A phantom vehicle accident is commonly described as a type of collision in which one vehicle causes another to crash without the two making physical contact. The vehicle that may have caused the accident is typically referred to as the “phantom vehicle.” This may be because the driver of the phantom vehicle leaves the scene without being identified or causing direct contact with another car.
How does a phantom vehicle accident work?
It’s possible that a phantom vehicle may have cut another driver off, swerved into their lane unexpectedly, ran a red light, or performed another type of maneuver that caused a driver to react and crash their vehicle. A phantom vehicle may also cause another driver to crash into another object, like a guardrail or another car.
Phantom vehicles typically do not stay at the scene of an accident. They may not realize their actions caused an accident, or they may have been driving erratically and intentionally fled the scene to avoid trouble.
What you need to know about phantom vehicle accidents
If you've been affected by a phantom vehicle accident it can be tough to pinpoint the cause. Here are three reasons why you may have difficulty:
- The driver of the phantom vehicle may have left the scene.
- No direct physical contact with the phantom vehicle may mean no physical evidence for insurance and legal purposes.
- The drivers of other cars involved may not even be aware of the phantom vehicle.
If a phantom vehicle is at fault, some insurance policies may not cover the accident under uninsured motorist coverage. This may differ from state to state; in some cases, approval may require filing a police report and satisfying other conditions.
Common misconceptions
The following are common misconceptions regarding a phantom vehicle accident:
- Some people may think you can only file a claim if there is physical contact between vehicles. You may be able to file a claim for a phantom vehicle accident if you have uninsured motorist coverage.
- Some believe that it isn’t possible to hold another driver responsible for damage resulting from a crash if there isn’t visible vehicle-to-vehicle damage. In some instances, a driver may be able to file a claim if another driver’s actions caused them to crash.
- Drivers may think that phantom vehicle claims will get denied by their insurance. The burden of proof in a phantom claim may be higher than in other types of accidents, but there may be evidence supporting an event from a dashcam or witnesses.
Get a free auto insurance quote
To learn more about phantom vehicle accidents or to receive a personalized car insurance quote, call Infinity Insurance Agency, Inc. (IIA) at 1-855-478-3705 or get a free quote online today. IIA’s team of experienced Spanish-bilingual agents are available to assist you with your insurance journey.