Will the City Reimburse Me if I Blow a Tire on a Pothole?

You find yourself on the side of the road with a blown out tire after encountering a dreaded pothole. What’s next? Who’s paying for this!? According to AAA, drivers in the U.S. spend nearly $3 billion a year fixing damage caused by potholes. Indiana is ranked second in the country with the worst pothole problems. At Conner Insurance, we like to educate our community and provide guidance to save you money where we can.

The Damage of a Pothole

There is definitely a financial impact when you are faced with replacing a tire or even worse, a rim, after encountering a pothole. No one plans on their day going that way, but once you find yourself there, you quickly question why you’re taking on the financial burden of the damage when it is not your responsibility to keep the road pothole-free.

What You Can Do

The good news is that there is a way to remedy this for the owner of the damaged vehicle.

File a tort claim with your local municipality within 180 days of the incident. If it occurred in Indianapolis, you can do this directly on the Mayor’s Action Center website or by calling (317) 327-4622.

Take pictures of your damage and the pothole in question. Make sure to note the exact location and that you are safe while doing so.

Keep all receipts from related repairs resulting from the pothole impact.

Report Potholes to the City

Make sure to report potholes using the Mayor's Action Center as soon as possible to increase the chances of the repair taking place before anyone else sustains any damage. The city has to have knowledge of the pothole prior to your impact and have a “reasonable” amount of time to make a repair. Reporting potholes as you see them helps all drivers attempting to be reimbursed, fulfilling the requirement of the city being made aware of the issue.

Limit Damage From Potholes

Sometimes hitting a pothole is unavoidable. To minimize the impact of potholes while driving, make sure to keep your tires appropriately inflated and always ensure the tire itself is roadworthy with plenty of tread. If you find yourself taking on the costs of the repair, remember the above information and don’t procrastinate on filing your claim. These claims are time-sensitive and can take up to 90 days to be reviewed. Each municipality will have its own process for settling tort claims, but in every case, the burden will be on the claimant to prove the damage and repairs in a timely manner.

If You Need to Reach Us

Conner Insurance would like to wish the best of luck to all drivers out there during pothole season. May you dodge the big ones and arrive at your destinations unscathed! Contact us at (317) 808-7711 if you would like to speak to one of our advisors. We are located in Indiana and serve the whole state, including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, Fishers, Brownsburg, and Evansville. We also provide insurance and benefits to all fifty states.