What to Do If the Police Report Is Wrong After a Texas Car Accident

After a car accident in Texas, the police report often becomes one of the most important documents in an insurance claim or lawsuit. Insurance companies rely heavily on it when deciding fault, settlement amounts, and whether to deny a claim altogether.

But police reports are not always accurate. Officers arrive after the crash, rely on quick statements, and sometimes misunderstand what happened. If the report contains errors, it can seriously hurt your ability to recover compensation unless you act quickly.

Below is what you need to know if a police report is wrong and what steps you should take to protect your rights.

Police reports are not automatically considered legal proof, but they carry significant weight. Insurance adjusters treat them as neutral and authoritative. Even small mistakes can be used against you.

Common problems include:

If an officer notes that you were at fault, insurers may reduce or deny your claim even when the conclusion is incorrect.

Police officers often work under time pressure and limited information. Some of the most common causes of errors include:

This is why it is critical to gather your own evidence at the scene whenever possible. If you were able to take photos or videos, that evidence can later contradict a faulty report.

For guidance on what to do immediately after a crash, see Car Accidents in Texas What to Do Immediately After a Crash.

You should obtain a copy of the crash report as soon as it becomes available. In Texas, this is usually within a few days.

Carefully review:

Even a small factual error can affect how an insurance company evaluates your claim.

You generally cannot force an officer to rewrite a report, but you can request that a supplemental statement be added.

Steps may include:

While the original report may remain unchanged, supplemental materials can still help challenge inaccurate conclusions.

Texas follows comparative negligence rules. Even if the report suggests you were partially at fault, you may still recover compensation depending on the circumstances.

To understand how fault percentages affect recovery, see Understanding Comparative Negligence in Texas Personal Injury Cases.

Insurance companies often rely on the report to justify low settlement offers. This is a common tactic discussed in How Insurance Companies Devalue Personal Injury Claims and What You Can Do About It.

A police report is only one piece of evidence. Strong claims often rely on additional proof such as:

Insurance companies must consider all available evidence, not just the police report.

Waiting too long can make it harder to correct mistakes or gather evidence. Witness memories fade and video footage can be deleted.

You should also be aware of legal deadlines. Texas limits how long you have to pursue an injury claim. For more information, see How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Texas.

If a police report error is affecting your claim, handling the issue alone can be difficult. Insurance companies are trained to rely on reports that favor them.

An experienced personal injury attorney can:

Police reports are important, but they are not final or unchangeable. If a report is wrong after a Texas car accident, taking early action can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.

Understanding your rights, collecting evidence, and knowing how insurance companies operate are key to protecting yourself after a serious accident.