A favorable police report can be critical for receiving the insurance settlement you deserve if another party causes your accident. However, police reports are not always accurate. If you were recently involved in a crash and discovered that the accident report is unfair or contains mistakes, you might wonder, “Can a police report be changed after an accident?”
Changing a police report after it has been filed can be tricky. If there are errors or omissions in the report, you could potentially ask law enforcement to correct or supplement the information. However, this is not always successful. Since a police report can be critical for your insurance claim or lawsuit, consider getting legal help if the report is inaccurate.
Morgan & Morgan is on your side. Our car accident attorneys could help to correct an accident report, protect your rights, and fight for what you deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to learn about your next best steps.
Information Contained in the Police Accident Report
When you experience a collision and dial 911, law enforcement will arrive at the scene. An officer typically completes a traffic accident report after speaking to the involved parties and inspecting the scene and vehicles. Information usually contained in a report includes:
- Weather conditions and visibility on the day
- The time and date of the accident
- Details of the involved drivers (addresses, insurance information, etc.)
- An opinion on who is responsible for the accident
- A schematic drawing and photos of the accident
- Details of vehicle damage
- A list of injuries suffered by those involved in the crash
- Statements from drivers, car occupants, and eyewitnesses
- Traffic citations
Common Errors in Police Accident Reports
Police reports matter greatly, as they are considered legal documents that could be used as evidence in civil and criminal cases. Therefore, mistakes can affect insurance claims and legal cases. However, police accident reports are not perfect and can contain inaccuracies, omissions, and other mistakes. Common errors include:
Omissions
Errors of omission occur when a police officer fails to mention information that should be contained in the police report. The scene of an accident can be chaotic and confusing. An officer may miss important facts, such as a traffic violation committed by the responsible driver. An officer may also forget to include that you told them you were hurt or are experiencing pain. However, what seems like a minor omission or error at the time could complicate your compensation claim later.
Factual Errors
Factual errors involve objective information and can include the following mistakes and others:
- Vehicle details such as wrong model, wrong color, or license plate errors
- Incorrect driver’s license number
- Wrong accident location or date
- Incorrect insurance information
- Incorrect birth dates
- An incomplete list of injuries
Factual errors are typically easy to correct. If you spot a mistake in the police report, you can call the responsible law enforcement department and follow the procedure for correcting inaccuracies in the police report. You may also be able to speak with the responsible police officer directly. They can then amend or supplement the report with the correct details.
Disputed Errors
Disputed facts can be difficult or even impossible to correct as these are typically subjective and based on the opinion of the attending officer. Disputed errors usually involve the critical assessment of who or what caused the accident and which driver was at fault. Actions you can take when you discover such an error can include:
- Contact the responsible officer immediately and before the report is finalized.
- Provide evidence, such as photographs or witness statements, showing why the description in the report is wrong.
- Ask whether you can provide a supplemental statement to the report if the officer is unwilling to change the main document.
Your Next Best Steps for Correcting a Police Report
If you move quickly after the accident, you may be able to correct any errors in the police report before it is finalized. The longer you wait, the smaller your chances of success. However, to have the best chance of correcting the police report, consider the following helpful tips:
Review the Report at the Accident Scene
If you can, review the report while still at the accident scene. This lets you alert the responsible police officer immediately if you notice any glaring errors or omissions.
Be Polite and Courteous
A car accident scene can be chaotic, stressful, and complicated. Police officers attending the crash may deal with multiple issues and are probably rushing the report. Therefore, always assume that mistakes were made in good faith and not to disadvantage you. When explaining the error or omission, politely mention your version of events. Law enforcement officers are more likely to listen to you if you are friendly and respectful.
Provide Evidence for the Mistake or Omission
If you want to correct the accident report, you are more likely to be successful if you provide evidence. For example, if your injuries are missing from the report, provide medical records to prove you suffered injuries in the crash. If you are disputing a vehicle description or road and weather conditions, provide proof for your statement, such as:
- Photographs or videos of the accident scene
- Car title or registration
- Information from the National Weather Service
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
A correct and complete car accident report can be essential for receiving the compensation you deserve. If you disagree with a witness statement, the officer’s version of events, or you dispute a traffic citation, changing the main body of the report is practically impossible. However, you may be able to present your version of events in a supplement.
If you wonder whether a police report can be changed after an accident, speak to an experienced car accident attorney who can handle law enforcement on your behalf. Your lawyer can advocate for you and may be able to get the report amended or supplemented.