When you’re injured in a car accident, the details contained in the police report can make or break your case. The officer that arrives at the scene of the crash will do a preliminary investigation of the accident. They may talk to the drivers involved, as well as eyewitnesses and use their testimony to help make their report. They will also include details about the crash site, the damage, road debris, and the position of the vehicles. They may even have a preliminary finding on who or what they believe caused the car crash.
As you can imagine, the police report is a critical component in your personal injury case. This report is vital to establishing liability and collecting the compensation you need from the “at fault” driver. But what happens when you disagree with the details in the police report? What happens when the police report is wrong?
Challenging a Police Report
Police reports often contain errors or omissions. After all, these reports are sometimes written quickly and based on information that was gathered during a stressful situation. Perhaps the officer got the details of the accident slightly wrong or the damage done to your vehicle was not accurately reported. When this occurs, you may be able to challenge the police report and have those details amended.
If the error was a factual error, you will have to provide documentation that corrects the report. For example, if the police report states that you drive a motorcycle and you really drive a minivan, then you can submit your vehicle documents and pictures and have this information corrected. You must provide strong and conclusive evidence that the report is wrong, in order to have the police report amended.
If the detail you’re trying to have changed is something that is open to interpretation, you will have a harder time convincing the police to amend the report. If a witness statement is incorrect or if an officer concludes that someone is at fault and you disagree with this conclusion, you will need to write up your own report discussing why you believe the police report should be changed. While the officer is unlikely to change their initial report, you can have your own report or account attached to the official police report. This could come in useful when seeking compensation.
Providing Evidence
Even if you don’t get the police report changed, it is important to gather as much evidence as you can to support your claim. Your attorney will need to use this evidence to build your case and negotiate with insurance adjusters. Evidence such as medical reports, car damage pictures, pictures of the accident scene, eyewitness statements, and accident documents can all be used to show that the police report contains erroneous information. Your attorney can then use this information to help you obtain more compensation for your injuries and for the damages you suffered.
Contact Our Daytona Beach Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Daytona Beach, Florida, it is important to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer immediately. At Zimmet & Zimmet, our experienced Daytona Beach car accident lawyers have represented numerous injured accident victims and their families. We know that sometimes car accident victims face unforeseen obstacles when trying to collect the money they need to recover. That’s why we work tirelessly for our injured clients. Contact us today for a free initial consultation and review of your case. Call (386) 255-6400 or fill out our confidential contact form.
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