Peak potholes: March is worst month for claims, says insurer

The average cost of pothole damage has also increased by 16 per cent since last year, according to Admiral Insurance. 

And the cost of fixing a car damaged by a pesky pothole has soared by a third since 2016, as Brits battle with cracked roads across the UK.

This is likely linked to higher tech vehicles and a general increase in the cost of repairs, said the insurance company.

The council's Fix My Street system shows several pothole reports in the past month in Witney in Tower Hill, Jubilee Way, Witney High Street and Holford Road.

Oxfordshire County Council is investigating each.

But Admiral said freezing weather forecast for this week is likely to cause a surge in cars being damaged as temperatures drop below freezing causing cracks to widen in the road surface. 

Lorna Connelly, Head of Claims at Admiral, said: "Cold weather conditions like these increase the chance of potholes so claims could be even higher than previous years." 

Driving over a deep pothole, even at a low speed, can cause damage to a vehicle’s tyres, alloy wheels, steering alignment, wheel tracking and balancing and suspension.

When the steering is severely damaged it can also make it difficult for the driver to control the vehicle, which could increase the risk of accidents. 

Admiral advises drivers to keep a sharp eye and slow down as swerving can be more dangerous.

Ms Connelly said: "If you think you’ve hit a humdinger, get out and check for damage at the safest opportunity.

"Take photos of the pothole and the damage to your car and consider taking your vehicle to a mechanic to check for damage."

How to claim compensation for pothole damage 

Although there is no guarantee that motorists will be able to claim any money back if their car is damaged on a British road, Admiral has created a step-by-step guide explaining how to claim compensation for pothole damage: 

Collect your evidence: Make a note of the pothole’s location, the time and date you hit it and get a photo, if it’s safe to do so. Then take your car to a garage for the damage to be assessed and get the mechanic’s report in writing; you’ll need this when making your case.

Who’s responsible? The next step is to work out who maintains the road. Different authorities are responsible for maintaining certain types of roads. If you believe the council is responsible, you’ll need to prove they’ve been negligent which is difficult. Asking for copies of highway maintenance schedules and reports of incidents (within 14 days of the accident) will help to demonstrate that either the highway hasn’t been properly maintained or that a reported pothole problem hasn’t been addressed. It’s important to have the evidence which shows if the council had acted, the incident wouldn’t have occurred. 

Reporting it: Lodge a formal claim – see if the relevant body has a template you can fill in. Include as much information as possible, including the mechanic’s report and repair costs and any photos you’ve taken. 

Got an offer? Is the council’s offer acceptable, does it cover your costs? If not, go back to the council. You have a right to fair compensation if the council or Highways Agency has failed in its duty to keep the road in a fair state of repair. You also stand a better chance of settlement if the pothole has already been reported and the council hasn’t acted. 

Offer rejected? If you feel your claim has been unfairly rejected, you can seek legal advice or make a case through the courts. However, this could be a time-consuming process and is likely to be worthwhile only if the repair bill is considerable. 

Claiming through insurance: If you have comprehensive cover you can claim for pothole damage on your insurance. However it’s worth considering the cost of the damage as well as your excess payments and if the claim will affect your No Claims Bonus. 

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