Just thought I'd see if anyone on here had tried to sue their council for damage caused by a pothole an if they were successful.

I ask because I managed to damage an alloy and suspension on my car in a massive crater of a pothole on a blind bend so I'm considering claiming from the council

Yes, i got 2 new ats cups and yokohama tyres when I busted my wheels, but they were totaled, it was a realy long process but worth it in the end!

Edited 3 May, 201313 yr by ash_gt

I fell off my pushbike last week after hitting a pothole. I have pics and will report it at least.

The council will probably want to know the ins and outs of your parts and if they're not standard parts then they will want to see all paperwork etc.

They didnt question the parts with me, just wanted a receipt or pro-forma invoice of how much they would cost, they were more bothered about the size and position of the pothole.

ahh right so i can claim prior to purchasing the parts and paying for repairs?

The prices are listed on the ford website for replacement of front suspension and I have got a quote from ford for a replacement alloy, whats the best way of presenting these prices to the council?

Also how long did it take for your claims?

Cheers for the replies

You need to get pictures of the pot hole too as well as measurements of depth, size, position iirc. They don't make it easy, but then again if they did everyone would claim for damage regardless of blame on the council. Best bet is to go to the council first, and follow their process. Your wasting your time sending invoices etc as I can only imagine they'll be sent back and then asked for as your claim progresses. Unless the hole in question can even be classified as a pot hole, you're pissing in the wind

I've got one going in for the suspension on the volvo with Swansea Council. The potholes on some streets are now so big they've started to join together and in my case its not just one hole to blame its the whole damn street.

What exactly classifies a hole in the road as a POThole?

As far as I'm concerned if theres a hole in the road surface that shouldnt be there its a pot hole.

Its a certain depth iirc, and it's pretty deep. 4" springs to mind for some reason

Taken from the vale of glamorgan council website (40mm not 4". Easy mistake )

What is the definition of a pothole?

A pothole is where the surface of the road has been eroded and a dip or hollow is formed. The description of a pothole will vary from person to person, however not all holes in the road are classed by us as a pothole. Within the carriageway a hole will need to have a depth of at least 40mm (1.5 inches) and extend in any direction by at least 300mm (an inch longer than a sheet of A4) before we regard it to be a pothole.

See thats the issue in most places the tarmac has lifted off the original concrete road below so its only the surface layer missing.

The concrete road underneath is perfect ddo. Lol

Cheers for the info

I've gathered all the photos, dimensions ect an got estimates for the work from Ford now I just have to write it all up an cross my fingers

I've tried in the past here to claim for a new tyre as it blew out entering a carpark yet after speaking to lincs county council, they were unwilling to do anything as the hole hadn't been reported first?! Just a poor sodding excuse imo.

I've tried in the past here to claim for a new tyre as it blew out entering a carpark yet after speaking to lincs county council, they were unwilling to do anything as the hole hadn't been reported first?! Just a poor sodding excuse imo.

Haha sorry but that is brilliant if you knew it was there you wouldn't have went through it

I suppose they expected you to repair the pothole aswell since you've now reported it

I nackerd a tyre and scirocco alloy on my old t4 van I did all the correct paperwork receipts and photos of the pothole etc but they refused to pay out....

Edited 9 May, 201313 yr by quiksilver_jake

Yeah I've heard of a few councils that insist they're reported first. There is a simple way round this:

1. Take pics of hole, report it to council.

2. Next day, take pics of damage, claim monies.

The reporting thing is an unreasonable rule. You crashing through the pot hole may well be the first anyone has seen of it and thus it's not reported. If you can be arsed, I'm sure a solicitor could get your money for you, but I'm not usre if you'd get costs back from the council if you won

I phoned the council first and told them what happened they then sent me w form to fill in and after that it was just a 6 month waiting game till they decided they would loose in court and payed me my moneys! The pot hole was a coke can deep and 4 foot long though lol