Getting changes to a report typically depends on the officer who wrote it. If you can supply clear evidence of a factual error, the officer may be willing to correct it.
Be aware that Arizona civil courts may view a police report or sections of it as hearsay because the officer usually does not witness the accident in person. However, the report is not necessarily inadmissible, and there can be exceptions for civil trials if certain details are proven facts.
Still, insurance companies tend to give weight to these reports in decisions for compensation. Since settlements are often quicker and cost less than jury trials, it typically benefits you to settle out of court. Therefore, you may want to push to get a police report changed after an accident to aid your negotiations.
What Types of Errors Can You Find in a Police Report?
Police report errors are either factual mistakes, disputed information or omissions. Factual errors are usually the easiest to fix, as these are patently incorrect details. An example might be the wrong date, time, street or vehicle make and model. With clear proof, you may be able to get the officer to amend such mistakes.
On the other hand, disputed information typically involves subjective statements or conclusions you don't agree with. Some people refer to these as "nonfactual" errors. Such instances include inconsistent witness statements or if the officer drew a flawed conclusion due to misleading statements from others. It can be difficult to get a police report changed after an accident for these reasons.
The final type of error is an omission of a fact that can support your claim. Examples could be details about property damage or the fact that you mentioned that you were in pain.
How Do You Challenge a Police Report?
