration or other poor behavior. Brake checking can easily result in unfortunate car accidents, putting victims in an unfair position. However, you can take legal action.

Our Boston car accident lawyers have been dedicated to serving the community for over a decade. Specializing in various aspects of personal injury law, including car accidents and wrongful death, our firm’s team of experienced car accident lawyers offers comprehensive legal services. 

5 Steps to Take If You’ve Been In An Accident Caused by Brake Checking

Following a car accident caused by another person brake checking, you may have a lot of questions about what you should do.

After all, you are likely facing confusing financial losses and injuries due to no fault of your own, and someone else has put you in an unfortunate position. We can help you understand what steps you should take after your accident.

1. Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible

Following any incident where you could have been injured, including a car accident, we strongly encourage you to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

This is also the case if you do not immediately notice any injuries or health issues following an incident, as some bodily harm may be latent and difficult to identify without support from a healthcare professional.

A doctor or other healthcare specialists can support you in many parts of the healing process, including identifying health issues, recommending a treatment plan, outlining how to take care of yourself at home, and referring you to additional specialists whenever necessary.

Can a Medical Bill be Used as Evidence?

A doctor’s note and itemized medical bill with a timestamp can both be valuable pieces of information. For example, a timestamp on any document relating to your care after the accident will demonstrate how quickly you attempted to receive medical attention.

Can a Lawyer Help Me Find a Doctor?

The sooner you receive medical care, the more positively court personnel will view your claim. If you need help finding a trustworthy healthcare provider, our personal injury lawyers can provide a referral.

2. Avoid Discussing Legal Matters With Others

Including any close friends or family members, we strongly urge you to refrain from discussing legal matters with anyone.

The only exception to this would include speaking with a qualified personal injury lawyer, as they can provide a much higher degree of privacy and protection. 

While it may feel comforting to discuss your legal matters with others, any information you disclose could be used against you by other parties. Even if this is not the intention of anyone you speak with, discussing your claim could be extremely risky.

3. Stay Offline

We also recommend you stay offline as much as possible during your case, including by logging out of and deactivating social media accounts.

Any photos, videos, comments, or other posts could be used against you during your claim, potentially putting you in a negative light. This is the case even if your posts feel unrelated to your claim or you have privacy settings turned on.

If you need more information about your privacy and what you post online, we encourage you to contact a car accident attorney from Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers. We are happy to explain why staying offline is so important in greater detail, and we can provide you with additional guidance and information.

4. Contact Necessary Personnel

If you have not already, we recommend you contact the necessary personnel about the car accident caused by brake checking. Law enforcement officers will be able to establish a formal report, giving your claim a basis to work off of during proceedings.

You may also need to contact an insurance company relating to your vehicle.

However, we recommend you give your insurer as little information as possible about the circumstances, at least until you have retained a lawyer and they have given you guidance.

5. Retain Legal Support From a Qualified Attorney

As soon as possible, even if you have not been able to complete the other steps, reach out to a car accident lawyer. Your car accident attorney, including one from Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers, can provide valuable support during difficult legal matters. We can guide you in the right direction, including recommendations for any of your next steps.

Our team is dedicated to providing attention and dedication to every single case, as victims do not deserve to face these unfortunate circumstances alone.

We can also help you in many additional ways throughout the legal process, including finding and analyzing evidence, completing and filing paperwork, and refer you to additional resources and specialists. Please contact us for invaluable support and guidance during this difficult time.

What Is Brake Checking?

Brake checking is a maneuver in which a driver intentionally hits the brakes to signal something to another driver, often forcing the following driver to also brake or take evasive action.

It generally happens in a road rage or aggressive driving incident and is not an approved driving maneuver. It could also be a means of committing insurance fraud.

If someone caused your car accident by brake checking, you could have the right to hold them liable for your damages. Especially if you face serious injuries due to another driver’s brake checking, you may qualify to receive compensation for your injuries and losses.

For more information and a free consultation about your circumstances, feel free to contact Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers.

Compensation for Your Losses

If you’ve been involved in an accident caused by brake checking, it’s crucial to have a knowledgeable and experienced legal team on your side. At Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers, our car accident attorneys are committed to helping you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Our outstanding car accident lawyers, including Peter M. Merrigan, can support you with confidence and outstanding dedication. Attorney Peter Merrigan was also named a 2015 through 2018 “Top 40 Under 40 Trial Attorney” and a 2015-2018 “Rising Star.”

Contact Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers to explore your rights and retain legal representation. After being injured in an auto accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover your losses with the aid of our car accident lawyers.

We have more than 45 years of experience in personal injury litigation and can provide clients with beneficial legal services to strengthen their claims. Call us at 617-391-9001 or fill out our contact form.