Phantom Vehicle Accidents

Been chased by a phantom or know someone who has? 

Another driver can cause you to have an accident even if there is no contact between your vehicles. Drivers engaging in reckless driving, such as weaving in and out of lanes or crossing the center line, can force you to perform an evasive maneuver and, in turn, cause your vehicle to roll over or collide with another car, a freeway median, or some other object. In most of these cases, the negligent driver never bothers to stop and is never identified. These unidentified vehicles often are called “phantom vehicles.”  If you are injured because a phantom vehicle ran you off the road or into another car, proving you were not at fault can be difficult. If you are involved in a single-car accident, your insurance company may even deny your claim unless you can provide corroborating evidence that another vehicle was involved.   If you are involved in an accident with another car, things can become even more difficult, as the other driver may claim you were at fault and are responsible for his or her damages, even when you did not cause the damages.

If the at-fault driver leaves the accident scene without stopping, proving your case may be very difficult. Witnesses to the incident can be crucial, so it is important to try to find them. If someone stops to help you after the accident, be sure to take down the person’s contact information so that your attorney or an investigator can contact the person and obtain the testimony you will need to prove your claim.

Unfortunately, eyewitnesses to the incident are not always available. When that happens, the success of your claim can depend on your credibility and the expertise of skilled accident reconstructionists and investigators. Describing exactly what happened in a traumatic event such as a car accident can be extremely difficult, but having an experienced attorney on your side can make all the difference.  It may also be helpful to retain the wrecked vehicles for examination.  Talk to an experienced lawyer before disposing of any crucial evidence.