Sometimes we are in the middle of a difficult traffic situation, and we’re forced to follow closely behind another motorist. If you’re a responsible driver, these circumstances are rarely by choice. If you’re an aggressive driver, on the other hand, you might have been impatiently trying to “push” the motorist ahead of you to drive faster by tailgating. However you get into this up-close-and-personal situation, you should try to get out of it as quickly as possible because you’re vulnerable to getting into a “brake-checker accident.”
Brake-checkers are angry people who get extremely annoyed by tailgaters. If you’re following too closely, the brake-checker might suddenly hit his brakes to force you off his tail. In most cases, the rearward driver will take notice and back off. But sometimes, the brake-checker’s games go too far, and it causes a serious – and even fatal – accident.
Even worse, brake-checkers tend to know that it’s the rearward driver who takes the blame when it comes to rear-end accidents. Even if the crash wasn’t really your fault, it could be difficult to prove that the brake-check happened because the driver in front will usually refute your claims and say that you caused the accident as a result of tailgating. In these instances, eyewitnesses who saw the brake-check can be useful sources of evidence in court.
To avoid getting into a brake-checker crash, always provide drivers ahead of you at least three seconds of space. This will prevent aggravating someone into a state of road rage, and it will give you more time to stop and avoid a potential collision. If you were hurt by a brake-checker in spite of your best efforts to stay safe, investigate the viability of your potential personal injury lawsuit against the irresponsible driver as soon as possible.