Glasgow: How to claim compensation if a pothole damages your car

The number of potholes is staggering with data suggesting that over 1000 claims a year are made in Glasgow.

Some of these potholes are avoidable and harmless but some of the bigger ones can cause series damage to your motor.

Working out what to do when one of these potholes damages your car can be daunting but the experts over at Admiral Insurance have shared how you could get some compensation.

Newsquest - Over 1000 pothole claims are made a year in Glasgow (Image: Newsquest)

Head of Claims at Admiral, Lorna Connelly says: "Anyone who drives will be familiar with that sudden ‘clunk’ from roads that are plagued with potholes. But potholes are more than just an inconvenience, they can also cause costly damage to your vehicle.

"Pothole-related claims are 43 percent higher in these months (Jan-March) than average, as road surfaces become unsettled by colder temperatures.

“Pothole pockets can quickly open up, especially if the weather has been bad, which means they might not have been there the last time you took that route.

"Keep a sharp eye and slow down – swerving can be more dangerous! If you think you’ve hit a hum-dinger, get out and check for damage at the safest opportunity.

“It’s great that there is funding committed to fixing Britain’s potholes – we know what a huge nuisance they are for our customers. However, keeping on top of them is a challenge for local authorities so it’s always best to stay alert and keep a lookout for any potholes that might have popped up.”

READ MORE: Pothole damage compensation pay outs in Glasgow revealed

READ MORE: UK drivers urged to do one thing amid 12% rise in parking fines

How to get compensation when a pothole damages your car

While there is no guarantee that a claim for compensation will be successful, Admiral has created this handy guide for sending a claim.

1. Collect evidence 

After a pothole has damaged your car, you should take note of the pothole's location, the time the incident occurred as well as the date.

You should then take it to a garage for the damage to be assessed by a mechanic, who should then make a report in writing which will be important for your claim.

Make sure you have as much evidence as possible.

PA - Take your damaged car to a mechanic for a full written report (Image: PA)

2. Find out who's responsible

Usually, the next step would be to work out who is responsible. In the case of Glasgow, it would be Glasgow City Council.

Make sure the incident happened within its jurisdiction before putting claims to GCC.

However, proving the Council has been negligent is difficult. One way to do this would be to ask for copies of highway maintenance schedules, and reports of incidences (within 14 days of the accident) to show a failure.

It is key to have evidence showing that if something was done, an accident would not have occurred.

3. Report it

To report the claim, you should fill out Glasgow City Council's compensation form and include as much information as possible, including photos, the mechanic's report, and key details.

You can also report the road fault here.

4. What to do if you get an offer

If the Council's offer isn't fair and does not cover your costs, go back to them to complain.

You also stand a better chance of gaining a good settlement if the pothole has been reported but no action was taken.

5. Offer rejected by the Council

If you feel like your claim has been rejected out of hand, you can seek legal advice and take the case to court but this could be costly and time-consuming.

6. Claim through insurance

If you have comprehensive insurance, you can claim this damage through that instead.

However, you should check the cost of the damage, your excess payments, and if this will affect your No Claims Bonus.