One of the first things people do after a car accident is call the police. It’s the right thing to do and required by law. The responding officer should visit the scene and create a traffic accident report, which you can obtain a copy of by visiting the Atlanta Police Department. But what happens if your report contains mistakes? Is it still possible to win a car accident case with an inaccurate police report? We see inaccurate reports many times, especially when it comes to the officer’s narrative of what happened.
Call Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys. We can work to iron out mistakes in the police report. Ultimately, the officer doesn’t determine fault for a crash; instead, your Atlanta car accident lawyer negotiates with the other driver’s insurer to assign responsibility and hammer out a settlement.
Obtaining a Copy of Your Accident Report
For an Atlanta accident, you can get your police report by contacting the Atlanta Police Department. You can visit the Public Safety Annex in person, or you can use the website to order a copy of the report from the police department.
You will need the day of the accident, as well as either your VIN or driver’s license number. Be prepared to pay a fee.
What Errors Were Made?
Officers use standardized forms, which contain certain information:
- The identities of each driver, including name and address.
- Each driver’s insurance information.
- Details about the cars involved.
- Information about whether the officer issued any citations for driving infractions.
- A narrative account of the accident written by the officer.
- Possibly a diagram.
Many of our clients are most upset about mistakes involving the narrative. The responding officer probably spoke to both drivers and possibly witnesses, then summarized what he or she thinks happened. The officer might even blame you for the crash when you know that is not true.
Other mistakes, such as getting your name wrong, are also problems but usually less upsetting. You can contact the police department to get factual errors corrected, such as mistakes involving your name or insurance information. Share supporting documents, such as a copy of your driver’s license, and the department will likely update the report or file an addendum.
How to Handle Disputes Regarding Fault
Some motorists are shocked to see the officer accept the version of events offered by the other driver. For example, you might have been driving down the road at a normal speed when someone pulls directly in front of you. You T-bone the car.
However, the driver tells the officer you were speeding or distracted by a cell phone and plowed directly into them. You know that isn’t true. You remember clearly the other driver darted in front of you and caused the crash, no matter how carefully you were driving. Unfortunately, the officer believes the other motorist and includes their version in the police report.
What now?
The good news is that an officer’s opinion about what happened is just that: an opinion. The officer does not determine who is to blame for the crash. They weren’t there and aren’t even witnesses. And the officer plays no role in deciding whether an insurance company will pay you compensation for your injuries.
How We Handle Inaccurate Police Reports
Our legal team always looks at police reports at the start of a case. They contain critical information, and we know the insurance companies are also reading the report. But we realize that not all the information in these reports is accurate. We can begin gathering evidence to help document what happened.
For example, there might be video from a nearby store or other business which captured the collision. This video can show what happened and whether the narrative offered in the police report is accurate.
Although an officer will come out to the scene and perform a basic investigation, they don’t have all day to commit to your car crash. Officers regularly overlook important evidence which can reveal what happened.
Our firm has decades of experience negotiating with insurers for car accident compensation. We know the insurance companies will decide whether to pay compensation based on the evidence we present. That is why we perform our own investigation and do not rely solely on the police report.
Why the Police Report is Incorrect
Negotiating a settlement requires compiling useful information to show who is at fault for a crash. That means doing a deep dive into all possible and relevant reasons. A thorough investigation takes many months, and we can often uncover evidence the responding officer could not find. Police officers don’t have an unlimited amount of time to create a report. They show up to the scene, talk to a few people, and then write it up.
For example, an office might only arrive after the cars are moved to the side of the road. But the pictures you took immediately after the crash show how the vehicles came together. They show the other driver crashed into the side of your car. We can use these photos to establish which vehicle struck the other.
An officer might not have spoken to all witnesses. Time is limited, and a witness might have left before the officer arrived. But if you obtained the witness’s information, we can reach out to this person to get their version of events. They might end up supporting your version of what happened.
Speak with an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
Were you hurt in a car crash? Now is the time to reach out to an experienced law firm so you know your case is handled properly. Contact Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys. We have the years of experience you need to successfully negotiate a car accident settlement. We don’t let inaccurate police reports stand in the way of uncovering the truth. And we can be your voice in negotiations, ensuring your injuries are taken seriously. Our consultations are completely free, so contact us today at (404) 529-3476 or submit your details online.