Cohn & Swartzon LLP’s Anson Bui on When the Police Report Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

The Orange County Trial Attorney Explains How Persistent Investigation After an Inconclusive Report Can Change the Outcome for Seriously Injured Clients

IRVINE, CA, UNITED STATES, August 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — When an accident happens at a controlled intersection and both drivers claim to have had the green light, the police report sometimes offers no definitive answer.

For injured Californians, that inconclusive report can feel like the end of the road.

Senior Trial Attorney Anson Bui of Cohn & Swartzon LLP, California Personal Injury Attorneys, says it does not have to be.

Why the Initial Evidence Picture Is Rarely Complete

In disputed liability accident cases, the evidence available on the day of the collision is often the beginning of an investigation, not the conclusion of one. Witnesses may not have given statements. Surveillance footage may not yet have been located. Details that become critical to establishing what happened are sometimes uncovered weeks or months after the accident.

“The police report is an important tool,” said Bui. “It is a starting point. Sometimes the evidence that ultimately makes the difference is not uncovered until weeks or even months later through thorough investigation. The firm does not stop with the report.”

Bui emphasizes that a thorough investigation can be critical in disputed liability claims, particularly when the initial evidence does not clearly establish what happened. With more than 600 depositions conducted across his career, Bui understands how the quality of investigation shapes the outcome of a case.

Independent Witnesses and Why They Matter

Among the most valuable evidence in a disputed liability case is testimony from independent witnesses, people with no relationship to either party and no financial interest in the outcome. Their accounts can be particularly significant when drivers provide conflicting versions of what happened.

The absence of an independent witness in the police report does not necessarily mean that no witness exists. Further investigation may include speaking with nearby residents or businesses, reviewing available surveillance footage, or identifying people who were in the area when the collision occurred. A witness who saw the collision or its immediate aftermath may have left before police arrived or simply may not have been identified at the scene. In a disputed liability case, locating even one credible independent witness can significantly change the evidence picture.

“Every case is different, but every client deserves to know that every reasonable avenue has been explored,” said Bui. “The goal is to provide honest advice, prepare every case thoroughly, and advocate for the best possible outcome.”

What This Means for Injured Californians

Disputed liability does not necessarily mean the end of a personal injury claim. A police report that does not determine fault may leave important questions unanswered, and additional evidence can sometimes provide a much clearer picture of how a collision occurred.

For injured Californians, an initial lack of evidence should not automatically be mistaken for a lack of a case. Additional evidence uncovered through investigation may clarify what happened and who was responsible.

When fault is not immediately clear, Bui and the California Personal Injury Attorneys at Cohn & Swartzon LLP do not treat an inconclusive police report as the final word. The firm investigates the circumstances and pursues every reasonable avenue of evidence before reaching conclusions about a client’s claim.

About Anson Bui

Anson Bui is a Senior Trial Attorney at Cohn & Swartzon LLP, California Personal Injury Attorneys, in Irvine, California. He has conducted more than 600 depositions throughout his career and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, known as ABOTA.

ABOTA membership is one of the most selective distinctions available to trial attorneys in the United States. To qualify, attorneys must meet a minimum threshold of jury trials to verdict, a standard that reflects not simply legal experience but demonstrated courtroom performance at the highest level. ABOTA members represent a small fraction of practicing trial attorneys nationally and are widely recognized by judges, opposing counsel, and insurers as attorneys who are genuinely prepared to take a case all the way to trial. That standing matters in personal injury litigation because insurance companies evaluate claims differently when they know the attorney on the other side of the table has the trial record to back their position.

Before joining Cohn & Swartzon LLP, Bui served as in-house counsel for a Fortune 50 company, where he was named Trial Attorney of the Year in 2022. He is fluent in Vietnamese.

About Cohn & Swartzon LLP

Founded in 2008, Cohn & Swartzon LLP is a firm of California Personal Injury Attorneys representing individuals and families in serious injury and wrongful death matters throughout the state. Practice areas include automobile and trucking accidents, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, dog bites, motorcycle and bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, rideshare collisions, premises liability, and mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. The firm’s attorneys have recovered $150 million or more in verdicts, judgments, and settlements throughout their combined careers. All consultations are free. All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Services are available in English and Spanish.

Anson Bui
Cohn & Swartzon LLP
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Written By: EIN Presswire