2000 MAZDA PROTEGE — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IN EARLY 2006 THAT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE AND WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEY WERE NOT EFFECTIVE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TYPE OF TIRE I HAD ON MY CAR SO ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I SPENT 600 FOR TOP OF THE LINE TIRES. ON 11/17/2006, I WAS BEHIND A CAR THAT SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND WHEN I APPLIED MINE THEY DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN SO I KEPT PUMPING THEM SO HARD I BRUISED MY FOOT AND CRASHED INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME TOTALING MY CAR. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED, THE BELT REMAINED LOOSE AND MY HEAD SMASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERING IT. AFTER GIVING MY INFO TO THE DRIVER I HIT AND MAKING SURE THAT I WAS ALRIGHT, HE LEFT AND SAID NOT TO WORRY AS THE DAMAGE TO HIS CAR WAS MINIMAL AND HE COULD FIX IT HIMSELF. AN OFFICER DID ARRIVE AND NOTED THAT MY TIRE MARKS WERE EXTREMELY FAINT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ALMOST UNDETECTABLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH SUPPORTED THE BRAKE FAILURE. I DON'T KNOW WHO I NEED TO CONTACT TO EXAMINE MY CAR TO DETERMINE THE BRAKE FAILURE BUT I NEED TO DO THIS BEFORE MY INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMS THE CAR. ANY ASSISTANCE OR DIRECTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *JB