Pothole damage - anyone claimed

[Simon T]

Has anyone made a successful claim for pothole damage to their car?

I hit a huge one yesterday at 50mph that I couldn't avoid due to on coming traffic and it's made a right mess of the inside of the alloy on my daily driver.

[Cochyn]

First of all, does it have spray paint around the hole indicating it's a hole? Because they won't pay out, because the paint is as good as it's filled according to the council

But if not, pic of wheel damage and pot hole and send to council or go to town hall. They don't contest it and just pay out. I think the last estimation of fixing all of UK roads was 3 billion quid, so what's a few hundred quid here or there for a wheel

This has been my experience anyway.

[Simon T]

Nope, no paint around it.

We're heading back up the same road later to see some friends, will be taking images and measuring it if I can avoid getting run over

It was the depth of a can of coke and about 14 inches square.

[Cochyn]

See if you can stop with the wheel in the hole too, just a bit of leverage.

[The Radman]

you need to report it and they then have so many days to repair it, if they do this then you cant claim, only way is if someone else has already reported it and that they have failed to repair it but you have no way of proving this, its a total rip off, the wife destroyed one of her alloys and tyre a few yrs back. didnt get a penny

[Dave H]

There's holes near me that have had paint around them for so long that it's worn away!
I once claimed for two n/s wheels that got damaged when I hit a dropped kerb that was sticking out on a bend. I had to get them refurbed and send in the bill, the council paid no bother. Was about 8 years ago though

[Cossie col]

We are claiming, put it on our local councillors FB page with Pics and measurements, road was a death trap, he said he had reported that stretch of road several times before and commented that on his page, I posted on there about how bad it was and it threw us onto the opposite site of the road, luckily no car coming the other way, the bump even put the wipers on. 2 days after they were patching the road up. Got all the councillors comments etc from FB and sent off with the claim, still waiting for the morons to reply

[Sharky69]

I tried to claim ( bout 8 years ago now), no paint around hole. Done everything, photos, measurements, quotes for damage(nearly 3 grand) witnesses from neighbouring houses. There was even a letter of a woman who's front corner got ripped off her car the night before and the councils solicitors threw the claim out due to the road having an inspection 4 months earlier and it being ok. Wankers. I'd say get your insurance involved if loads of damage + they've got more legal umpf. Good luck.

[VADreamer]

Over here, the general government consensus is that you drive on the public roads at your own risk. But a couple of winters back, I-264 had degraded to the point that the pot holes were blowing tires. Once the local news started reporting it, the Norfolk city council started paying out and also funded the road repairs. I could always tell when I crossed into or out of Norfolk based solely upon the condition of the highway.

[TREVCOS]

Paint a cock and balls round it, they soon come and repair them then!

[simbo]

I had a successful claim many years ago in my old RS for pothole damage, but agree it’s a pain in the ass trying to prove even with photos and statements etc.

[mikedaf2]

I tried a few years ago and didn't even get told a reason for my claim being unsuccessful!. I sent pictures of the damage and of the big hole in the road as it took out 2 wheels and tires along with the suspension! Totally unfair when we pay to use their roads!

[evo1]

I think the local authorities have a policy to try and fob people off even if the claim is valid and should be settled in the car owners favour, I did have a successful claim a couple of years back, but I did have to push them into a corner before they admitted liability and paid out in full. Problem is the LA's award lucrative contracts to companies for road repairs and they don't monitor the work, I've seen potholes repaired only to blow open less than a year later