Attempting to claim for pothole damage

Attempting to claim for pothole damage

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Stoofa

Original Poster:

958 posts

169 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
Picked up a puncture earlier - I felt the pothole as I went over it, it felt pretty bad and a few moments later I got the telltale feeling of a flat tyre.
Looked at the scene, it's really quite big (how I didn't see it I don't know). One side of the road has been dug-up by the local water company and this pothole is just outside of their barriers blocking one side of the road.
As I was investigating and getting some pictures, another car goes through, loud noise and he's pulled over with a puncture too.

For me it's a £90 tyre. I shall go and purchase two - there was meat left of the tyre I've lost and the one on the same axle, but would prefer two with roughly the same amount of tread. Obviously would never dream of attempting to claim for two tyres.
I'm guessing this is a letter to the local council who will almost certainly say "we didn't know about this pothole" and as that is a valid defence, no money back for my tyre. Is it worth a letter to the water company too? I drive this area at least weekly and I truly do not remember this pothole, if I had to guess (and it is only a guess) this is damage caused at the same time the road was being dug up.

Any thoughts?

Ta

Stoofa

Original Poster:

958 posts

169 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
herewego said:
Did you move the barrier so that other people couldn't do the same and inform the water company straight away of the problem?
Couldn't move the barrier.
Their works blocks one side of the road and this pothole is just outside it - the road would be badly blocked if I'd done that.
However I did report the pothole on the council website as soon as I got home and also left a message on the "emergency number" listed on the water company sign.