ON 5/27/98, I WAS IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE I HIT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES MY VEHICLE SLID THREE CAR LENGTHS (LEAVING SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT) AND STOPPED WHEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE SLIDING WAS INTENSE AND THE SMOKE SO THICK THAT I THOUGHT MY VEHICLE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. I FELT AT THE TIME THAT THE ABS SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED, AND I MENTIONED THIS TO THE POLICE OFFICER AT THE SCENE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL GMC DEALER FOR COLLISION REPAIRS, I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE REASON I AM FILING THIS CLAIM IS BECAUSE I AM A VERY CAREFUL DRIVER WHO HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. UP TO THIS POINT IN TIME I HAD A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD. THE POLICE RECORD INDICATES THAT I TOLD THE POLICE OFFICER THAT I WAS "UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME". THIS ACCIDENT HAS TARNISHED MY PERFECT DRIVING RECORD AND AS A RESULT OF THIS MY INSURANCE RATES HAVE INCREASED. AS A SIDE NOTE, I HAVE HAD THE DEALER FIX THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH (UNDER WARRANTY) ON TWO OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SWITCH FROM 2 WHEEL DRIVE TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE.