The period after a car accident can be disorienting, traumatic, and surreal. Depending on the severity of the accident, you may not be able to give a report, or might not remember what you said afterward. Even if you’re completely fine, it’s still a shock to get a copy of the accident report and realize that there are significant errors.
What can you do if your accident report has inaccuracies? After all, it plays an important role in your insurance claim. The adjuster will review your accident report, along with other evidence, to determine who is at fault. An inaccurate accident report could mean that you’ll be unfairly found liable.
Here’s what you can do to rectify the situation.
Factual Errors
Factual errors are the easiest details to get fixed. These are objective details, like the location of the accident, the time of day, the type of vehicles involved or your insurance information. Visit your local law enforcement agency with documentation (photos, insurance papers, videos or other proof), and ask them to correct it. They should be receptive to your request—if not, don’t panic. Call your attorney and ask what to do next.
Disputable Information
If you take umbrage with disputable claims, such as a witness statement or an officer’s opinion of what happened, you’ll probably have a harder time getting the report amended. Some law enforcement agencies will allow you to write up a summary of the issues you’re disputing, and include it as a supplement to the original report. However, that’s not guaranteed. If your request is denied, again, do not panic and do not do or say anything that could cause trouble later on down the line.
Discuss Next Steps with Your Attorney
If you’re able to get factual errors corrected, so much the better. (This is usually easier if you find the errors at the scene of the accident, but not everyone will be in physical condition to do so.) However, working with an attorney can help shore up your case. Even if the officers refuse to correct information, your attorney is experienced in working with insurance providers. They’ll do their best to advocate for you: they may be able to prove that the inaccuracies are wrong and should not be considered in the insurance company or jury’s findings.
While you can have errors corrected on your own, major issues are best handled by a lawyer.
Contact an Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Were you hurt in a car accident as a result of someone else’s negligence or recklessness? I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call me today at 877.944.4373 for a consultation, and we’ll discuss how to handle any inaccuracies in the accident report.
