Do I Need a Police Report to File a Pennsylvania Injury Claim?
A police report isn't always legally required to file an injury claim in Pennsylvania, but its absence can sink your case before it starts. Learn when you must obtain a report, how insurers weaponize missing documentation, and what to do if no officer showed up at the scene.
Do I Need a Police Report to File a Pennsylvania Injury Claim?
Last year, a Harrisburg woman rear-ended at a red light waved off the at-fault driver's suggestion to call police—'minor damage, no one's hurt, let's just exchange info.' Three weeks later, when her neck pain wouldn't resolve, the at-fault driver's insurer denied her claim outright, citing the lack of a police report as evidence the collision 'never happened as described.' She eventually recovered, but only after months of litigation and expert depositions that a simple police report would have rendered unnecessary.
Police reports are not a statutory prerequisite to filing a personal-injury claim in Pennsylvania. You can file a lawsuit, demand insurance coverage, or negotiate a settlement without one. But that narrow legal truth obscures a brutal practical reality: the absence of a police report transforms an otherwise straightforward claim into an uphill battle against motivated insurers, fading memories, and disappearing witnesses. Understanding when Pennsylvania law does require a report, what a report proves (and what it doesn't), and how to protect yourself when no officer arrives can mean the difference between swift compensation and a claim that dies on the vine.
Pennsylvania's Accident-Reporting Requirements: When the Law Compels Documentation
Pennsylvania law imposes specific reporting duties on drivers involved in certain crashes, and failing to comply can result in criminal penalties, license suspension, and ammunition for the other side's defense attorney.
Motor Vehicle Crashes Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746
Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746, any driver involved in a motor-vehicle crash on a highway that results in injury, death, or vehicle damage requiring tow-away must immediately notify police. The statute applies to crashes on public roads, highways, and certain private roads open to public travel. A 'reportable crash' occurs when:
- Any person is injured or killed
- Any vehicle is damaged to the extent it cannot be driven under its own power
Police must investigate and file a written report (Form AA-600) with PennDOT within five days. That report becomes public record, accessible to insurers, attorneys, and the injured party.
Failure to report can result in summary offenses, fines, and—critically—a legal inference that you were at fault or had something to hide. Defense attorneys routinely argue that a plaintiff's failure to call police evidences consciousness of guilt, particularly in disputed-liability cases.
Private-Property Crashes and the Reporting Grey Zone
Crashes on purely private property (shopping-center parking lots, driveways, apartment complexes) fall outside the mandatory-reporting statute if the property is not open to general public travel. Police often decline to respond to such incidents, noting they lack jurisdiction. Yet insurers treat private-property crashes with heightened suspicion precisely because of the documentation gap.
If you're injured in a private-property crash:
- Call police anyway—even if they decline to respond or issue a report, the dispatch record of your call becomes evidence you acted reasonably
- Take photographs of the scene, vehicles, property damage, signage, lighting, and any visible injuries
- Collect witness information immediately; people disperse fast in parking lots
- File an incident report with the property owner or manager (grocery store, mall, apartment complex)
- Seek medical attention the same day and ensure the treating provider documents the mechanism of injury
Non-Vehicle Incidents: Slip and Fall, Dog Bites, and Other Premises Cases
No Pennsylvania statute compels police notification for non-traffic injuries like Slip and Fall incidents, Dog Bites, or assaults on private property. But savvy claimants call police anyway, particularly when:
- The property owner or business manager is uncooperative or denies the incident
- The hazard (broken steps, ice, defective equipment) may be repaired or removed before litigation
- The injury is severe enough to warrant an ambulance
- The incident involves a criminal act (assault, dog attack with prior bite history)
A police report in these cases establishes an independent, contemporaneous record created by a neutral third party—invaluable when a property owner claims the fall never happened or the dog never left its yard.
What a Police Report Actually Proves (and What It Doesn't)
Clients often overestimate the legal weight of a police report. It is not admissible in a Pennsylvania civil trial to prove the truth of the officer's factual conclusions. Under Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 803(8), police reports qualify as public records, but statements of fault, speed estimates, and witness credibility assessments are inadmissible hearsay when offered to prove the facts asserted.
What a police report can prove:
- The crash or incident occurred on a specific date, time, and location
- The parties involved and their contact/insurance information
- Witnesses were present and provided statements at the scene
- Environmental conditions (weather, lighting, road conditions)
- Citations issued (admissible as evidence of a violation, though not conclusive proof of negligence)
- Injuries were reported contemporaneously
- Objective observations (skid marks measured, vehicle positions photographed by the officer)
What a police report cannot prove at trial:
- The other driver was at fault (the officer's 'opinion' is hearsay)
- Your injuries were caused by the crash (medical causation requires expert testimony)
- Witness statements about who ran the red light (hearsay within hearsay unless the witness testifies)
Yet pre-trial, the police report is the single most influential document in claims handling. Adjusters use it to set reserves, determine liability, and decide whether to settle or deny. A report assigning clear fault can close a claim in weeks; the absence of a report guarantees months of investigation and dispute.
How Insurers Weaponize the Absence of a Police Report
Insurance companies employ predictable tactics when confronted with an undocumented claim. Understanding these strategies reveals why securing a police report—or equivalent documentation—is critical.
The 'Phantom Accident' Defense
Adjusters routinely deny claims outright when no police report exists, alleging the accident never occurred or occurred differently than claimed. The burden shifts to you to prove:
- A collision actually happened
- It happened when and where you claim
- The other party was involved
- Your injuries arose from that specific event
Without a police report, you must assemble:
- Time-stamped photographs of both vehicles showing damage correlation
- Witness affidavits (notarized statements)
- Dispatch or 911 call logs
- Surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras
- GPS/telematics data from your vehicle or phone
- Medical records documenting injury mechanism consistent with the claimed crash
The 'Delayed Reporting' Attack
When you file a police report hours or days after the crash (Pennsylvania law allows drivers to file a written report with police within five days if an officer did not respond to the scene), insurers argue:
- You had time to fabricate or exaggerate the account
- The delay evidences minor impact
- Witness memories have degraded
- Physical evidence (tire marks, debris) has vanished
Defending against this requires medical records from the same day showing pain complaints, text messages or emails discussing the crash immediately after, and any dash-cam or phone video captured at the scene.
The Pre-Existing Injury Pivot
Absent a police report documenting contemporaneous injury complaints, insurers blame your herniated disc, concussion, or torn rotator cuff on pre-existing conditions, prior accidents, or degenerative changes. This is especially common in:
- Rear-end collisions ("whiplash is subjective")
- Low-speed impacts ("no significant force")
- Crashes involving older claimants ("age-related degeneration")
A police report noting you complained of neck pain at the scene, requested an ambulance, or appeared dazed rebuts these defenses before they gain traction.
Building a Compensable Claim Without a Police Report: Strategies That Work
When police do not respond—due to jurisdiction issues, resource constraints, or the minor appearance of the crash—you must construct your own evidentiary foundation.
Immediate Scene Documentation Checklist
Photographs (50+ images minimum):
- Wide-angle shots showing intersection or scene layout
- Vehicle damage from multiple angles (each vehicle)
- License plates (front and rear)
- VIN numbers visible through windshields
- Skid marks, debris, fluid leaks
- Traffic controls (signals, signs, lane markings)
- Environmental conditions (wet pavement, obscured sightlines, potholes)
- Your visible injuries (bruising, swelling, bleeding)
- Timestamp and GPS metadata enabled on your phone
Witness Information:
- Full names, phone numbers, email addresses
- Written or video-recorded statements at the scene ("I saw the red sedan run the red light")
- Vehicle or employer information if the witness was a delivery driver, rideshare operator, or commercial driver
Driver Exchange:
- Full legal name and address
- Driver's license number and state
- Vehicle registration and VIN
- Insurance company, policy number, and claims phone number
- License plate
- Photograph of their driver's license and insurance card
Environmental Records:
- Note the nearest intersection or mile marker
- Record the weather at the time (request historical weather data from Weather Underground or NOAA later)
- Identify nearby businesses with potential surveillance cameras
The Same-Day Medical Visit: Non-Negotiable
The emergency room, urgent care, or your primary care physician's same-day examination creates the contemporaneous injury record a police report would have provided. Tell the provider:
- Exactly how the crash occurred ("rear-ended at a stoplight")
- Every symptom, even mild (neck stiffness, headache, dizziness, numbness)
- That you want the mechanism of injury documented in the chart
- Whether you lost consciousness, struck your head, or experienced confusion
Emergency-room records are admissible as business records and carry significant weight. Adjusters know juries trust medical providers' injury documentation far more than a claimant's later testimony.
Written Statements and Recorded Conversations: Handle With Extreme Care
Insurers will contact you within 24–48 hours requesting a recorded statement. Do not provide one without consulting a Pennsylvania injury attorney first. Adjusters are trained to elicit admissions that undermine your claim:
- "You weren't really hurt at the scene, were you?"
- "You didn't think the crash was serious enough to call police?"
- "Your neck didn't start hurting until the next day?"
- "You've had back problems before, right?"
Every answer is transcribed, analyzed, and used to reduce or deny your claim. Pennsylvania is a one-party consent state for recording conversations (18 Pa.C.S. § 5704), meaning the adjuster can legally record you without announcing it.
The Pennsylvania Driver's Self-Reporting Duty: Form AA-600
If police do not respond, Pennsylvania law requires drivers involved in reportable crashes to file Form AA-600 (Driver's Crash Report) with PennDOT within five days. You can submit it online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services portal. Filing this form:
- Satisfies your statutory reporting duty
- Creates an official state record of the crash
- Provides your version of events before the other driver files theirs
- Avoids license suspension for failure to report
The other driver's insurer will obtain a copy of your AA-600, so complete it accurately but avoid speculating about fault or apologizing. Stick to objective facts: location, time, direction of travel, point of impact, and injuries.
Special Considerations in Motorcycle Accidents, Truck Accidents, and Pedestrian Crashes
Certain crash types demand police involvement regardless of apparent severity.
Motorcycle Accidents: Bias and the Documentation Imperative
Motorcycle riders face ingrained bias from insurers and juries who assume bikers are reckless. A police report that clears you of traffic violations and documents the car driver's failure to yield or unsafe lane change is essential to overcoming this prejudice. Additionally, Motorcycle Accidents often result in severe road rash, fractures, and traumatic brain injuries that may not manifest symptoms immediately—another reason to insist on police response.
Truck Accidents: Federal Reporting and Black-Box Data
Crashes involving commercial trucks trigger both Pennsylvania and federal reporting requirements. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR 390.15) require motor carriers to report crashes involving fatality, bodily injury requiring immediate medical treatment away from the scene, or disabling damage to any vehicle requiring tow-away. Police reports in Truck Accidents are essential for:
- Identifying the motor carrier and USDOT number
- Documenting hours-of-service violations
- Preserving electronic logging device (ELD) and black-box data
- Establishing the truck driver's employment status (employee vs. independent contractor)
Without a police report, motor carriers often claim the truck was not involved, the driver was off-duty, or the crash was non-preventable. Data from the truck's event data recorder (EDR) is often overwritten within 30 days—preservation requires immediate legal action.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crashes: Vulnerable Victim Protections
Pennsylvania law affords heightened protections to pedestrians and cyclists under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3542 (right-of-way in crosswalks) and § 3301 (duty to exercise highest degree of care around vulnerable road users). A police report documenting the driver's failure to yield, distraction, or speed creates a powerful foundation for a full-tort claim—critical because pedestrians and cyclists are almost never in limited tort (they are not occupants of a motor vehicle required to make the § 1705 election).
Police often fail to cite drivers who strike pedestrians or cyclists, deferring to the driver's account over the injured party's. Press police to interview independent witnesses, review surveillance footage from nearby businesses, and document crosswalk markings and traffic controls.
Comparative Negligence and the Police Report: Pennsylvania's 51% Bar
Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence under 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102: you can recover damages only if your fault is NOT GREATER THAN the defendant's (50% or less). If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. If you are 30% at fault, your damages are reduced by 30%.
Police officers often assign percentage fault in their reports ("Driver 1: 60% at fault; Driver 2: 40% at fault"). While these conclusions are hearsay and inadmissible at trial, they heavily influence pre-trial settlement. An officer's determination that you were 40% at fault for failing to maintain a proper lookout can cost you 40% of your settlement—or kill your claim entirely if the officer assigns you 51%.
If the police report assigns you significant fault:
- Request a copy immediately and review it with an attorney
- Identify factual errors (intersection geometry, traffic controls, witness statements)
- File a PennDOT Form DL-38 (Request to Amend Crash Report) if the report contains objective errors
- Retain an accident reconstructionist to rebut the officer's conclusions
- Prepare for litigation; adjusters rarely settle comparative-fault disputes pre-suit
When No Police Report Exists: Alternative Evidentiary Sources
| Evidence Type | How to Obtain | Strength in Claims Process |
|---|---|---|
| 911/Dispatch Logs | RTKL request to local police or county emergency services | Strong—proves you called for help immediately |
| Surveillance Footage | Written preservation request to businesses/municipalities within 48 hours; subpoena if necessary | Very Strong—objective third-party video |
| Traffic Camera Data | RTKL request to PennDOT, municipal traffic engineering dept., or PA Turnpike Commission | Very Strong—date/time/location verified |
| Event Data Recorder (EDR) | Spoliation letter to at-fault driver's insurer within days; formal preservation demand via attorney | Strong—objective speed/braking/steering data |
| Cell Phone Records | Subpoena to carrier (requires litigation); GPS data from Google Maps Timeline | Moderate—proves location/timing/distraction |
| Vehicle Telematics | Request from your insurer (OnStar, Progressive Snapshot, etc.) | Moderate—your own data corroborates account |
| Social Media Posts | Screenshot immediately; authenticate via digital forensics if disputed | Weak to Moderate—easily attacked as fabricated |
| Witness Affidavits | Attorney-prepared, notarized sworn statements | Moderate—stronger than nothing, weaker than live testimony |
All alternative evidence should be gathered within the first 7–10 days. Surveillance footage is routinely overwritten; witnesses move or forget; physical evidence disappears.
The Claims Process With and Without a Police Report: Timeline Comparison
With a police report assigning clear fault:
- Days 1–7: Obtain police report; submit claim to at-fault driver's insurer with report, medical records, photos
- Weeks 2–4: Adjuster reviews report, accepts liability, opens property-damage and bodily-injury claims
- Weeks 4–12: Complete medical treatment; submit final demand package
- Weeks 12–16: Negotiate settlement; receive payment
Without a police report (disputed liability):
- Days 1–30: Insurer conducts 'investigation'—delays, requests recorded statements, interviews witnesses
- Weeks 4–8: Insurer denies liability or asserts comparative negligence
- Weeks 8–20: Hire attorney; attorney conducts independent investigation, retains experts
- Months 6–12: Attorney files lawsuit (statute of limitations: 2 years under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524)
- Months 12–24: Discovery, depositions, expert reports
- Months 24–36: Mediation or trial
The police report compresses a potential two-year litigation into a four-month claims resolution. The absent report transforms a $25,000 soft-tissue claim into a $40,000 legal expense—before recovery.
Limited Tort vs. Full Tort and the Police Report's Role
Pennsylvania's limited-tort election under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1705 bars pain-and-suffering recovery unless you suffer a 'serious injury' (death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement under § 1702) or an exception applies (at-fault driver was DUI, uninsured, or operating an out-of-state vehicle; you were a pedestrian, cyclist, or passenger in a commercial vehicle; or the injury arose from a vehicle product defect).
A police report documenting DUI arrest, operating under suspension, or fleeing the scene can unlock full-tort recovery even if you elected limited tort. Conversely, the absence of a police report makes it harder to prove the DUI exception: insurers demand certified conviction records, blood-alcohol test results, and officer testimony—all easier to obtain when the arrest is documented in the crash report.
Key Takeaways
- Pennsylvania law requires police notification for crashes on public roads involving injury, death, or vehicles requiring tow-away; failure to report can result in fines, license suspension, and adverse inferences in litigation
- A police report is not technically required to file a claim, but its absence transforms routine claims into protracted disputes, increases litigation risk, and empowers insurers to deny outright
- Take extensive photographs, collect witness information, file a PennDOT Form AA-600 within five days, and seek same-day medical care to create an evidentiary foundation when no officer responds
- Police reports are inadmissible at trial to prove fault but dominate pre-trial claims handling; a report assigning clear liability can close a claim in weeks
- Certain crash types—Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, pedestrian/cyclist crashes—demand police involvement to preserve federal data, overcome bias, or document statutory violations
- Insurers weaponize missing reports by alleging phantom accidents, blaming pre-existing conditions, and exploiting delayed reporting
- Alternative evidence (surveillance footage, EDR data, 911 logs) can substitute for a police report but must be secured within days before it vanishes
Connect With a Pennsylvania Injury Attorney Today
Disputed liability, missing documentation, and insurer bad faith can derail even the strongest injury claim. PennsylvaniaAccidentAid.com connects injured Pennsylvania residents with experienced local attorneys who handle Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Slip and Fall cases, Dog Bites, and Wrongful Death claims across Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton, Bethlehem, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and York. Consultations are free, and most injury attorneys work on contingency—you pay nothing unless you recover.
Whether you have a police report or not, early legal guidance protects your rights, preserves evidence, and maximizes your recovery. Submit your case details through our confidential online form, and we'll match you with a qualified Pennsylvania injury lawyer within 24 hours. The clock is ticking on your claim—act today.
Related Pennsylvania Guides
Frequently asked questions
Is a police report required to file a car accident claim in Pennsylvania?
No statute requires a police report to file an injury claim or lawsuit in Pennsylvania, but Pennsylvania law does require drivers to notify police immediately for crashes on public roads involving injury, death, or vehicles requiring tow-away. If police do not respond, you must file Form AA-600 with PennDOT within five days. While technically you can pursue a claim without a police report, insurers routinely deny or heavily dispute claims lacking this documentation, treating the absence as evidence the crash never occurred or that you were at fault. A police report establishes an independent record of the collision, the parties involved, and the circumstances, making it exponentially easier to prove liability and secure fair compensation.
How long do I have to get a police report after a car accident in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law allows drivers to file a written crash report (Form AA-600) with PennDOT within five days if police did not respond to the scene. However, insurers view delayed reporting with suspicion, arguing you had time to fabricate details or exaggerate the incident. For maximum credibility, call police immediately from the scene—even if the crash seems minor or occurred on private property. If officers decline to respond, document your attempt by noting the time you called and any dispatch reference number. Same-day documentation (photographs, witness statements, medical records) becomes critical when the formal police report is delayed or unavailable. The sooner you create a contemporaneous record, the harder it is for the at-fault driver's insurer to deny your claim.
What happens if the other driver leaves before police arrive at the accident?
If the other driver flees before police arrive, call 911 immediately and report a hit-and-run. Provide the dispatcher with the vehicle description, license plate (even a partial), direction of travel, and any distinguishing features. Pennsylvania law treats leaving the scene as a crime, and police will investigate. Request a copy of the police report documenting the hit-and-run. Photograph your vehicle damage, the scene, and any debris or fluid trails left by the fleeing vehicle. If you cannot identify the at-fault driver, your own uninsured motorist coverage may cover your injuries and vehicle damage. Without a police report documenting your immediate report and cooperation, insurers often deny hit-and-run claims as fraudulent.
Can I still file a lawsuit in Pennsylvania without a police report?
Yes, you can file a personal-injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania without a police report—Pennsylvania's Rules of Civil Procedure do not require one. However, proving liability becomes significantly more difficult and expensive. You must establish through other evidence that the crash occurred, the defendant was at fault, and your injuries were caused by that specific incident. This typically requires retaining accident reconstructionists, conducting depositions, obtaining surveillance footage, subpoenaing phone records, and presenting expert testimony—expenses that can exceed $30,000 before trial. Defense attorneys exploit the absence of a police report by filing motions to dismiss, arguing you cannot meet your burden of proof, and demanding extensive discovery to exhaust your resources. Many claims without police reports settle only after years of litigation.
Will my insurance company deny my claim if I don't have a police report?
Your own insurer (first-party claims for medical benefits under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1711 or collision coverage) is less likely to deny your claim outright for lack of a police report, but they will investigate more aggressively and may reduce payouts based on alleged comparative negligence. The at-fault driver's liability insurer (third-party claim) routinely denies or lowballs claims without police reports, asserting the crash did not occur, you were at fault, or your injuries are unrelated. They know most claimants will accept a nuisance-value settlement rather than spend years in litigation. Comprehensive documentation—photographs, witness affidavits, same-day medical records, and PennDOT Form AA-600—can counteract these tactics, but early consultation with a Pennsylvania injury attorney is essential to avoid fatal mistakes during the claims process.
What information should I collect at the accident scene if police don't come?
If police do not respond, immediately collect: photographs of all vehicles from multiple angles showing damage correlation; license plates and VINs; the other driver's full name, address, phone number, driver's license number, and insurance information (photograph their license and insurance card); contact information for all witnesses including written or video-recorded statements; photographs of the entire scene including skid marks, debris, traffic controls, weather conditions, and lighting; GPS location and timestamp; and any visible injuries. Additionally, note the nearest intersection or mile marker, identify nearby businesses with surveillance cameras, and file Form AA-600 with PennDOT within five days. Seek medical attention the same day and ensure the provider documents the mechanism of injury. These steps create the evidentiary foundation a police report would have provided and make your claim defensible.
How does a police report affect comparative negligence in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence under 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102, meaning you recover nothing if you are 51% or more at fault. Police reports often assign percentage fault to each driver, and while these conclusions are inadmissible hearsay at trial, they dominate pre-trial settlement negotiations. If the officer assigns you 40% fault, the insurer will typically reduce your settlement by 40% or deny the claim entirely if you are assigned 51% or greater fault. Challenging fault determinations in a police report requires retaining an accident reconstructionist, filing a PennDOT request to amend the report (Form DL-38), and often litigating the issue through depositions and expert testimony. Without a police report, the at-fault insurer will assign you maximum comparative fault to reduce or eliminate their exposure, forcing you to prove your version through expensive alternative evidence.
Do I need a police report for a slip and fall or dog bite in Pennsylvania?
No Pennsylvania statute requires police notification for non-vehicular injuries like slip and fall incidents or dog bites, but calling police is often strategically wise. A police report creates an independent contemporaneous record when the property owner denies the incident occurred, refuses to provide contact or insurance information, or immediately repairs the hazard. In dog bite cases under 3 P.S. § 459-502, a police report documenting the attack, the dog's description, and the owner's identity is essential for proving strict liability for medical costs and establishing negligence for pain-and-suffering damages. If the property owner or dog owner is cooperative, at minimum photograph the hazard or animal, obtain written incident reports from property managers, collect witness information, and seek same-day medical care that documents the injury mechanism. Without documentation, insurers routinely deny these claims as fabricated.
Can I get a copy of the police report if I wasn't at the accident scene?
Pennsylvania police reports (Form AA-600) become public records accessible to anyone once filed with PennDOT, but local police departments may charge fees and require requests in writing. If you are a party to the crash, you can typically obtain a copy within days by visiting the investigating police department, submitting a written request with the crash date and location, or accessing the report online through certain municipal police portals. PennDOT maintains a searchable database where you can purchase copies of reports for crashes investigated by state police or submitted via Form AA-600. If you were not at the scene but have a legitimate interest (e.g., you are the legal representative of an injured minor or deceased family member), you can request the report under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, though police may redact certain information. An attorney can expedite the process and ensure you receive the complete, unredacted report needed for your claim.
What should I do if the police report has incorrect information about my accident?
If the police report contains factual errors—wrong vehicle descriptions, incorrect traffic controls, misidentified parties, or inaccurate witness statements—act immediately. Contact the investigating officer to explain the errors and provide supporting evidence (photographs, witness affidavits, dash-cam video). If the officer agrees to correct the report, they will file an amended or supplemental report with PennDOT. If the officer refuses, you can file PennDOT Form DL-38 (Request to Amend Crash Report) with documentation supporting your corrections, though PennDOT often defers to the investigating officer. Even if the report is not formally amended, your attorney can submit a rebuttal affidavit with your claim explaining the errors and providing correct information. Insurers and juries are more skeptical of late challenges to police reports, so act within the first week and consult a Pennsylvania injury attorney to preserve your credibility and protect your claim.