How to Amend a Police Report in Houston

Police reports play a critical role in Houston car accident claims, insurance disputes, and personal injury cases. Insurance companies, attorneys, and courts often rely on these reports as an initial record of what occurred. However, police reports are not immune to errors. Incorrect dates, missing witnesses, inaccurate diagrams, or misstatements can and do happen.

If a police report from a Houston accident contains a mistake, understanding how to amend or supplement that report is essential.

Why Do Police Report Errors Matter?

In Texas, police reports frequently influence:

• Fault determinations by insurers
• Liability assessments in personal injury claims
• Settlement negotiations
• Litigation strategy

Even small errors can be used by insurance adjusters to challenge credibility or reduce compensation. For example, an incorrect vehicle position, missing injury notation, or misidentified party can complicate an otherwise valid claim.

Why Do I Need to Amend a Police Report in Houston?

Police reports are often completed quickly at the scene of an accident, sometimes while traffic is being cleared or injuries are still being assessed. As a result, important details may be missing or incorrect.

Common reasons Houston accident victims seek amendments or supplements include:

• Injuries were not apparent at the scene but appeared hours or days later
• A witness was not interviewed or listed
• Vehicle positions or directions of travel were recorded incorrectly
• Insurance information was incomplete or wrong
• One party gave an inaccurate statement that was accepted without verification
• The narrative conflicts with physical evidence or photographs

In personal injury claims, these issues can materially affect liability determinations and insurance negotiations. Correcting the record early helps prevent insurers from relying on inaccuracies to deny or reduce claims.

Can You Amend a Police Report in Houston?

In most cases, you cannot directly change or rewrite a police report once it has been finalized. Officers are not required to modify reports simply because a party disagrees with the findings. However, you can request that additional information be added or that a supplemental statement be attached to the original report.

In Houston, this process depends on which agency handled the accident.

Houston Police Department (HPD)

If the accident occurred within Houston city limits, it was likely investigated by the Houston Police Department.

Key points for HPD reports:

• HPD officers generally will not alter conclusions or fault opinions
• Clerical or factual errors may be corrected
• Supplemental statements may be added to the file
• The original narrative typically remains unchanged

Requests usually go through HPD Records or the officer’s assigned division.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO)

Crashes outside Houston city limits but within Harris County may be handled by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

HCSO follows similar principles, but procedures may differ slightly by precinct. As with HPD:

• Reports are official government records
• Corrections are limited
• Supplements are more common than revisions

Regardless of agency, amended information is usually attached rather than substituted.

Amending a Report Filed by the Houston Police Department

If your accident was investigated by HPD, the report is considered an official government record. Officers generally will not revise conclusions or fault determinations unless there is a clear factual error, such as the wrong make/model of a vehicle or street address.

What HPD May Consider Correcting

HPD may consider amendments for:

• Clerical or typographical errors
• Incorrect personal information
• Missing vehicle or insurance details
• Omitted witness names or statements

They typically will not change opinions, diagrams, or fault assessments.

How to Request a Supplement

1. Obtain a copy of the crash report (CR-3).
2. Identify the specific inaccuracies.
3. Prepare a written supplemental statement with supporting documentation.
4. Submit the request through HPD Records or the officer’s division, if applicable.

Any approved supplement becomes part of the report file but does not replace the original narrative.

Reports Filed by the Texas Department of Transportation

All Texas crash reports ultimately flow through TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System.

If a correction is accepted, TxDOT may update administrative fields, but narrative sections typically remain unchanged. Supplemental statements are often attached rather than integrated.

Using a Driver’s Crash Report (CR-2)

If law enforcement did not respond or if the report is incomplete, Texas law allows drivers to submit a CR-2 Driver’s Crash Report.

This document:

• Provides your version of events
• Becomes part of the official crash record
• Can be used by insurers and attorneys

While it does not overwrite the police report, it does help establish an alternative factual record.

Correcting Errors Through Supporting Evidence

When a police report cannot be formally amended, evidence becomes the practical correction.

Common supporting materials can include:

• Dashcam footage
• Surveillance video from nearby businesses
• Photographs of the scene and vehicle damage
• Medical records showing injuries not noted
• Witness affidavits or recorded statements

Insurance companies and courts often weigh this evidence more heavily than a brief crash narrative.

What is the Deadline for Amending My Police Report?

There is no one deadline for amending a police report – however, waiting to amend a faulty report can result in a more difficult insurance claim, or outright rejection.

• Requests should be made as soon as possible after discovering an error.
• Insurance claims should not be delayed while waiting for amendments.
• Keep copies of all correspondence and submissions.

If a police report error impacts fault, injuries, or damages, professional legal guidance is often necessary. An experienced Houston personal injury attorney can determine whether pursuing a formal supplement is worthwhile or whether evidence-based correction is the better strategy.

What If the Reporting Officer Refuses to Amend the Report?

It is common for officers to decline amendment requests, even when an error exists. This does not mean you are out of options.

If an officer refuses:

1. Submit a written supplemental statement
   Your statement becomes part of the official record, even if the original report remains unchanged.
2. File a CR-2 Driver’s Crash Report
   This allows you to formally document your version of events under Texas law.
3. Preserve independent evidence
   Dashcam video, surveillance footage, photographs, medical records, and witness statements often carry more weight than a brief police narrative.
4. Address the error through your injury claim
   Insurance companies and courts are not bound by police opinions. Discrepancies can be challenged through evidence and testimony.

In many cases, attorneys do not rely on amendments at all and instead focus on building a record that contradicts the report when necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a police report be changed after it is filed?

Generally, no. Police reports are rarely rewritten. Corrections are usually handled through supplements or attachments.

Will amending a report change who is at fault?

Almost never. Fault opinions are discretionary and typically remain unchanged.

How long do I have to request an amendment?

There is no strict statutory deadline, but requests should be made as soon as an error is discovered.

Does an incorrect police report ruin my injury claim?

No. Police reports are not conclusive evidence under Texas law. Claims can succeed even when a report is inaccurate.

Should I wait for a correction before filing an insurance claim?

No. Claims should proceed while corrections or supplements are pending.

Contact a Houston Car Accident Attorney

The point of an after-crash report is to establish a narrative, typically for insurance companies. However sometimes police officers leave out or misrepresent details – in that case, you need to have a way to fix or amend that report. The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian works with clients suffering injuries from car crashes; helping our clients amend and update their reports is part of our process.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car crash and think you might need a police report updated, contact our firm today at 713-714-1414 or fill out our online contact form.