Car accident claims
Pothole Damage Claims
A bad pothole can wreck a wheel, a tyre or your suspension, or cause a genuine accident. If poor road maintenance left you with damage or injury, it may be worth checking whether you can make a pothole damage claim.
Last reviewed: Reviewed by the Auto Crash Claims editorial team
When the road itself is the problem
Not every accident involves another driver. A deep, unmarked pothole can burst a tyre, buckle a wheel, damage your suspension or steering, and at the wrong moment it can cause a genuine collision. Where poor road maintenance is behind the damage, the question becomes who was responsible for keeping that road in a safe condition.
Who you would be claiming against
A pothole damage claim usually is not against another driver but against the authority that maintains the road, often the local council, or the national roads body on major routes. Whether a claim succeeds can hinge on whether they were aware of the pothole and had a fair opportunity to repair it. That is why these claims can be less clear-cut than a straightforward collision.
Evidence makes the difference
Because responsibility can be harder to pin down, evidence matters more here than almost anywhere. Photos of the pothole with something for scale, its precise location, the date, and clear pictures of the damage all help, as does reporting it and keeping any repair invoices. If you have been left with real damage or were hurt, a free, no-obligation pothole damage claim check is a sensible first step.
What you could be owed
- Damage to wheels, tyres, suspension or steering
- Repairs to your vehicle, or its value if it is written off
- Injury and treatment, if the pothole caused an accident
- Recovery and storage if your car could not be driven
- A replacement vehicle while yours is repaired
- Out-of-pocket costs the damage caused you
What you could receive depends on your circumstances.
When you can claim
Pothole damage claims are different from most car accident claims, because the responsible party is usually the authority that maintains the road rather than another driver. They can be harder to prove, and outcomes vary. Where the damage is significant, or a pothole caused a collision or injury, it is worth having your circumstances checked. Reporting the pothole and keeping evidence helps.
Making a claim is simpler than you think
- 1
Tell us what happened
Answer a few quick questions about your accident. It takes a couple of minutes and there’s no obligation.
- 2
We connect you with specialists
We pass your details to the regulated specialists we work with, who’ll look at whether you have a claim.
- 3
They handle the rest
If you have a case, the specialists can pursue your compensation and keep you updated, while you get back to normal.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for pothole damage?
It is usually the authority responsible for maintaining that road, often the local council, or the national roads body on major routes. Whether a pothole damage claim succeeds can depend on whether they knew about the pothole and had a reasonable chance to fix it.
What evidence should I keep?
Photos of the pothole with something for scale, its exact location, the date and time, and photos of the damage to your vehicle. Repair invoices and any report you made to the council all help your pothole damage claim.
Are pothole claims harder than other claims?
They can be, because the rules around road maintenance are involved and outcomes vary. That is exactly why it is worth letting someone check your circumstances rather than assuming either way.
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Common scenarios
Find out what you could be owed
It takes a couple of minutes, it’s free, and there’s no obligation.