Attorney Michael L. Saile
Navigate This Page
- What Happens if a Police Report Is Incorrect?
- Common Mistakes Found in Police Car Accident Reports
- Infographic Feature
- Can a Police Report Be Changed After an Accident?
- Why Accurate Police Reports Matter
- How To Obtain a Copy of Your Police Report in Pennsylvania
- When Should You Seek Legal Help for an Incorrect Police Report?
Pennsylvania car accident laws require a police report for any accident that involves injury or death, and crashes where damage is severe enough that a vehicle can’t be safely driven from the scene. This document provides an official account of what happened from a third-party perspective. The police report is one of the most important pieces of evidence in your injury claim, and insurance companies often reference it when determining liability.
Unfortunately, police reports aren’t immune to errors, as officers can make technical mistakes, overlook key details, or misunderstand what happened. These types of errors can make it harder to get fair compensation. However, you have legal options—Cordisco & Saile is here to guide you through what to do if the police report is wrong.
What Happens if a Police Report Is Incorrect?
An inaccurate police report can create significant legal and financial obstacles after a crash. Some of the most serious problems include:
- Insurance issues: Adjusters rely heavily on the police report when deciding how to handle a claim. If yours contains mistakes, the insurer may unfairly delay, reduce, or deny your claim.
- Incorrect fault determination: If wrong information on the police report suggests you might be at fault, you may have a harder time proving that the other driver is liable for your injuries.
- Out-of-pocket costs: Errors in the report may leave you responsible for medical bills, repair costs, or lost wages that the other driver’s insurer should have covered.
- Claim delays: Correcting mistakes takes time. If you have to wait for an amended police report before you file a claim, it may take longer to receive compensation.
Common Mistakes Found in Police Car Accident Reports
Police officers do their best to capture the details of a crash—but they’re human, and mistakes happen. These are some of the errors that can potentially cause the most trouble with your insurance claim:
- Mistakes in fault assignment: An officer may incorrectly conclude who caused the accident.
- Incorrect witness statements: The report may contain details from bystanders that the officer misheard, misinterpreted, or recorded inaccurately.
- Missing or incorrect evidence: Details such as road conditions, traffic signals, or vehicle damage may be left out or described incorrectly.
- Errors in accident details: The time, date, location, people involved, or vehicle make and model may be wrong. These simple details can cause disputes over whether you were even involved in the accident.
- Officer bias: Sometimes, an officer’s assumptions or personal judgments can lead to a biased account of the crash.
Get legal help from a team that will never stop fighting for you.
Can a Police Report Be Changed After an Accident?
Yes, it may be possible to correct a police report. If you notice an error, you can contact the police department that prepared the report and request an amendment. Officers are often willing to correct factual mistakes if you have evidence supporting the truth.
Disputing an officer’s opinion can be more challenging. Police departments are less likely to change conclusions about fault or other subjective findings. However, it may still be an option if you submit strong, clear evidence demonstrating why their statement was wrong.
If the department declines to amend subjective findings, ask whether you can submit a written statement or supplemental document to be attached to the report so your account is preserved in the file.
It can take several weeks to get an amended police report. Acting quickly and keeping detailed documentation gives you the best chance of addressing the error successfully.
Why Accurate Police Reports Matter
If someone else’s negligence caused the crash, a clear and accurate police report strengthens your ability to recover full compensation for your losses. When the report correctly reports the facts:
- It supports your version of events. The report becomes an official record that can back up your account of what happened.
- It preserves key evidence. Notes about witness statements, weather conditions, and road conditions can provide critical context for your legal claim.
- It’s easier to establish liability. A correct record of the scene makes it harder for the at-fault driver to shift blame onto you.
- Insurance claims move more smoothly. Accurate details help adjusters process claims faster and with fewer disputes.
How To Obtain a Copy of Your Police Report in Pennsylvania
After a crash, it’s important to review the report as soon as possible to check for errors. You can request a copy of the police report from the Pennsylvania State Police using its Online Crash Report Request form. You’ll have to pay a $22 fee to access the report.
The State Police Department also allows you to request a crash report by mail. To do so, print and complete a copy of Form SP 7-0015. After you fill out the form, mail it with the processing fee to the Pennsylvania State Police, Attn: Crash Reports Unit, 1800 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA, 17110.
When Should You Seek Legal Help for an Incorrect Police Report?
It’s always a good idea to consult a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer after a crash. Legal help is especially important if:
- The insurance company delays, denies, or minimizes your claim because of errors in the police report.
- Your account of the accident conflicts with the report, and the police are unwilling to make changes.
- Your case involves serious injuries, multiple drivers, or potential court involvement.
- You believe someone else is at fault for the crash and need help understanding how to fix an incorrect police report.
If you find yourself in one of these situations, it’s time to speak with an attorney. With over $100 million won for our clients, Cordisco & Saile, LLC, is here to help you make things right and seek the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call 215-642-2335 to start moving forward with a free consultation.
Serving as a personal injury attorney in Pennsylvania, Michael Saile has been honored as both a Brain Injury Top 25 Lawyer by National Trial Lawyers and a 2024 Super Lawyer. He earned his J. D. at Widener University School of Law where he was a member of the Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society. Saile is also the author of two publications titled “Not Another Bad Lawyer” and “Don’t Crash Again”.
