Your car crash police report provides critical information that supports your injury claim. But what if you get a copy of your report only to find there are some errors in it?

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we explain why you should you promptly locate any errors in your police report and how to correct them. Our experienced car accident attorneys in Mobile, Alabama are fierce advocates for victims injured by the negligence of others. When you trust us to manage your case, we fight tirelessly to protect your rights and recover the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Need Legal Help? Call Our Trusted Law Firm Today. 251-888-8888

Why Police Reports Matter for Your Alabama Car Accident Claim

Police reports serve as an official record of your car accident. Since the information in these reports is provided by an objective third party, they carry significant weight with both insurance adjusters and courts.

Your police report contains critical details about your crash that you will need to reference throughout the legal claim process.

Depending on the severity of the crash and whether anyone was injured, you may have to give the insurance company a copy of your police report. Insurers refer to the information in these reports and use it as an initial basis for determining fault.

If your police report contains errors, it can cause delays in recovering the compensation you need. Insurance companies may unfairly devalue or deny your claim based on information in this report. This is why it is important to get a copy of your police report and immediately check it to make sure there are no mistakes.

What Kinds of Mistakes Do Police Officers Make on Mobile Car Accident Reports?

Police officers work diligently, but they are still human. A crash scene can be chaotic, and police officers may have to deal with a lot of interruptions from one or both drivers. The conditions officers face at a crash scene can lead to unintentional errors. These mistakes range from simple factual errors to serious misinterpretations of a driver’s statement. Both of these types of mistakes could damage your claim if they are not corrected.

Common mistakes you might find on your police report include:

• Incorrect driver (name, age, gender)
• Wrong vehicle information (make, model, color, license plate numbers)
• Inaccurate driver’s license number or vehicle identification number (VIN)
• No insurance company listed or the wrong insurance company/policy number
• Inaccurate date, accident location details, or road conditions
• Misidentified traffic signals, signs, or lane markings
• Errors in placement of vehicles before or after the crash
• Incomplete or inaccurate witness statements
• Missing critical details about injuries or vehicle damage
• Contradictions between the narratives and diagramed sections
• Citation information left out or incorrect
• Weather conditions not defined, or described incorrectly

Can I Get Mistakes Fixed on My Car Accident Report in Mobile?

If you find mistakes on your car accident police report, there are steps you can take to get them removed or corrected. There are essentially two types of mistakes you could find on your police report: factual and judgement.

Fixing Factual Mistakes Is a Straightforward Process

Factual mistakes, such as documenting the make and model of your vehicle wrong or entering your driver’s license number incorrectly, are easy to fix. Simply contact the Mobile Police Department traffic division directly for how you can correct these. Be prepared to provide them with tangible proof, such as a copy of your driver’s license or vehicle title, to get those mistakes corrected.

Judgement Errors Are Harder to Correct

Correcting subjective mistakes involves more work. You will need to submit a written statement detailing exactly what information needs correction and why. Be clear, concise, and accurate, and include any evidence that supports your claim of an error.

Judgement errors on a police report may include:

• Incorrect determination of fault or point of impact
• Misinterpretation of witness statements
• Inaccurate diagram of the accident scene
• Failure to note contributing factors (traffic signal malfunction, obscured signage)
• Omission of relevant witnesses or evidence
• Faulty conclusions based on incomplete investigation

Unlike simple factual errors, you will need to provide more substantial evidence from the crash scene to support your claim and contradict the officer’s original assessment.

Helpful evidence might include:

• Dash cam footage
• Additional witness statements
• Photos corroborating your statement (such as a photo of vehicle placement after the impact)

A judgement error may not get corrected or omitted from the police report, which means it will likely remain part of the permanent record. However, you can ask to have your statement attached as an amendment.

If you run into issues during this process, you may need legal representation to formally challenge or dispute these errors.

Will Errors in the Police Report Hurt My Alabama Car Accident Case?

Uncorrected errors in your police report can weaken your injury claim. This is particularly true in contributory negligence states, like Alabama, where being just one percent at fault eliminates your right to recover compensation.

Insurance companies may recognize police officers do not always have complete information during their initial assessment of a car accident scene. However, they can use any uncontested errors to devalue or deny your claim.

Working with the highly qualified attorneys at Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys significantly improves your chances of disputing errors and securing favorable compensation.

When Should I Hire a Mobile Attorney To Help With Police Report Disputes?

We recommend seeking legal help for any errors you are unable to correct on your own. Early legal intervention can help prevent errors that could bar you from seeking compensation.

• When the report wrongly assigns fault to you under Alabama’s strict contributory negligence laws
• If serious injuries or significant property damage makes your claim high-value
• When the reporting officer refuses to consider your amendment request
• If insurance companies are using report errors against you
• If the accident involves commercial vehicles, government entities, or multiple parties
• When conflicting witness statements need professional investigation
• If technical aspects of the accident (mechanical failures, road design) require expert analysis
• When you have been denied access to the complete accident report
• If language barriers or technical terminology in the report creates confusion about your rights

Contact Our Mobile Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help Today

Police report errors can threaten your Mobile car accident claim. Addressing these mistakes promptly and correctly protects your legal right to compensation following a serious collision.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we advocate for injured victims every day, and we win, a lot! While most of our cases are settled outside the courtroom, we are always prepared to go to represent you in court if it becomes necessary.

One aspect that gives us a strong advantage is that we have the only mock courtroom in Alabama. This facility is a replica of an actual courtroom, helping us to prepare our clients in a realistic, but non-stressful courtroom environment.

Contact our Mobile office today to discuss your situation and legal options. Your initial case review is completely free, and there are no upfront costs or fees when we represent you.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, if we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us a dime! 251-888-8888