So You've Hit a Pothole. What Now?
Did you know?
Potholes have become a common hazard for many drivers during their daily commutes. Damage caused by potholes can be rather costly, potentially causing buckled wheels and cracked tyres and alloys. Additionally, hitting a pothole can alter a vehicle’s tracking and wheel alignment. Instances of such damage are increasing; the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) attended 10,123 pothole-related breakdowns in 2021, an increase of 19% compared to 2020.
Potholes can be unforgiving to vehicles, even at relatively low speeds. If you’re unlucky enough to hit one, here’s what the Automobile Association recommends that you do:
- Check for damage: Pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so and check for any obvious damage to your wheels and tyres. Other damage may be less obvious, so keep a look out for strange noises and vibrations. If you have concerns, take your car to a garage.
- Take some notes: After the incident, take detailed notes about where the pothole is located. In addition, take photographs of the pothole and, if possible, use an object for scale.
- Report the pothole: Even if you don’t intend to make a claim, you should report the pothole to your local county, city or borough council.
- Repair your car: Take your car to a reputable and trusted garage to have it repaired. Make sure you keep all quotes, invoices and receipts for your claim.
- Make your claim: Write to the council responsible for the road with all the details you’ve collected, including your notes, photographs and all paperwork you received for your repairs.
- Make an appeal: If your claim is rejected, you can ask for the council’s road inspection reports and attempt a reclaim. Moreover, if the cost of the repairs is more than you received, contact Langton London Insurance Brokers Ltd to discuss what can be done.
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How to Successfully Submit a Pothole Claim
If your car is damaged by a pothole, follow these steps to improve your chances of receiving compensation:
- Visit either Fix My Street or gov.uk/report-pothole to confirm whether a pothole has been reported. If it hasn’t, report its location.
- Take photographs of the damage as well as the pothole.
- Collect and save all receipts for any work done to your car due to the damage.
To find out more about motor vehicle and driver risk management, speak to a member of our team today.
