Other driver passed illegally and ran — am I stuck holding the bag even with a witness?

The inaccurate police report thing happened to me too and it is SO demoralizing. I had to go back to the department and formally request an amendment with written documentation of what actually happened. It's a real process but it is possible. Don't just accept the report as gospel — that thing is not automatically the final word.

That witness is genuinely gold. Get their written statement locked down ASAP — like, contact them now if you haven't already. Memories fade and people get busy. A signed account from someone with no stake in the outcome carries real weight.

Your insurance saying 'single-car accident' this early is a red flag to me. They are already building a frame that costs them less money. Do not give them a recorded statement without understanding exactly what you're agreeing to. They are not your friend in this situation, even if it's your own policy.

Worked claims for years — a report that omits a second vehicle when there's a witness who corroborates one is actually something adjusters flag internally. If you push back with that witness statement and formally dispute the report, it changes the file. Without that pushback, though, yeah, they'll run with the single-car angle all day. You have to be the one to make noise here.

Not legal advice, but the intersection of a faulty police report, a fleeing driver, and an independent witness is exactly the kind of fact pattern where getting a free consultation with a PI attorney is worth your time. The witness statement alone can support a dispute of how fault is being characterized. The hit-and-run angle also matters a lot depending on your state's UM laws.

Please don't forget to get checked out medically even if you feel okay right now. Airbag deployments can cause injuries — chest bruising, soft tissue stuff, even mild concussion symptoms — that don't fully show up until 24-48 hours later. Document everything with a doctor visit now. That record matters if anything develops.

Three things, in order: get a copy of the report in writing today, call that witness today, and don't say another word to your insurance until you've at least had a free consult with an attorney. Everything else is secondary.

I'm just really glad you're physically okay. This sounds terrifying — forced off the road by someone who then just drove away like nothing happened. You deserve for this to be documented correctly. Please don't let the frustrating paperwork stuff make you give up on fighting back.

Not doubting you, but a few questions that might come up: Was a dash cam involved at all? Did the witness actually see the pass happen, or just the aftermath? The more specific the witness can be about the illegal pass itself (vs just seeing you off the road), the stronger that statement is. Details matter a lot when you're trying to get a report corrected.