Pothole Damage Bumps Up Compensation Claims

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Britain's "pothole epidemic" is getting worse, according to a new report – with poor road surfaces damaging thousands of cars each week.

Councils have seen compensation claims for pothole damage rise by 23%, with more than £5m paid out to disgruntled motorists in the past two financial years.

The problem has been exacerbated by last winter's heavy flooding, and a road repairs backlog worth £12bn. Many local authorities have had to use their transport budgets for other commitments, such as social care.

In 2012/13, more than 26,000 drivers sought pay-outs for damage to their vehicle, a fraction of the 16% of motorists affected by potholes in the past year.

Tyre damage, suspension problems and broken wheel rims were among the most common complaints. Some drivers polled by LV= claim they have nearly had a nasty accident after swerving to avoid a pothole.

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Gallery: Potholes: How To Claim Compensation

Chances of claiming compensation. This depends on whether a pothole has already been reported to the council.

What can the council do? A council's defence rests on whether it repaired the pothole or took steps to protect cars from it.

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Reporting a pothole. Find out which council maintains the road via direct.gov.uk and report it to their website.

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What information to include. All the supporting evidence you can, such as photos of the pothole and damage to your car.

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The roads most blighted by potholes are the A509 in Milton Keynes, along with Fir Tree Road in Banstead, Surrey.

"While recent harsh winters have exacerbated and highlighted the poor state of our roads, the seeds of our current problems were sown decades ago," said Prof Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation.

"Back in the mid-1980s, local road surfaces were being repaired and replaced once every 12 years or so. Today, the rate is once every 25 years. Spending on roads has fallen by almost a quarter in real terms over the past five years."

The Department for Transport has conceded that potholes are a "menace" for road users, but insisted it is stumping up the necessary cash to repair local roads.

"Between 2010 and 2021, we have committed a total of £10bn to making roads safer and easier to use, improvements that will make a real difference to people right across the country."

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