Pot hole damage to car, can I claim?

Rado16v

Hi,

Driving down a country lane last night I hit a big pot hole which bent the inside of the front near side alloy wheel, punctured the tyre and possibly caused some suspension damage. Being a country lane and in the evening it was dark and there was no way I could have seen it to avoid it.

Where do I stand on claiming from the council or highways agency? Who is responsible?

Thoughts, comments and experiences appreciated.

Thanks

anewman

Take pics with a ruler next to the hole showing clearly how big it is and where it is in relation to roads etc NOW before they fill it in. You claim against the council and I have known of a successful claim. Good luck.

Markyt

You can claim, but you'd need to prove either their inspection regime failed or that the hole had been previously reported and they hadn't done anything about it within a reasonable period of time.

Rado16v

Thanks for your replies.

As advised, I took some pics with a measuring tape. It's huge measuring 4ft by 2ft and almost 4inches deep.

Interestingly, it had white lines sprayed around the outside, as though its been identified ready to be filled. Does this help my case? Such a big hole should've been filled immediately after being inspected surely?

terryya

Slightly off topic but my local council spend more on compensation for people driving through pot holes than they do filling them in!

Surely it must be cost effective to have a team of 4ish people who just go and fill them in as soon as they are reported, and run this alongside the usual inspection regime?

Raksha

Is this a route you drive regularly?

If it is, they may argue that you should have known it was there.....

lovethymini

I've had a similar experience;

I was in my mini on the M25 at night and drove over the M4 crossover, hit a HUGE pothole which made my engine cut out!

I emailed the highways agency the next morning, who were really good, they asked me to get an engineer to look at the car and forward a report so that I could be reimbursed any repair costs.

As it happened, I didn't think the car suffered any damage, so I didn't pursue it, but I was very pleased at the response I received and also to see that the hole had been repaired when I next drove by (- if it was big enough to set the inertia switch off, what would have happened to a motorbike?!)

Rado16v

this is a route i use daily but i've managed to avoid in up until now as its ont he edge of the road close to the verge and its always dark when I drive there.

I hope the council are as reasonable as the highways agency.

Limey

If it's been marked then it's probably been inspected for repair so they knew about it.

I think you've got a good case for a new set of alloys and the repairs for your suspension. I've known a couple of people who's suspension and wheels have been damaged in this way and successfully got compensation.

Considering how much we pay for road tax our roads should be perfect.

anewman

How about one of these? http://speeding.co.uk/acatalog/I_have_paid_my_tax_now_go_fix_some_f_______potholes_Tax_Disc_Holder_.html#a1559

lovethymini

anewman wrote: »

How about one of these? http://speeding.co.uk/acatalog/I_have_paid_my_tax_now_go_fix_some_f_______potholes_Tax_Disc_Holder_.html#a1559

LMAO :rotfl:

Just bought one for my Mini - cheers for website link, going in bookmarks now