Potholes

[misterfish]

Yesterday while driving home I hit a deep pothole on a narrow piece of road which damaged the tyre and it was flat within a matter of seconds. The tyre wall was damaged and I ended up having to buy a new tyre.

Does anybody know how/who/if I can complain to or even claim from the local authority about this or is this one of those incidents where no one takes any responsibility.

The one pleasant surprise was that having stopped and found the tyre was flat I had just got as far as getting the handbook out to find the jacking points when a smart brand new van pulled up and a young man asked if he could help. He happily took control and changed the wheel with my wife and I left as stunned onlookers.

Talking to him he was saying he worked for his Dad that owned an engineering company specialising is refurbishing F1 racing cars and also building replicas. Also they make aircraft cabin crew traing equipment. His dad had been an engineer with various racing teams in the past and following in his father's footsteps was also trained as a mechanic.

He had actually been driving past and saw our problem, turned around to offer us help. He wasn't expecting anything and took a bit of persuasion to even accept the cost of a couple of drinks.

It was so good to see our youth at its best rather than the continual media denegration.

Misterfish

 

[Dodge]

Firstly sorry to hear about the damage to your tyre but at least nobody was hurt.

I asked my wife about this as she works with local council and the bottom line is if the pothole had been reported to the local council prior to your incident but they had not repaired it then yes you have recourse against the council. If the pothole has not been reported then you have no recourse at all.

Hope this helps

 

[Mcluma]

I had this 2 years ago, and not only a flat tyre, but also a buckelt alloy and linkage.

I complaint, but din't got anywhere with that

So good luck, but at least try

 

[studders]

I'm in two minds on these sort of things.
If it were me I'd want compensation; I've paid Road Tax, Council Tax etc etc etc, on the other hand.....
With all these sort of compensation claims it occurs to me that it isn't the Council, Govt etc, who pay for compensation, it's me an thee that pay.
Hmmmm.........?

 

[devonwoody]

Many years ago when I was more verbal I telephoned the council and got now where .
Telephoned again around 4.20 pm and I would not stop talking and the lady who obviously wanted to go home sent me a claim form and they paid up for a new wheel and tyre.

So go into the council office just before closing time and sit tight until you get the form should be exactly on office closing time. :wink:

Nice to hear of the assistance re tyre change.

 

[nanscombe]

Firstly sorry to hear about the damage to your tyre but at least nobody was hurt.

I asked my wife about this as she works with local council and the bottom line is if the pothole had been reported to the local council prior to your incident but they had not repaired it then yes you have recourse against the council. If the pothole has not been reported then you have no recourse at all.

Hope this helps

It sounds like, at least, you could report it for the sake of the next motorist.

 

[devonwoody]

Personally I dont think they can duck the issue whether its been reported or not. They just try it on to avoid paying a claim, if that didnt work they would find another reason, they have to pay.

 

[Blister]

Best to photograph the pot hole with a tape measure in the hole showing how deep it is , and the tyre if you still have it / receipt

Then you have evidence for a claim

Good luck

Should be the highways department / roads

 

[Peter T]

I had a similar incident a couple of years ago; pothole/damaged side wall/damaged alloy wheel etc. etc.

I called the local council highways dept. and a very helpful man talked me through the claims procedure.

I also took plenty of pictures of the pothole, before they had a chance to fill it in, and pics of the damaged tyre and wheel!

I claimed for a new tyre and wheel. The loss adjusters came back saying that the tyre was part worn so they would not pay the full price of a new one, blah, blah, blah. In the end I still got enough for a new tyre and a used wheel off e bay.

 

[Harbo]

First find out who is the Highway Authority for the road in question. In Hampshire it is the County Council not the District or Town Councils.
They have a legal responsibility to maintain the Highways in a safe condition. Most will have a web page on who to contact and on some you can claim/report on line?
Photos will help and proper receipts will be needed.
If the claim is legit they normally cough up.

Rod

 

[DIY Stew]

My mate had the same problem and was successful in getting a new tyre and wheel paid for by the council, I like devonwoodys style regarding the timing of reporting the damage to the council, I would do exactly as he said.

Stew

 

[gnu]

It means the council will have less money to fix holes next time with all these claims.

 

[Peter T]

It means the council will have less money to fix holes next time with all these claims.

Maybe if they fixed them promptly there wouldn't be any claims!

 

[mickthetree]

http://www.potholes.co.uk/

They give you everything you need to make a claim.

I went through everything including the freedom of information act stuff and the council fought their side all the way. Basically if the council have done everything they are supposed to, you wont get a penny.

My council were very hot on it.

I came to the conclusion (well was forced to really) that if everyone claimed there would be no money left to fix the roads so I'm just more cautious about potholes now.

Actually I was collecting a load of wood at the time and needed two new tyres so that added £120 to the cost of the job!

HTH

 

[misterfish]

Thanks. I'll get some pictures tomorrow and see what they have to say. Last year I reported a couple of bad potholes near my house which they took six weeks to repair.

At least the good samaritan did lessen the annoyance and impact.

Misterfish

 

[matt]

If a pothole has not been repaired within a reasonable time then I guess it's not unreasonable to expect some level of shared responsibility in terms of compensation. If it's just appeared then I'd just put it down to bad luck.