As the phenomenon was discovered so recently, researchers have speculated about whether MIB occurs outside the laboratory, without being noticed as such.
Where it is shown that no policy of insurance exists covering the responsible partys vehicle, the MIB will consider dealing with a claim for compensation from the victim.
Although to a lesser extent, MIB did nonetheless occur in the conditions where the perceptual occlusion was not taking place (targets were in front of the mask).