If you have been in a car accident, it’s important to immediately call 9-1-1 and ask the operator to send a police officer to the scene. The responding officer will be responsible for creating a police report after talking to the parties involved in the accident, examining the property damage, and reviewing the traffic laws. This document will contain information on how and why the accident occurred and who was at fault, so it plays an important role in your case. But, what if there are errors in a car accident police report? Here’s what you should do:
Correcting Factual Errors
The first type of error that may be found in a police report is factual. For example, the police officer could have written down that the car that was hit was a Toyota Corolla when it’s in actually a Toyota Camry. He could have also written down the wrong location, date, or time of the accident. If you spot a factual error in a police report, reach out to the police department and ask if you can get in touch with the officer who wrote the report. The officer will most likely ask you to provide proof of the correct information before he changes the report. Then, he will write an addendum with the correct information and attach it to the report.
Correcting Non-Factual Errors
It would be difficult to disagree on the date that the accident occurred or the type of vehicle involved because these are facts. But, the parties involved in the accident may disagree on other matters, including who was to blame and what happened in the moments leading up to the accident. If the police officer writes something in his report that you don’t agree with, it’s much more difficult to have the report changed. Most police departments will allow you to submit a document that explains why the information included in the initial report was inaccurate. Then, the police officer who wrote the report can review this information and decide whether or not he wants to attach the document to the report or amend his report. For example, let’s say the report claims that you did not completely stop at a red light before making a turn and colliding with another vehicle. If you believe that you did completely stop, you can write this information down and submit it to the police department.
If you have been injured in a car accident, seek legal representation from the personal injury attorneys at Reisch Law Firm today. Our team will investigate the accident and gather the evidence that we need to prove the other party was at fault. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
