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Things To Do After An Emergency Brake

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You can probably consider yourself lucky after making an emergency brake that allows you to narrowly miss an accident. Just don't forget that these near misses can cause damage to you and your car too. Here are some things to do after an emergency brake.

Make Sure You're OK

While the force of an emergency brake is usually not as large as that of a collision, an emergency stop can still jar you. Whiplash symptoms tend to concentrate in the neck and the upper back, although they can appear in the hands and feet if you were bracing during the stop. When your car comes to a quick stop, your body is jerked back and forth with a large force. The bottom line is that, if you have any pains after the emergency stop and they don't go away within a few days, a chiropractor is a good idea. Spinal injuries tend to get worse without treatment, not better.

Look for Signs of Car Damage

Emergency braking is tough on your vehicle, especially the brakes. So, after your near-accident, look for any signs that your brakes aren't going back to normal after the emergency brake. A very quick stop can burn through brake pads easily. It's important to go to your auto repair shop if you suspect any issues; free brake inspection is a great option to look for.

Think About Prevention

Many emergency brakes are a warning sign that something is wrong. For example, did you have to fully press the brakes because the brake system needs work? If your brake system isn't performing like you think it did before, you will inevitably have a harder time stopping, possibly to the point where you don't think you'll stop in time. Perhaps this is a good warning sign to get your brakes checked out on a more frequent basis at your nearest free brake inspection point.

If tire troubles could have been the source of your emergency brake, this is a good time to consider replacing them for quality new or lightly used tires. On the other hand, an emergency brake could have something to do with the way you're driving as well; if you've been distracted on the road and didn't see the person in front of you putting on their brakes, it's a good time to reevaluate how stressed you are and how many distractions you allow on the road.


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