Pots o’ money

Recently I hit a pothole that wrecked a fairly new tyre on our Volvo V50. (This was the second tyre ruined in 12 months due to deep potholes.) The pothole was impossible to avoid because of oncoming traffic. The cost of replacement tyre was £135. I sent the invoice to then East Yorkshire County Highways Authority.

They politely said that they were not liable as "the council had done all that was reasonable to fulfil its statutory obligations" for maintaining the highway. Could you please advise me were I stand? Is it worth pursuing?

Asked on 21 January 2010 by AB, Filey

Answered by Honest John

Yes. Check on www.fixmystreet.co.uk and on www.potholes.co.uk to find out if the pothole had been reported to the council more than a week before you suffered the damage. If it had been and had not been fixed, then you have a case. Otherwise you don't.

Tags: pothole damage

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