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Can an Accident Report Be Changed?

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Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C.

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Written/Reviewed By:

Barry S. Kantrowitz, Esq.

Last Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Read Time: 4 mins

The information that you provide to the police in the immediate aftermath of an accident might be clouded by the confusion and emotions that often accompany a car crash. When you later review a police report about the accident, your memory may well be different from the description in that report. Certain information might be subject to being changed, but ultimately that report will be a persuasive statement of how the accident occurred and which party caused it.

The car accident lawyers at Manhattan’s Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. represent individuals that have suffered property losses and injuries in car accidents. We counsel our clients on how to make an initial accident report, and to request changes when those reports do not accurately reflect which party caused the accident.

Simple Changes in Accident Reports: Mistakes of Fact

The police investigator that prepares an accident report might make simple mistakes of fact, for example, about the name of the street or the time of day when the car accident happened. In both New York and New Jersey, you are obligated to file an accident report with the police within ten days after the crash. An investigator might then require several days or weeks to complete an official report of the accident. You should get a copy of that report and review it for factual errors as soon as you possibly can. If you see a mistake, contact the officer who prepared the report and give him or her evidence to verify the necessary corrections. That officer should then issue a corrected report.

Complex Changes in Accident Reports: Factual Disputes

Your version of the events that preceded a car crash may well differ from the other driver’s version. You might, for example, report that the other driver ran a red light, was speeding, or turned in front of you at an intersection. The other driver might claim that the light was green, that he or she was driving below the speed limit, or that he or she had the right of way to make the turn that led to an accident. The police investigator will weigh both parties’ versions of events in conjunction with other evidence and will include some version of those events in a report.

Different police departments have different mechanisms to object to factual disputes on accident reports. You will have a better chance of succeeding with a request to change a report if you prepared and retained your own detailed description of the accident as soon as possible after the accident happened. In all auto accidents, you should collect:

Contact and insurance information for all other drivers who were involved in the crash;
Contact information for any witnesses who were at the scene;
Notes with your best recollection of traffic and weather conditions;
Photographs of all vehicles and the roads or intersections where the accident occurred.

In addition, you should keep all medical invoices for treatment you received for injuries, estimates, and bills from auto mechanics, and detailed notes of conversations that you had with police and insurance investigators.

Accident Reports, Damages, and Insurance Claims

Your ability to recover compensation for your property losses and injuries after a car accident may depend, in large part, on the completeness and accuracy of the police report that summarizes the accident. Notwithstanding the challenges that you might face in requesting changes to an accident report, you should not accept anything less than a report that best reflects your memory of how the accident happened. If you have any concerns about a car accident report and you are unable or unwilling to get the investigator to change it, contact an experienced car accident attorney for assistance in making any necessary changes.

Call KGG for Legal Representation

New York and New Jersey are both “no-fault” car insurance states, which means that your car insurance company will reimburse you for your losses and injuries following a car accident in either state regardless of who was at fault for causing the accident. This does not mean, however, that you can disregard police reports that contain errors about which party bears liability in an auto accident. Even with no-fault insurance, you might have a right to file a lawsuit for damages against a negligent driver that caused a car crash.

The car accident lawyers at Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. represent car accident victims in Rockland or Bergen Counties and elsewhere in New York and New Jersey. Please call us if you believe an accident report should be changed and for assistance in recovering the full amount of damages you are entitled to receive for your car accident losses and injuries.

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   LWelsh 
 1 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Clever and efficient.
  
 
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   Kenny Perlow 
 22 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. KGG Law, and Barry Kantrowitz in particular, set the bar high for what a thorough, practical, strategic, compassionate and smart lawyer can be. Everything about Barry's advice and representation was exemplary and the stress mitigation that resulted was invaluable. On top of that, the ultimate result Barry achieved was beyond what was reasonable to expect and we are forever grateful. Often, people say that you hire a lawyer to prevent a problem. Sometimes, unfortunately, you need an attorney to solve a problem and I could not recommend Barry and his firm any more highly in that regard.
  
 
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   Aliza Ali 
 86 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My dad had a great experience with this law firm. From the very beginning, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions. They kept us informed throughout the entire process and made what could have been a very stressful situation much easier to handle. We truly appreciated their dedication, honesty, and hard work. Thanks to their support, my dad felt confident every step of the way. We are very grateful for everything they did and would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable legal representation.
  
 
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   Jana Montero 
 89 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Sam Smith. He was very responsive, thorough, and easy to work with from start to finish. He walked me through everything clearly and made what started as a very stressful situation for me into something completely manageable. I would not hesitate to recommend him and the firm!
  
 
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   Mike Sakmann 
 95 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I sought legal advice regarding an employment matter and had an excellent experience working with Sam Smith, Esq. at KGG Law. Sam was thorough, attentive, and took the time to listen carefully to my concerns before providing clear, thoughtful guidance. I appreciated the professionalism and care shown throughout the process, and I would confidently recommend KGG Law to anyone in need of legal assistance.
  
 
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   Liz Hecker 
 101 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can't say enough about this firm. They manage to comfort you during the whole legal process while staying professional and doing what is right. I would recommend them to anyone and also hire them again if I need legal help.
  
 
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   Brandy Miller 
 124 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate is the best. She helped me very quickly, and was very attentive with all of my needs. So thankful for her
  
 
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   Mike Greenspan 
 137 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate Carballo is a dedicated, passionate, and creative attorney whom I had the pleasure to lecture with at a state trial lawyer's conference. Kate's lecture demonstrated how she uses her innovative and "out-of-the-box thinking" to achieve outstanding results for her injured clients. That Kate is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney is a testament to her skills, experience and commitment to excellence.
  
 
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   Jonathan Sampson 
 144 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was referred to KGG law by a friend and could not have asked for better legal representation. They walked me through every step of the process after my accident and began every call with “ how are you feeling” which was just one example of how much they care about their clients. They handled my case very efficiently, professionally and courteously. My attorney Kate Carballo was a rock star! So clearly experienced, she consistently made me feel at ease with the process. Highly recommend
  
 
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   Vinnie Kung 
 147 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with the team at KGG Law. While it was a traumatic time for our family, they made it very easy for us and explained all of our options. They even performed due diligence to make sure that after our settlement, there would be no further issues which I think is even more important than the settlement itself. Thank you!

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Can an Accident Report Be Changed?

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