Personal injury
Can I claim compensation against the council for potholes?
Drivers affected by less-publicised pot holes face the daily risk of danger to their vehicles. But when is a pothole cause for council concern?
With the sink hole of Mancunian Way in Manchester causing extensive disruption to traffic, drivers affected by less-publicised pot holes may face the daily risk of danger to their vehicles, with cyclists facing potentially serious injuries.
The BBC recently reported that the Anglesey council in Wales has seen a significant increase in public liability claims, having paid out £793,234 between 2010-11 and 2014-15 on a total of 311 insurance claims. A council report noted "This increase is mostly due to an increase in highway-related claims, such as damage to vehicles on potholes.”
When is a pothole cause for council concern?
The flow of traffic in Manchester has recently suffered due to the large sink hole on Mancunian Way, which the Manchester Evening News has since named the city’s “new, favourite attraction”.
A Manchester City Council spokesperson said that United Utilities were “working closely with the city council, to assess the collapse. A repair plan is now in place to stabilise the hole and make the cavity watertight to allow engineers to restore the damage.”
Public safety measures
The sink hole, named “an abyss” in some press coverage, has been cordoned off, with sufficient warnings for the public to not cross the safety measures. There are some people who may well see potholes on the roads they often travel in a similar light.
Whereas many pot holes may not be deemed an ‘abyss’ as with the Mancunian Way sink hole, the potential risk to vulnerable cyclists and damage to vehicles can make them a very real problem. In the event you are injured or involved in an accident caused by a pot hole, you should gather as much evidence as possible, including photographic evidence and witnesses.
How we can help
If you were injured in public in an accident that wasn’t your fault, call 0330 107 5053 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or contact us and we’ll be happy to call you and discuss your situation without obligation.
All information was correct at the time of publication.
Driver distractions and behaviours are some of the most dangerous threats to our roads. We are asking the public to question their own habits and the stereotypes they hold of drivers.