Incorrect Information on a Police Report

Car accidents involve much more than just property repair and medical treatment. Surprisingly, the aftermath of a car accident can include a lot of paperwork, and if one bit of information contained within a police report is inaccurate, a personal injury claim can be over before it even starts.

The dedicated and trustworthy team at Cardone Law Firm have proudly served the citizens of New Orleans and its surrounding parishes for 40 years and counting. We know what it takes to get clients the results they deserve and we can help you to handle any legal issues that may arise from incorrect information on a police report.

What Exactly is in a Police Report?

A police report contains detailed information regarding the car accident - or other type of personal injury incident - that you were involved in. The vital information found in a police report can be used when filing a claim.

In the case of a car accident, however, the information you will find in a police report typically covers:

1. Details of the Car Accident – You will find date, time, and location details in a police report.
2. Contact Information – The document will generally include contact information of any of the drivers involved in the accident as well as contact information of witnesses.
3. Statements – A police report should have accurate statements given by the drivers and witnesses recorded.
4. Property Damage – The document should also provide information any damages dealt to the vehicle(s) or other pieces of property.
5. Injuries – This piece of information is important if you are interested in filing a personal injury claim for the damages you have sustained. Make sure that the police report notes any injuries you suffered in the accident.
6. Police Officer’s Narrative – This section covers the officer’s understanding of how the crash occurred, whether citations were issued, or any conclusions reached about the cause of the crash.
7. Pictures – Photos of the scene are sometimes taken to visually record the extent of damages dealt to any of the vehicles involved in the accident.
8. Diagram – This shows the point of impact between the vehicles and other relevant scenic information.

These reports are full of essential information that can be used to make a successful car accident claim. If you believe any of this information is inaccurate or outright wrong in your police report, then seek out legal counsel to learn about what options you have to correct these inconsistencies.

How Cardone Law Firm Can Help

It is always in your best interest to hire a car accident attorney after you’ve been involved in a car accident. Dealing with insurance adjusters, attempting to negotiate a settlement, and handling legal proceedings all on your own can be nearly impossible. But with an experienced car accident attorney on your side, those burdens can be taken off of your shoulders.

It is important to note, however, that depending on the type of error that was made, correcting it may come with some challenges. That is why hiring an experienced Louisiana car accident attorney, like those at Cardone Law Firm, is your best bet at clearing up the issue at hand.

Why Do These Errors or Inconsistencies Happen?

Humans make mistakes, and as much of an authority figure as police officers are perceived as, at the end of the day, they are human, too.

Human error aside, facts must be discerned carefully in the aftermath of a wreck. It is the duty of a police officer to hear out both versions of the story, which often conflict with each other. The officer must then gather whatever physical evidence exists, and speak to witnesses, if any, about what exactly transpired.

Juggling all of these responsibilities can lead to errors no matter how diligent the officer is at the time of recording. If an error is made, it usually falls into one of two categories:

1. Factual Errors – These errors are often pinned to basic factual data within the report. Although these important pieces of information (e.g. date, time, vehicle model, etc.) may be recorded in error, they are relatively easy to fix.
2. Disputed Information – These kind of “errors” are tough to work out. They often involve a dispute regarding a statement that is considered a mischaracterization of you, the other driver, or what a witness said about you and/or the other driver. These kind of “errors” are much more difficult to sort out.

Correcting mistakes made in a police report can be troublesome to tackle alone. For over 40 years, we here at the Cardone Law Firm have made it our mission to fight for the people of New Orleans. With all of the problems that stem from the fallout of a traumatic car accident, correcting a police record is one of the least troublesome to deal with, so long as you have an experienced car accident attorney by your side.

Contact Cardone Law Firm at 504-522-3333 to request a FREE, no-obligation consultation with one of our trustworthy and dependable attorney.

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