The Police Report for My Laredo TX Car Wreck Isn't Entirely Accurate | Can a Lawyer Help?
As the “Gateway City” to Mexico, Laredo, Texas, is rich in history, culture, and visitors. Unfortunately, heavy traffic also makes the city notorious for vehicle crashes, with more than 6,200 in 2023 alone. Serious accidents change life in an instant for victims who suffer devastating injuries and property damage. These victims may find themselves unable to work and facing substantial bills for their medical treatment.
Laredo personal injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw help accident victims hold responsible parties liable and seek damages after a car wreck. The police report is a key piece of evidence used for these claims, but errors in the document can impact your compensation. We protect accident victims’ rights when an inaccurate police report stands in the way of collecting the damages they deserve.
If you are injured in an accident caused by another party, contact Carabin Shaw. Our law firm offers our services on a contingency-fee basis, so you pay nothing upfront for our legal expertise. Check our client reviews to see how we’ve helped other accident victims, and then call us for a free case review in English or Spanish. Our team is available 24/7 at 1-800-862-1260.
Police Reports in Laredo, Texas: What You Need to KnowUnder Texas law, parties involved in a vehicle accident must contact authorities if the crash involved injuries, death, or more than $1,000 in damage. When police arrive on the scene, they will collect essential facts for their report, including:
- The time and location of the crash
- Contact information for those involved
- Details of vehicles involved
- Witness statements
- Details of injuries and property damage
- Weather conditions
An officer may also include their opinion on how the accident occurred and who was at fault. Insurance companies typically require these documents to process accident claims. Attorneys also use these reports to pursue compensation for accident victims, holding all at-fault parties responsible under Texas’s proportionate responsibility rule.
Police officers often collect accident facts in a highly charged environment and create their reports hours or days after the incident. Mistakes can occur, including inaccurate facts, omissions, or transcription errors.
How a Police Report Impacts Your CompensationSince the officer responding to a crash is considered an objective, unbiased party, the police report is considered an essential piece of evidence in an accident investigation. The facts included in the document help determine the severity of the accident and injuries, the cause of the crash, and who was at fault. In most cases, accident victims use police reports to back up their own facts about the crash and support their case.
When the report contains inaccuracies, this may change assumptions about how and why the accident occurred. For example, the police report may leave out details of events leading up to the accident or fail to include eyewitness information. The reporting officer can also make mistakes in diagramming how the accident occurred. Insurance companies may use these errors to reduce or deny a victim’s accident claims.
Can I Dispute My Police Report?Accident victims have a right to dispute inaccurate details on a police report, but it’s best to do so with the assistance of a car accident attorney in Laredo Texas. Your legal team knows how to appeal information in the report, or include a supplemental report with your information to provide a clearer picture of the accident.
The easiest information to correct is simple facts like vehicle details, the location of the accident, or the names and contact information for those at the scene. Transcription errors are also straightforward to amend. However, subjective details on how the accident occurred can be more challenging to dispute. Your lawyer can handle these disagreements to protect you from making any statements directly to authorities or insurance companies that could be used against you on your claim.
Police Report Issues? Contact the Best Laredo TX Car Wreck Attorneys at Carabin Shaw Today To Schedule Your FREE ConsultationWhether your police report is accurate or contains errors, an experienced legal team will ensure you receive all the compensation you deserve after your accident. At Carabin Shaw, our skilled Texas lawyers have over two decades of experience handling cases like yours. We will help you maximize damages so you can focus on your recovery. Call Carabin Shaw toll-free 24/7 at 1-800-862-1260.
For more information: