With potholes hitting the pockets of thousands of drivers across Britain, experts are sharing ways motorists can protect themselves from motor damage caused by the UK’s worsening road conditions.
This comes after a survey from car insurance experts at Quotezone revealed 27% of drivers weren’t aware they could claim from their local council or road authority for pothole related damages.
As a daily hazard for millions and multiplying faster than they are being repaired, potholes across England are showing a dramatic year on year increase of 40% on average – posing both safety and financial concerns for drivers.
According to the insurance pros, over four in five (83%) of motorists who have experienced vehicle damage from potholes have paid out of their own pocket for repairs and 6% have claimed through their insurance company.
Drivers can claim for pothole vehicle damage either through the local council or the local road authority, or through their insurance provider.
Very few drivers are aware they can actually claim off the local road authority or council. Possibly due to reports some councils are rejecting the majority of claims reported to them. This could be largely due to a controversial rule from the Highways Act 1980 which says councils are permitted to refuse claims if they weren’t aware the pothole existed.
A staggering 59% of drivers surveyed said they don’t report potholes. Experts are urging motorists to report potholes in their local area, in order to give road users the best chance of receiving compensation when making a claim.
Before making a claim to the local council, it’s important to gather as much information as possible to help prove eligibility and that the damage was caused by a pothole – witnesses to the incident and evidence from a trained mechanic can help with this.
Motorists are also told to record where and when the accident occurred and take a photo if it is safe to do so, noting the size and location of the pothole. Note the pothole in question normally needs to be at least 40mm deep. Copies of this essential information can then be used when making the report to the council or local road authority, depending on the area.
Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “The number of claims being refused by councils acts as a stark reminder of the ongoing problems facing motorists. Unfortunately, potholes across the country are multiplying faster than they are being repaired, and turbulent weather conditions mean that the pothole repairs can often deteriorate again quickly.
“It is vitally important for local authorities to carry out consistent maintenance on potholes in their local area, and to provide motorists with much-needed compensation for any damage.
“Much of the worsening pothole problem is out of the hands of road users, but what they can do, is make sure they are taking the right steps to ensure claims have the best chance at being accepted.
“We encourage motorists to report any potholes in their local area, even if they haven’t had an accident – to help the council preemptively recognise the need for repairs in problem areas and hopefully prevent damage to vehicles. It also reduces the chance of claims being denied.
“Motorists should also note the best ways to report damage caused by potholes, gathering as much information as possible is important and getting the details of a witness or a trained mechanic can also help the case.
“If drivers have tried to claim through the local council and been turned away, they can look to their insurance provider for protection. If the policy is fully comprehensive then pothole damage is normally covered as standard.
“However, when taking this route, it is important to remember that the no claims discount will likely be affected, so drivers need to check the policy details carefully and look for no claims bonus protection – also try quoting with the claim added to see if the premium price will change, to help them make the decision.”
