If you request a copy of a police report from an accident you were involved in, you may find that it contains incorrect information. But how do you fix an incorrect police report? Can the police change mistakes on a report? And why do you need to go through the effort to fix mistakes? Read on to learn the answers to those questions, courtesy of the New Braunfels car accident lawyers of Burch Law Firm.
What If There Is a Mistake in the Report?
After reporting an accident to the police, you should obtain a copy of the accident report as soon as possible. Typically, it takes between a few days and a few weeks for police reports to become available. Once you obtain a copy, review the report for any mistakes that may have been made by the investigating officer. Depending on the type of wrong information on the police report, an error could influence the outcome of your case. For example, while a misspelling of your name likely will have no effect on your insurance claim, another error – such as the officer listing you as the driver of the other vehicle – can result in your insurance claim being denied.
How Do Accident Report Mistakes Happen?
A police officer who responds to the scene of a motor vehicle crash has many responsibilities. They first need to check on the well-being of anyone involved in the accident. The officer also needs to move vehicles out of the roadway and direct traffic to avoid other possible accidents. Then, the officer must begin investigating the accident to collect information for the accident report. Because accident scenes can be buzzing with firefighters, paramedics, and other police officers, it can be harder for the investigating officer to clearly understand what witnesses are saying when they give their statements. As a result, officers occasionally make mistakes and oversights when writing their accident reports.
How Can You Help Prevent Mistakes in the Police Report?
You can help prevent basic informational errors in the police report by asking to review what the officer has written down as your name, date of birth, license number, vehicle information, and insurance policy number. However, the officer may not allow you to review other details of the report, such as summaries of statements given by other drivers and witnesses or the officer’s conclusions regarding who was at fault. Correcting errors for these parts of the report will require gathering evidence from the scene that you can later present to show that the officer may have made an error.
What Can You Do to Change a Mistake in the Report?
Factual errors – such as your identifying information, vehicle information, and insurance information – can usually be corrected by contacting the relevant police department and providing proof of the correct information so that they can file a supplemental report correcting the error.
However, transcription errors, disputed facts, and the officer’s conclusions are harder to correct. If you cannot convince an officer to correct a mistake regarding your statement or a disputed fact, you may have to appeal to the officer’s supervisor and provide evidence to dispute what the officer put in the report.
Contact Our Experienced New Braunfels Car Accident Lawyers
If you have been involved in a traffic collision that wasn’t your fault, reach out to the New Braunfels car accident lawyers of Burch Law Firm for help pursuing the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your legal rights to financial recovery for your injuries and losses.
