What happens if the police crash report for your car accident is wrong in Miami, Florida? Police accident reports contain a great deal of information that insurance companies use as they investigate claims. The wrong information on a police crash report could result in your claim being denied.
Our lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers help you understand what to do when an accident report is wrong. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no fee until we successfully resolve your personal injury case. Contact us today at (305) 937-0191 for a free consultation with a Miami car accident lawyer.
Table of Contents
How Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You with a Car Accident Claim in Miami, FL
For nearly 20 years, Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers has taken on the largest insurance companies and powerful defense firms, and we have won. We use our substantial resources and experience to help injured victims and their families receive the settlements and verdicts they deserve.
When you hire our award-winning, top-rated Miami personal injury lawyers, you can trust us to:
- Investigate the cause of your car accident and gather evidence for an accident claim
- Work with leading expert witnesses as necessary to gather additional evidence supporting your claim
- Document your economic and non-economic damages to determine how much your case is worth
- Fight claims of contributory fault and blame
- Handle all matters with the insurance company, including negotiating an insurance settlement
- Argue your case at trial if that is the best way to protect your rights
Our legal team includes attorneys who are Double Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Florida Bar. We have top ratings from national organizations, including Super Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers. Expertise.com named our attorneys as the best car accident lawyers in our area.
Call our office to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Miami car accident lawyer. We are available 24/7 to discuss your case with you.
When Does a Florida Police Crash Report Need to Be Completed?
Florida law requires drivers to report traffic accidents that result in injury, death, or at least $500 in property damage. The driver must report the crash immediately to the local police department. Generally, drivers call 911 to report crashes.
Police officers complete a short- or long-form Florida Traffic Crash Report.
Long forms are required if the accident involved:
- The death or personal injury to one or more people
- Property damage that rendered a vehicle inoperable to the degree that a wrecker must be used to move the vehicle
- Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- A hit and run driver (i.e., fleeing an accident scene)
- Property damage of $500 or more
- A commercial motor vehicle
Police officers investigate accident scenes and interview the drivers and witnesses to gather information for a police crash report.
What Information Does a Florida Police Crash Report Contain?
At a minimum, the long-form Florida Traffic Crash report must include:
- The location, date, and time of the crash
- A description of the vehicles involved in the collision
- The names and contact details of the drivers, passengers, and other parties involved in the crash
- The names and addresses of eyewitnesses
- The law enforcement agency, badge number, and the officer’s name who investigated the crash
- The names of the insurance companies for the respective parties
Crash reports contain much more information that can be useful in an accident claim. For example, the officer notes the first harmful event, which could be a basis for causation in a negligence claim.
Officers also note contributing circumstances, such as road conditions and environmental factors. Long forms also include whether a driver was distracted and the driver’s actions during the crash. The information on a police crash report could cause an insurance company to believe your actions contributed to the cause of a crash.
Correcting a Police Crash Report in Miami, FL
Police officers make mistakes. An accident report might contain one or more errors. Factual errors may be corrected with the proper documentation.
However, disputes regarding non-factual information, such as statements from drivers or witnesses, may not be altered. Instead, you can submit your account stating why you disagree with the information. There is no guarantee your statement will be included in the police crash report.
Although police reports are not the final decision on fault and liability, they are used by insurance companies in the claims process.
If you locate factual errors on a police crash report, you can:
- Gather evidence to support the change you request, such as witness statements, photographs, etc.
- Contact the law enforcement agency’s non-emergency number to inquire about their procedure for amending crash reports
- Follow the procedure for requesting an amendment
- Request a copy of the amended police crash report to verify the police department corrected the error.
If the law enforcement agency refuses to correct the error or include your statement, contact a car accident attorney for help. An attorney can help you gather evidence proving the police crash report is incorrect to protect your rights in a personal injury claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation with our Miami Car Accident Lawyers
A car accident can turn your life upside down in an instant. Don’t allow the insurance company to pressure you to accept a settlement offer that does not compensate you fairly. Call Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free case review from our Miami car accident attorneys. We stand up for the rights of accident victims as we fight for maximum compensation for their claims.
