Driving home 2 days ago at night and went by accident through a bloody pot hole that was located directly after a speed hump! I didn't notice anything at first then the wheel was making a weird noise that was geting louder and louder!. I then realised my tyre was gone but I kept going rather than stop. I couldn't stop anywhere to change the wheel because there was no lights outside ( country lane) Anyway got home and checked tyre and it was flatter than flat! I had to call work to say i'm going 2 be late inthe morning (7am) I phoned AA to ask for them 2 come out to take wheel off and put on spare. I know I could have done this but the nuts were as always far to tight! AA told me I had to pay £50 to change my previous car details before they could come and another £40 to get the (On drive service!) AA wanted me to give £90 before actualy doing anything! I told the bloke on phone no way and drove on a flat tyre to local garage who took the wheel off and spare on for FREE!!! I also ordered a new tyre while I was there which was a Michelin Sport 2 low profile tyre for £150 + £30 fitting. Would I stick with AA no way! I can't even cancel my policy with them! I'm going to go with RAC hopefully much better.

Driving home 2 days ago at night and went by accident through a bloody pot hole that was located directly after a speed hump! I didn't notice anything at first then the wheel was making a weird noise that was geting louder and louder!. I then realised my tyre was gone but I kept going rather than stop. I couldn't stop anywhere to change the wheel because there was no lights outside ( country lane) Anyway got home and checked tyre and it was flatter than flat! I had to call work to say i'm going 2 be late inthe morning (7am) I phoned AA to ask for them 2 come out to take wheel off and put on spare. I know I could have done this but the nuts were as always far to tight! AA told me I had to pay £50 to change my previous car details before they could come and another £40 to get the (On drive service!) AA wanted me to give £90 before actualy doing anything! I told the bloke on phone no way and drove on a flat tyre to local garage who took the wheel off and spare on for FREE!!! I also ordered a new tyre while I was there which was a Michelin Sport 2 low profile tyre for £150 + £30 fitting. Would I stick with AA no way! I can't even cancel my policy with them! I'm going to go with RAC hopefully much better.

You might try to get the new tyre cost back from the council, they should accept and pay up.

Go get some photos of the pothole, also some of you measuring the depth of the hole with a ruler or measuring tape. Then the same to measure the length and depth.

Then check the Highways section of your local council's website. You should find more info there, about their 'pothole' policy and also how to submit a claim.

go here for info http://www.potholes.co.uk/claims/how_to_claim

they should accept and pay up.

Only if they are found to be negligent.

Insurance claim success for pothole related damage really depends on whether they have an adequate inspection and repair regime in place, and whether it was adhered to. If they do, and it was, then your claim will almost certainly be repudiated by the Council's insurors.

Driving home 2 days ago at night and went by accident through a bloody pot hole that was located directly after a speed hump! I didn't notice anything at first then the wheel was making a weird noise that was geting louder and louder!. I then realised my tyre was gone but I kept going rather than stop. I couldn't stop anywhere to change the wheel because there was no lights outside ( country lane) Anyway got home and checked tyre and it was flatter than flat! I had to call work to say i'm going 2 be late inthe morning (7am) I phoned AA to ask for them 2 come out to take wheel off and put on spare. I know I could have done this but the nuts were as always far to tight! AA told me I had to pay £50 to change my previous car details before they could come and another £40 to get the (On drive service!) AA wanted me to give £90 before actualy doing anything! I told the bloke on phone no way and drove on a flat tyre to local garage who took the wheel off and spare on for FREE!!! I also ordered a new tyre while I was there which was a Michelin Sport 2 low profile tyre for £150 + £30 fitting. Would I stick with AA no way! I can't even cancel my policy with them! I'm going to go with RAC hopefully much better.

£150 + £30 fitting....not what i would call 'for free'! I usually pay around £130-140 fitted for a Conti SC3.

As for claiming off the council, good luck....Mine seem to think that hitting a kerb in November is fine as they 'did a drive by inspection' of the road in May! I need to right back to their insurers rejecting their decision actually but i keep forgetting so this is a good reminder! They have given me no evidence on behalf of the council yet i have submitted 12pages of photos, invoice and statement.

As for claiming off the council, good luck....Mine seem to think that hitting a kerb in November is fine as they 'did a drive by inspection' of the road in May! I need to right back to their insurers rejecting their decision actually but i keep forgetting so this is a good reminder! They have given me no evidence on behalf of the council yet i have submitted 12pages of photos, invoice and statement.

Indeed. That does not constitute a regular inspection!

Best of luck with it.

Indeed. That does not constitute a regular inspection!

Best of luck with it.

I would not call drive by a proper inspection anyway. fwiw it would not make any difference as there isn't technically a fault. The kerbs form part of the storm drains and have got to be getting on for about 50 years old. These are the only bits of 'kerb' on the road and were covered up by leaves and muck as the time so could not see them to avoid them. The initial arguement for my claim is that the road is never cleaned. Autumn is always October so they should know when to send the sweepers in. To this day the road is still in the same state. :no:

Edited 16 March, 201115 yr by jrw

Indeed. That does not constitute a regular inspection!

There's no reason why it can't be.

Council's generally carry out safety inspections in accordance with the 'Well Maintained Highways' Code of Practice. It states that safety inspections are "normally undertaken by slow moving vehicle, at frequencies that reflect the characteristics of the particular highway and its use" - it then goes on to suggest frequencies varying from 1/month to 1/year, depending upon the road hierarchy.

If the road in which jrw suffered damage happens to be categorised as a 'Local Access Road' (the lowest hierarchy) by the local Roads Authority then a safety inspection once per year is acceptable.

Council's are pretty good at sticking to an inspection regime so I think it is rare to catch them out on this alone. In my experience, claims are more often successful where you have evidence that the Council were already aware of the defect, but did not repair it within their own stated timescales.

Go get some photos of the pothole, also some of you measuring the depth of the hole with a ruler or measuring tape. Then the same to measure the length and depth.

Then check the Highways section of your local council's website. You should find more info there, about their 'pothole' policy and also how to submit a claim.

I was thinking of doing this but what is the likely hood of me geting any money back from the Council? Where I live the roads in my view are terible! One of my neibour hit a deep pot hole in a Ford Fiesta and it destroyed her gearbox! The Council did pay up for the damage. Also When I drive to work there are countles pot holes everywhere and I think the large amount of HGV's driving there are to blame for it!

£150 + £30 fitting....not what i would call 'for free'! I usually pay around £130-140 fitted for a Conti SC3.

As for claiming off the council, good luck....Mine seem to think that hitting a kerb in November is fine as they 'did a drive by inspection' of the road in May! I need to right back to their insurers rejecting their decision actually but i keep forgetting so this is a good reminder! They have given me no evidence on behalf of the council yet i have submitted 12pages of photos, invoice and statement.

I think you miss read my story, the garage did take my wheel off and put my spare one on for free. I know this because I got no bill for it when I asked how much he wanted for the job. £130-£140 fitted? That's a good price but every garage charge different. I'm happy to spend the £150 because I wanted the exact same tyre that was blown. They are Michelin Sport3 not 2 if it makes a difference. Next, 40k service at my VW garage.

I think you miss read my story, the garage did take my wheel off and put my spare one on for free. I know this because I got no bill for it when I asked how much he wanted for the job. £130-£140 fitted? That's a good price but every garage charge different. I'm happy to spend the £150 because I wanted the exact same tyre that was blown. They are Michelin Sport3 not 2 if it makes a difference. Next, 40k service at my VW garage.

Well sure it was "free", but you're paying over the odds for the tyre and you're being reamed for the fitting, but obviously in your case the garage has you over a barrel so not much you can do.

I had a similar situation driving back from Edinburgh the other week, two potholes positioned exactly so that by avoiding one I had little choice but to drive straight into the other! One almighty *crack* later and I'm driving on a useless strip of rubber, I was just amazed the bang didn't crack my wheel in half. Luckily I was able to get my spare on, albeit in a sloped gravel pub car park in sleeting rain, not fun, or safe.

I think you miss read my story, the garage did take my wheel off and put my spare one on for free. I know this because I got no bill for it when I asked how much he wanted for the job. £130-£140 fitted? That's a good price but every garage charge different. I'm happy to spend the £150 because I wanted the exact same tyre that was blown. They are Michelin Sport3 not 2 if it makes a difference. Next, 40k service at my VW garage.

As BigC says i was on about the £30 fitting

£140 is an average price and most garages are usually open to negotiation....I usually go to Camskill and then add £10 on for fitting and state that price to them and 90% of the time they will match it or be within a fiver of it! They also know me know the amount of times i've been in their the last 6-9months, all for punctures