Bloody Potholes!

[Daniel]

Hi guys, I know everyone has had a little experience with the disgraceful roads in some places around Australia and hit some sort of hole..

In a distance of 1.5km from my house to the train station most mornings I avoid 3 of the USUAL potholes which are roughly the size of a large pizza box and varying from 10-20cm in depth.

I have seen these 3 (luckily) many times before I got to them and am vigilant to avoid them on my daily adventures.. Sadly I watch countless people thump into them daily without any warning and the best I can manage is to have the stones form the holes flicked back up at my car as I swerve to avoid the hole itself.

This Monday gone, on my way home from work I was coming back the usual way and ended up slamming my front drivers side wheel into a new pothole!

I am 150% sure it was there the day before and all I can say is $@#*!

I've driven in so many around my local area (south east Melb) over the past 2 years and its not because I'm a idiot or that I don't watch were I drive; the sad truth is this overpopulated area with its unmaintained road-network is a JOKE!

This time damage has been done and my $500+ front tyre has a bubble forming where the impact occurred.. possibly damage to the 19" rim too!

What chance do I have to get some sort of compensation from my local council?

I know they are quick acting for parking fines, rates and any sort of money going their way.. I have a feeling it isn't worth chasing as they will just say no?

Do you guys have any stories of similar things happening where they have been accommodating for the damage they have caused on your vehicle?

[Boosted1]

hey mate I am in the same boat as you, I drove upto brisbane from melb on sunday. coming into ipswich (round there) I hit a pot hole and damaged 2 rims.. PISSED OFFF to say the least. and I am about to write a letter to qld roads to see what kind of compo I can get. I have heard of people getting money out of them before so I will give it a crack.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Councils have insurance specifically to cover damaged to vehicles cause by faults with the road network. You need to take photo's of the potholes and the damage and report the potholes to the council.

They have (in my experience) a funny little merry go round of not being liable for damage caused by road defects if they are unaware of them. Once they are aware and action has started to repair the damage (not actual repairs but the issuing of works orders) they are then liable.

I'm not suggesting you get your mate/neighbor/significant other to report the pothole, so you can them make your claim but i dare say this would would work.

Luke

[Bender]

Yeh, you have to notify the local council about the pothole, and if it isn't fixed within 2 days and you do damage to your car they become liable. Firstly take pics, and all that before you notify the council, and hope they don't fix it within 2 days! then the accident happened after that 2 days. WAIT I DIDN'T SAY THAT!

[South]

The latest Fifth Gear has this exact issue in the show. Granted its in the UK, you might find the same will work here.

Take pictures of the pot hole, take pictures of the road its on so as to prove its location, take measurements, and then write to the council its in.

[Kimberley Scott]

Bloody hard to do on a busy road, and I imagine not so safe. Mate this sux, but try riding a bike, these bloody craters can throw you off at speed, which never ends pretty.

Scotty

[Daniel]

This could be a big problem, I went down the road and it has been sort of 'fixed' recently.. you can tell its dodgy and not done properly yet either.

I didn't go to wok yesterday, nor today and have not been down the road since Wednesday (It was still there then)

It is a dangerous road to get a picture, might be able to do it at night, but no chance during the day...

Altho, I doubt there is a point in taking a photo of a hole that's patched up now..

Now I'm twice as annoyed lol.. half at them and half at me not taking a photo the day it happened.