Pothole damage claims: How they happen & how to seek compensation
Potholes aren’t just a mild annoyance — they can damage your car and lead to repairs.
But how do you know if your car has been damaged by a pothole? And can you claim any compensation from the council to pay for the repairs?
In this article, we’ll guide you through all you need to know about recognising pothole damage on your vehicle and what you can do about it.
What causes potholes?
Roads bear the brunt of our vehicles every day. Eventually, this constant wear and tear causes cracks and depressions to form in the road surface.
Cold weather can then expand these cracks via the freeze-thaw cycle whereby water repeatedly freezes and then thaws within a fissure, widening it and breaking the surface apart — leading to the formation of potholes. This process also explains why potholes are usually worse after a spell of cold weather.
How can a pothole damage your car?
Repairs to potholes are perhaps not always carried out as swiftly as we would all like, meaning you’re bound to encounter them on the road.
Pothole accidents most commonly damage the following areas of your car:
- Wheels and tyres: It’s no surprise that the wheels and tyres take the most damage from potholes. Whether it’s a bent rim, a bulging sidewall or even a puncture, problems with your wheels cannot be left unresolved for too long as they could affect everything from grip on the road to handling of your vehicle. In fact, it is thought that potholes have the most effect on your wheel alignment which can result in premature tyre wear and suspension wear along with costly excessive fuel consumption. (Mr Tyre provides a free tyre check and report.)
- Steering: Is your steering feeling a little off after hitting a pothole? A component may have been misaligned by the bump, so it’s worth getting this checked.
- Suspension: Signs of suspension damage include vibrations or odd sounds which could be resulting from damaged ball joints or shocks. Any unusual changes to your suspension, especially after driving over potholes, needs to be investigated to ensure safe handling of your vehicle.
If you’re unsure of what damage the pothole has caused or how severely it’s affected your car, simply take it into your local Mr Tyre garage for a full assessment and resolution.
Pothole damage claim
If the above sounds familiar, your next question might be can I claim for pothole damage?
- First you need to prove your vehicle was damaged by driving over a pothole. Note the date, time and location of the damage caused, pulling over by the side of the road if safe to do so. Take pictures if that helps support your pothole liability case.
- Once your evidence is gathered, you can claim for compensation either through your insurance policy or from the local council responsible for the road, using this link. Remember that if you claim on insurance, this may affect your no-claims bonus and premium.
- Whether you claim from the council or your insurance, make sure to report the pothole using this link so action can be taken to prevent the same from happening to others.
Repair pothole damage with the help of Mr Tyre. With 50 years’ experience as the leading chain of autocentres for Central England, we can swiftly diagnose and resolve common tyre related problems. From car repair to replacements, we’re your one-stop shop for maintaining vehicle health. Just get in touch today or visit one of our many branches across the region.
