Claiming for pothole damage

[JHS]

So if I have a tyre blow out or kerb my wheels, I should inform my insurer? Really??

 

[sgregory124]

As a general point failing to disclose to Insurers what is termed a material fact ( ie convictions accidents, damage etc) can land you with major problems insurance wise. A policy can be voided from inception ( which could result in a prosecution for no insurance if you're involved in an incident) and you would then have to disclose this to your next Insurer if you can find anyone willing to insure you. A very slippery slope. So your premium increases a touch - not worth the risk.

So you’re saying that if someone damages their car via a pothole, with just them involved and no third party damage or injury, that they need to declare it to their insurer?

If that’s what you’re implying then that is absolute nonsense. That is simply a license for them to do what they like, at their customers expense.

 

[sgregory124]

So if I have a tyre blow out or kerb my wheels, I should inform my insurer? Really??

My thoughts exactly …

 

[BTB 500]

Insurers tell us drivers should notify them of pothole damage immediately, regardless of whether they intend to claim. You'll then usually have around five or six months before you have to file an insurance claim, which gives you time to see if a claim to the responsible authority will work first.

Be aware if you do notify your insurer, there might be a risk in some cases of your premium being affected for the following year, even if you don't actually claim. This is impossible to quantify (plus big insurers have told us claiming WOULDN'T affect next year's premium), but it's something you should consider.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/pothole-claims/

 

[sgregory124]

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/pothole-claims/

Nice little earner for the insurance companies that one. More importantly, if you don’t report pothole damage, because you’ve no intention of claiming, how is your insurance company ever going to find out?

 

[BTB 500]

More importantly, if you don’t report pothole damage, because you’ve no intention of claiming, how is your insurance company ever going to find out?

As already mentioned if you claim from the council and it gets settled by an insurer then they might. Otherwise they won't.

 

[sgregory124]

As already mentioned if you claim from the council and it gets settled by an insurer then they might. Otherwise they won't.

Settled by an insurer in respect of the council or the person whose car suffered the damage?

Because in all honesty, I would only ever consider claiming on my own policy in the event of a total loss - such is my distrust of the them (the insurers).

 

[oldguy57]

So if I have a tyre blow out or kerb my wheels, I should inform my insurer? Really??

I was referring to the points raised in post 16 specifically. Whether people declare incidents is down to them.

 

[oldguy57]

So you’re saying that if someone damages their car via a pothole, with just them involved and no third party damage or injury, that they need to declare it to their insurer?

If that’s what you’re implying then that is absolute nonsense. That is simply a license for them to do what they like, at their customers expense.

See post above.

 

[BTB 500]

Settled by an insurer in respect of the council or the person whose car suffered the damage?

The council. I don't know how common it is for them to insure against claims from motorists, but it must be a possibility. Virtually all businesses have that sort of cover.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

As an update, I emailed the council back and asked:

Thanks for getting back to me - could you advise on how to submit a claim for the damage incurred, please?

Thank you!

They replied saying:

Thank you for your email.
I have requested a claim form be emailed to you.


Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on the Telephone number below. Our hours of opening are Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

So, we'll see what that claims form involves...

 

[sgregory124]

As an update, I emailed the council back and asked:



They replied saying:



So, we'll see what that claims form involves...

Good luck - expect to be asked for an exact location (co-ordinates), photographs, the weather, traffic conditions and all other circumstances surrounding the damage. You would also be well placed to issue a FOI request for the authority’s road maintenance schedule, so you know just when they last inspected the road you were on.

Finally, expect to get treated like a nuisance, they’re all cut from the same cloth.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Here's the form, in case anybody has filled one in before and can offer advice

The question about insurance seems like... a trap.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Times change.....when my dad did a tyre on a sticking out kerb stone it was one phone call and a cheque dropped through the letter box about 48 hour later!!....that was in about 1980 though!!!!

 

[oldguy57]

The council. I don't know how common it is for them to insure against claims from motorists, but it must be a possibility. Virtually all businesses have that sort of cover.

I suspect most councils today will either self insure or have what amounts to a gigantic excess or some other arrangement. Municipal Mutual used to carry the insurance for councils years ago.

 

[Benzowner]

The council. I don't know how common it is for them to insure against claims from motorists, but it must be a possibility. Virtually all businesses have that sort of cover.

I suspect most councils today will either self insure or have what amounts to a gigantic excess or some other arrangement. Municipal Mutual used to carry the insurance for councils years ago.

I would suspect it would be on their Public Liability Insurance through someone like Risk Management

 

[SL03WLY]

Oxford seem to be tackling it in several ways. Not sure how long these "fixes" will stand the test of time. But Honestly our roads across the UK are terribly un-smooth nowadays.

How many ways can you fill a pothole?

Various methods of tackling the enduring problem of potholes are trialled on a 1km stretch of road.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

I’m away at the moment so still haven’t filled the form in….

In France where there are smooth roads but a toll on every motorway I’ve been on….

 

[D2028]

In Northern Ireland the roads service spray yellow paint around a pothole which could then take months to repair, if anyone hits the pothole before the repair the reply is that it had been marked with paint so no claim!

 

[alexanderfoti]

We has a customer try and take Kent country council to court over pothole damage.

After 4 months and over £2000, the solicitor advised my customer to give up. A very frustrating situation