Can a Police Report Be Changed After an Accident?
Typically, when you get into a car accident in Akron, a law enforcement officer from an agency such as the Akron Police Department or Summit County Sheriff’s Office will respond to the scene and gather information for the traffic crash report, or “police report.” This report may play an important role as you seek just compensation for the harm you have suffered, especially when it comes to dealing with the insurance companies.
But what happens if the police report is incorrect? Can a police report be changed after an accident? In this article, we take a closer look at how you can fix an incorrect police report, or one that contains false information.
Understanding a Police Report
Shortly after the responding officer files a traffic crash report, you should get a copy by going online or contacting the law enforcement agency. The report should contain accurate and complete information such as:
- Date, time, and location of the crash
- Road and/or weather conditions
- Names of the drivers and their passengers
- Auto insurance information from both drivers
- Injuries and property damage
- Statements from the drivers and witnesses.
Additionally, the report should contain the officer’s assessment of what led to the crash, which an officer typically illustrates with photos or diagrams, and information concerning any traffic violations that may have occurred.
Reasons for Changing a Police Report
Unfortunately, when you review the police report, you may identify factual errors or misstatements of what you or other witnesses told the officer. You may also find that it is missing important information about the crash and/or the injuries that you and others suffered as a result of it. These are good reasons for you to take prompt action and try to change the report.
How long do you have to amend a police report after an accident? Under Ohio’s statute of limitations, you must file a car accident claim within two years after you suffer injuries in the crash. So, if you find errors in the police report, you should take steps as soon as possible to get it changed.
The Process of Requesting a Change
To get changes made to a police crash report in Akron, you should:
- Identify the factual errors, misstatements, and/or omissions.
- Compile evidence that shows the information is wrong or gather the information that you believe should be added to the report.
- Contact the officer and politely but confidently explain your position, present your evidence, including any photos or video you may have compiled, and request the officer change the report.
When presented with evidence that solidly demonstrates the report is inaccurate or incomplete, the officer may amend the report or supplement it with a new report. A supplement report could contain revised and/or additional statements, as well as evidence that was omitted in the initial report.
Alternative Actions if a Change is Not Made
If an officer refuses to amend a report, revise or add statements, or alter their assessment of how the crash occurred, you should ask that your information, statement, and/or view of what led to the crash be added as a supplement to the initial report. While this won’t necessarily change the report, the additional content can help to provide a clearer, and certainly more complete, picture of what happened and how you were injured.
Limitations and Considerations
Keep in mind: An officer’s assessment of the crash is an opinion, not a fact. So, even though you may contest the officer’s evaluation of the accident, including their allegation that a traffic law violation occurred and/or their determination of fault, you likely will be unable to change it. Instead, with help from an experienced car accident attorney, you can challenge the officer’s assessment during the settlement negotiation process or in court.
Contact Our Akron Car Accident Attorneys for Help
To learn more about how an Akron car accident attorney can help you correct a police report that was filed after your crash occurred and work with you to seek maximum compensation, contact us today at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law. We can provide a free consultation.
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At Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, we only represent consumers. We fight for regular people who have been seriously hurt in accidents. We fight for people who are being crushed by overwhelming debt and need a fresh start. We fight for individuals and families. Never businesses. Never insurance companies. We are loyal to the consumer.
