- Deaths from auto accidents in the city were grossly underreported.
- The number of angle wrecks, like those which occur when someone runs a red light, was substantially inflated.
- But perhaps the most damning statistic is that according to Illinois Department of Transportation studies, 70% of all traffic reports filled out by Chicago Police were missing key information – and 30% contained factual errors.
Accident Reports by Chicago Police are Error-Filled
If you are injured in an auto accident, you are entitled to collect monetary damages from a personal injury lawsuit if you can demonstrate that the accident was caused by someone else. You can identify who is to blame by presenting evidence which indicates the liability of the at-fault driver. One key piece of evidence that is often used in personal injury cases is the official police report about the accident.That’s why a recent study reported in the Chicago Tribune is so disturbing. An examination of state records reveals that the Chicago Police Department has been filing inaccurate accident reports for quite some time.The study, which was originally commissioned by the city of Chicago (but then attempted to be hidden from public scrutiny), shows that: