Stephen Schultz | January 2, 2025 | Car Accidents
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that the U.S. sees around six million reported motor vehicle crashes annually, including over 32,000 fatality accidents and over 2.2 million accidents involving injuries.
That’s a lot of police reports for officers to fill out. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there are occasional mistakes in reporting. The good news is that car accident reports aren’t set in stone.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, any of the parties involved in the accident or their lawyers may contact the Highway Patrol troop headquarters of the officer who investigated the crash to report errors or question any part of the accident report. An attorney can help you determine which details are important and when to contact the police.
Why might you need to change an accident report, and what can it mean for your case? Here’s what you should know about correcting or updating a car accident report.
Why Would You Need To Change An Accident Report?
An accident may leave you understandably rattled, especially if you’ve suffered an injury. When you relay the events to officers on the scene, you may forget some details or fail to confirm the information they write down, leading to inaccurate or missing information that you don’t notice until later.
The following changes might need to be made to ensure that all information is correct and that you have the best chance of claiming fair compensation:
Dispute Over Fault
Police officers don’t technically assign fault for an accident. However, they collect crucial evidence at the scene and may indicate potential fault as a result. This can influence insurance providers’ interpretation of your claim.
If you think you’ve been assigned fault in error (especially if the report contains inaccurate, false, or missing information), you have the right to notify the police. They may be able to update the report.
Inaccurate Information
Officers at the scene of an accident do their best to collect information from the parties involved and any witnesses, but they sometimes make mistakes.
If you notice that some details on the report are wrong — such as driver or vehicle information or accounts of the events leading to the accident — you can contact the police to inform them, even after the report has been filed.
Missing Details Or New Evidence
When incidents like intersection or multi-vehicle crashes occur, things can quickly become confusing, with accident victims, witnesses, EMTs, police officers, and bystanders milling around. In all this commotion, it’s easy for important details to be overlooked.
Even in a quieter scene, you might forget certain things due to shock or trauma. Fortunately, you can let the police know about them after the fact. The same goes for any new evidence, such as photos, videos, or witness statements that weren’t available in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
What To Do If You’ve Been Injured In An Accident
The first and most critical thing to do after a car accident is to seek medical attention. In Missouri, you generally have 30 days to file a report; you can do this at the scene or at your local police station. You must make a report if anyone is injured or killed in the accident or if any of the drivers are uninsured.
If possible, collect evidence at the scene. If not, ask a passenger or witness for assistance. Make sure to contact your insurance provider about the wreck. Lastly, consult a qualified lawyer to protect your rights and give yourself the best chance of recovering compensation for your injuries and losses.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in St. Louis, MO
If you’ve been injured, please contact the attorneys at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation, we proudly serve all throughout Missouri, including St. Louis County and Boone County and we have offices in St. Louis, Ladue, Columbia, Creve Coeur.
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Louis Office
1430 Washington Ave Ste 225
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 444-4444
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Ladue Office
9807 S 40 Dr
St. Louis, MO 63124
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Columbia Office
28 N 8th St # 502
Columbia, MO 65201
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Creve Coeur Office
999 Executive Pkwy Dr #205
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
