Councils could be in for a shock with a new campaign to help motorists claim for pothole damage.
The usually complex claims procedure should not put off claims from motorists who face hundreds of pounds in bills for serious damage to their vehicle, says MoneySavingExpert.
The website has produced a guide to reporting a pothole, gathering evidence and making a claim, even going to the small claims court if initially rejected by the council.
Potholes are a plague on Britain’s roads. More than two million had to be filled in across England and Wales last year – and there are many more out there.
“Whenever we ask you what you’d like us to campaign on, huge swathes of you say ‘potholes, potholes, potholes’. So we’ve launched this major new 10,000-word, you don’t need to read it all, guide to help,” says the website.
If you’ve hit a divot or a crack and your car’s damaged, the process of filing a claim can seem daunting, and many drivers don’t know where to start. But if the authority which was responsible for maintaining the road failed to do so properly, it is possible to successfully claim for repairs in full.
Of course, you can only claim if the authority was at fault. Potholes are inevitable, particularly in winter, so the key question is whether it could and should have fixed it before your car went clunk.
“Remember, in reporting a pothole, you’re being a good citizen. And if the authority was negligent and didn’t do the checks it should have, claiming for repairs can help put pressure on the powers that be to keep the road safe and in good condition. Equally though, this is taxpayers’ money and in the short term claims can put local councils under real pressure, so you’ll need to decide for yourself what the right thing to do is. It can be a long slog, but don’t be put off.”
