Posted on Monday, January 5th, 2026 at 8:00 am
If you’ve been in a car accident, you know how overwhelming the aftermath can be. Between managing injuries, dealing with insurance companies, and handling vehicle repairs, the last thing you want to worry about is whether the police report accurately reflects what happened. Yet, the police report plays a crucial role in your accident claim. Insurance adjusters rely on it to determine fault, and it can impact your ability to recover compensation for your injuries and losses. If you believe the police report contains errors or misrepresents the facts of your accident, you have options. Learning how to dispute a police report after a car accident can help protect your rights and strengthen your claim.
Why Police Reports Matter in Car Accident Claims
Police reports carry important weight in the aftermath of a car accident. When officers respond to an accident scene, they document their observations, interview witnesses, and record details about vehicle damage, road conditions, and how the collision occurred. Insurance companies use these reports as a primary source of information when determining who was at fault for the accident.
The problem is that police reports are not always accurate. Officers may misunderstand what witnesses tell them. They may arrive after the accident has been cleared and miss important details. They may make assumptions based on incomplete information. When a police report contains errors or inaccurate conclusions about fault, it can unfairly shift liability to you—the victim. This can result in denied claims, reduced settlement offers, or difficulty recovering the compensation you deserve.
In Washington, your ability to recover damages depends partly on how fault is assigned. Washington uses a pure comparative negligence system. This means you can recover compensation even if you’re partially at fault for the accident. However, the percentage of fault assigned to you directly reduces your compensation. An inaccurate police report that overstates your responsibility can cost you thousands of dollars in lost recovery. Understanding how comparative fault works is essential when challenging police report inaccuracies.
Why Choose The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs
When you’re facing an inaccurate police report, you need an attorney who understands how to effectively challenge it. The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs has been representing accident victims in Washington for over 70 years, with experience fighting for injured people and their families. Our personal injury lawyers in Lakewood are dedicated to protecting your rights.
Our attorneys bring extensive experience to police report disputes. Shawn Briggs, founding partner, has been practicing personal injury law since 1986. He has earned recognition by Super Lawyers of America and as a Top Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He is a Fellow of the National College of Advocacy and has taught trial skills seminars to attorneys across the country. Marie Docter brings over 25 years of experience in personal injury law, including extensive work in maritime law and class-action litigation.
Our track record demonstrates our ability to help clients. We’ve recovered millions for our clients, including a $5.1 million settlement in a negligent police pursuit case. This case directly involved police conduct and accident liability. These results show our ability to challenge police reports and hold responsible parties accountable. View our case results to see how we’ve helped injured clients recover the compensation they deserve.
When you work with The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs, you get attorneys who understand Washington law. Contact our Lakewood car accident lawyers today to discuss your case.
Common Errors Found in Police Reports
Police reports can contain various types of errors that affect your accident claim. Understanding what to look for helps you identify problems that need correction. Common issues include factual errors, misidentification of the at-fault driver, and incomplete documentation.
Factual errors are among the most common issues. These include incorrect names, addresses, phone numbers, vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers, or dates. While some factual errors may seem minor, they can create confusion and undermine the credibility of your account.
Incorrect descriptions of how the accident occurred represent more serious errors. An officer might misstate which vehicle had the right of way. They might incorrectly describe traffic signals or road conditions. They might misunderstand the sequence of events. These errors directly affect fault determination and your ability to recover damages.
Misidentification of the at-fault driver is a critical error that can devastate your claim. If the report incorrectly identifies you as the at-fault driver when the other driver caused the accident, you face an uphill battle with insurance companies and potentially in court. This is why determining fault in a car accident requires careful analysis of all available evidence.
Missing witness information weakens the report’s reliability. If witnesses were present but the officer failed to record their names, contact information, or statements, you lose valuable corroboration of your account. Witness statements are critical evidence in car accident claims.
Incomplete accident scene details can also be problematic. The report might fail to mention road hazards, weather conditions, visibility issues, or other factors relevant to how the accident occurred. These details matter when negotiating with insurance adjusters.
Officer interpretation versus actual facts is another common issue. Officers sometimes include their conclusions about fault rather than sticking to observable facts. These interpretations may not align with what actually happened. According to the Washington State Patrol, accident reports should document facts, not conclusions.
Steps to Dispute an Inaccurate Police Report
If you’ve identified errors in your police report, taking action quickly is important. Here’s how to proceed. The sooner you challenge inaccuracies, the better your chances of success.
Review the Report Carefully
Start by obtaining a complete copy of the police report. You can request this from the police department that responded to your accident. Read through the entire report and compare it to your own recollection of events. Note every error, omission, or statement you believe is inaccurate. Be specific, document exactly what the error is and why it’s incorrect. This careful review is the foundation of any successful dispute.
Gather Supporting Evidence
Before contacting the police department, compile evidence that supports your version of events. This might include:
- Photos or video from the accident scene
- Witness statements and contact information
- Medical records documenting your injuries
- Vehicle damage assessments from repair shops
- Traffic camera footage if available
- Your own written account of the accident
The stronger your evidence, the more likely the police department will agree to amend the report. Evidence that directly contradicts the report’s statements carries the most weight. When gathering evidence, consider how it will support your claim for compensation after a car accident.
Contact the Police Department
Once you’ve gathered your evidence, contact the police department that issued the report. Request an amendment or correction form. Explain specifically what information in the report is inaccurate. Provide your supporting evidence. Submit your request in writing, email or certified mail works well because it creates a record of your request.
Police departments may respond to amendment requests within 3 to 5 business days. However, some may take longer depending on the complexity of your request and their current workload. Follow up if you don’t hear back within a reasonable timeframe. Persistence often leads to successful amendments.
Work with Your Insurance Company
Simultaneously, notify your insurance company of the errors in the police report. Provide them with corrected information and your supporting evidence. Request that they update their file with the accurate details. Document all communications with your insurer, including dates, times, names of representatives you speak with, and what was discussed. This documentation becomes valuable if you need to file an insurance claim or pursue legal action.
When communicating with your insurance company, avoid making statements that could be used against you. Learn what not to say to an insurance adjuster to protect your claim. Instead, focus on providing factual corrections to the police report.
When to Hire an Attorney
While you can attempt to dispute a police report on your own, hiring an attorney improves your chances of success. Consider contacting a lawyer if:
- The police report significantly impacts your claim and the errors are substantial
- The insurance company denies your claim based on the report’s conclusions
- You’re being partially or fully blamed for an accident you didn’t cause
- Settlement offers don’t reflect the true circumstances of the accident
- You have serious injuries or significant property damage where the stakes are high
An attorney can formally challenge the report. We negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. We represent you in court if necessary. Our personal injury attorneys have the experience to handle complex police report disputes.
An experienced attorney brings several advantages. We understand how police departments handle amendment requests, we can present your case persuasively , and we know how insurance companies evaluate police reports and counter their arguments. We can gather additional evidence, locate and interview witnesses, and construct a compelling case in support of your version of events. If the insurance company refuses to settle fairly, we can take your case to trial. Learn more about the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer to understand how legal representation strengthens your position.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dispute a police report if I wasn’t at the accident scene?
Yes, you can request corrections if you have evidence of errors. For example, if you were injured and transported to the hospital before the officer arrived, you might not have been present when the report was prepared. You can still dispute inaccuracies based on witness statements, medical records, vehicle damage, and other evidence that contradicts the report’s statements. This is particularly important in serious car accident cases where injuries prevent your presence at the scene.
How long does it take to amend a police report?
Most police departments respond to amendment requests within 3 to 5 business days. However, some departments may take longer depending on the complexity of your request and their current workload. If you’re working with an attorney, we can often expedite the process by following up directly with the department and presenting a compelling case for the amendment. Our experience with car accident claims helps us navigate these processes efficiently.
Will disputing a police report affect my insurance claim?
No, correcting inaccurate information helps your claim rather than hurting it. Insurance companies must consider amended reports when evaluating your claim. Accurate information supports fair settlement negotiations and strengthens your position if the case goes to trial. In fact, disputing inaccuracies is often essential for recovering fair compensation.
What if the police officer refuses to amend the report?
If the officer refuses to amend the report, you have other options. You can file a formal complaint with the police department’s internal affairs division. An attorney can challenge the report’s conclusions in court if your case goes to trial. Your attorney can present evidence that contradicts the report and argue that the court should disregard the officer’s inaccurate conclusions. This is where having experienced car accident attorneys makes a significant difference.
Does Washington law allow me to recover damages even if I’m partially at fault?
Yes, Washington uses pure comparative negligence under Revised Code of Washington § 4.22.005. You can recover damages even if you’re 99% at fault for the accident. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re awarded $100,000 but found to be 30% at fault, you receive $70,000. This makes it even more important to dispute inaccurate police reports that overstate your responsibility. Understanding comparative fault in Washington is critical to protecting your recovery.
Get Help Disputing Your Police Report
An inaccurate police report doesn’t have to determine the outcome of your accident claim. The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs can help you challenge errors and protect your rights. Our attorneys will review your police report and evidence, determine if errors exist, and develop a strategy to correct the record. We’ve successfully handled numerous car accident cases involving police report disputes.
Contact The Law Offices of Briggs & Briggs today for a free consultation. Call (253) 588-6696 or complete our online contact form. We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing up front. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Don’t let an inaccurate police report cost you the recovery you deserve. Reach out to us today.
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