A driver hits you while you’re cycling in Fort Worth, leaving you with injuries and a wrecked bike. When you get the police report, it wrongly blames you for the crash. This mistake can ruin your chance at fair compensation. As a Fort Worth bicycle accident lawyer, I can help clients fix inaccurate reports all the time. Texas law offers ways to correct this error, but you need to act fast.
Police Reports Decide Your Case
Police reports document an officer’s findings at an accident scene, including witness statements and initial fault judgments. The Texas Transportation Code, Section 550.026, requires officers to file reports for accidents causing injury or major property damage.
Insurers and courts use these reports to decide who pays for your medical bills and bike repairs. If the report incorrectly faults you, insurance companies may refuse your claim, making it important to address errors with help from a Fort Worth bicycle accident lawyer.
Report Errors
Mistakes in police reports often stem from rushed investigations or unreliable witness accounts. An officer might write that you ignored a traffic signal based on the driver’s story, missing evidence like a nearby cyclist’s testimony.
In a Fort Worth case, I corrected a report that wrongly blamed my client for veering into a car’s path. We used a bystander’s video to prove the driver’s fault. Such errors can shift liability against you, affecting your claim’s outcome. A Fort Worth bicycle accident lawyer can challenge such errors to protect your recovery.
What to Do Now?
Request a copy from the Fort Worth Police Department or the Texas Department of Transportation. Check for inaccuracies in details like the crash location or fault assignment. You can file a supplemental report with new evidence, such as photos or witness statements, though Texas law doesn’t allow altering the original.
An incorrect police report can devastate your ability to recover damages. Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 33, Texas’s 51% fault rule bars you from compensation if you’re over 50% at fault. A report wrongly assigning you 60% blame could lead insurers to deny your claim.
In my decades of experience as a Fort Worth bicycle accident lawyer, there was a case in which I helped a cyclist in Fort Worth whose report inflated their fault. By presenting traffic camera evidence, we lowered their fault to 15%, securing a fair settlement.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Robert
As a Fort Worth bicycle accident lawyer, Robert C. Slim assists cyclists in correcting reports and securing compensation. Let’s arrange a call for your case.
