Car pothole damage claims leap by 30%

Claims from drivers whose cars have been damaged by potholes have jumped by 30%, says a leading insurance company.

Admiral say March is the peak month for pothole-related claims and is warning drivers to take care–because the average value of a claim in 2020 was £2,700.

A pothole forms when water seeps into existing small cracks in the road surface then freeze sand expand sin the cold weather. The frozen water then evaporates during the warmer weather, causing gap sin the surface which get broken down by-passing traffic.

Admiral’ s own data found that, on average, 13% of pothole-related claims occur in March – and that the total number of claims for damage caused has increased by almost 30% since 2016.

Claims include damage to tyres, alloy wheels, steering alignment, wheel tracking and balancing and suspension.

North East councils have been allocated £36 mt his year to repair pot holes–enough to repair 640,000, say the Government.

Lorna Connelly, head of claims at Admiral, said: “Potholes continue to cause problems and the cost of repairs is increasing significantly as vehicles became more advanced.

"Not only can pothole-related damage be dangerous and costly, it can also be difficult to claim compensation from the authority responsible for the road.

”Despite the national lockdowns, the number of pothole claims increased last year. With that in mind, if you must make an essential journey, stay alert and keep a lookout for any potholes that might have formed in the road.”