We blogged about the impact that the cold weather over Christmas has had on our roads and paths just recently. Whilst it was nice to have a bit of snowy weather over the festive period, the recent bout of snow that hit many parts of the country this week hasn’t helped the pothole situation.
Cold weather – particularly snow – means potholes a plenty. So know your rights if you have been injured by one!
Many potholes have received temporary repair jobs since the snow over Christmas, and these really don’t last long. This new bout of snow has no doubt torn open some of the quick fix jobs and has created new potholes.
Potholes can form overnight – all it takes is for water to seep in to cracks in the surface, freeze overnight, and then break open when the water expands in to ice. The force that it can have on non absorbent materials like concrete can literally crack the ground open and form large potholes.
Potholes are dangerous for both pedestrians and road users alike and we take on many claims for pothole claims. Here is what you need to know.
What to do
Take lots of photos and use measuring tools like rulers or tape measures so the image shows clearly the measurements of the defect – height / depth, and width. This is important because our decision as to whether we take your claim on may depend on these photos.
Take some of the surrounding area as well; particularly if there are defects nearby which may indicate that the area is poorly maintained. Make sure you take a snap with a landmark in the shot like a shop front or a lamppost so the location of the defect can easily be identified.
Will I win?
At the early stages, we really don’t know. We need to submit a claim to whoever is responsible and ask that they investigate the case and either admit or deny liability. Their decision is often based on whether they have an inspection regime in place or not, and whether they have stuck to it.
Who to contact
Us – on 0800 634 7575. We work on a no win, no fee basis so you don’t need to worry about being hit with hefty legal bills if the case isn’t successful.
