WASHINGTON, D. C. (Wednesday, February 14, 2018) –– “Everything’s coming up potholes.”  That is expected after this weekend’s heavy rain. Now area drivers may be playing a guessing game behind the wheel as potholes are disguised as puddles. Very. Expensive. Puddles. Given the early outbreak of potholes, flat tire calls to AAA are running 30% higher than last February. Pothole perturbed, some drivers will file claims with area governments in hopes of recovering their losses. In most places, including the nation’s capital and localities, the denial rate is high. Here is the caveat and the catch-22. Under the cover of law, the area government’s obligation to fix a pothole is triggered only after said government becomes aware of the pothole.

While tire-eating potholes are typically a sign of spring, this winter’s extreme cold weather followed by record warmth have taken an early toll on roadways, hubcaps, rims and tires across the Washington metro area. Drivers face an average of $300 for pothole-sustained damages to their vehicles. In Maryland, car owners have a better chance of winning the lottery than collecting claims for pothole damage, as a driver in Towson is discovering after filing a $2,300 claim, including $300 for a new tire, with the county agency. The District’s track record on claims is better. It took a year, but it refunded a driver $500 for his blown tire and lost hubcap.

“Potholes don’t just leave you shaken or rattled. They are a serious safety hazard, and hitting them often results in costly repair bills for vehicle owners,” said James Moore, Manager, AAA Car Care Center. “Compounding matters, you can easily lose control of your vehicle if you hit a pothole, possibly leading to a crash, and it’s just as dangerous to swerve to avoid it. Slow down and stay alert, as road crews patch potholes.”

Americans spent $3 billion to repair pothole-related damages to their vehicles in 2017, AAA estimated. Replacing a tire damaged by a pothole can cost the vehicle owner $100 to $500. God forbid if the strut is blown and the ball joint is broken. Motorists and road crews can also gauge just how bad the pothole season is by the sheer number of flat tires on area roadways. The call volume to AAA’s Emergency Roadside Assistance switchboard for flat tire woes is up 28.5 percent so far in February, compared to the same time span last February. SOS calls to AAA for flat tires were up 8.2 percent over last January.

AAA Flat Tires Calls –Virginia, Maryland, & Washington, D.C.  

January 2018

Flat tire calls across the region were up 8.2% over January 2017.

• AAA roadside assistance responded to 14,630 flat tire calls in January 2018 (compared to 13,521 flat tire calls in January 2017).
• Maryland - 8,364 flat tire calls (compared to 7,522 in January 2017).
• Virginia - 4,846 flat tire calls (compared to 4,594 in January 2017).

January 2018 (compared to January 2017)

February 2018 (February 1-12)

February 1-12 of 2018 (compared to February 1-12 of 2017)

This winter’s extreme temperature swings could make this year’s “pothole season” one for the record books. Each year nearly 500,000 auto insurance claims are filed for pothole damage and pothole-related accidents. Motorists, however, should realize that damage is only covered if they carry collision insurance and the fact that the deductible payment might exceed the cost of the repair, according to AAA Insurance. During pothole season drivers often wonder aloud, “will the city or state pay for car damage caused by potholes?”

“Although they will need ‘the patience of Job,’ drivers should always consider filing a claim for damage with the state or local government for pothole damages,” advises Kendall Bramble, Insurance Counselor for AAA Mid-Atlantic Insurance Agency. “To strengthen your claim, provide evidence or proof of loss, including documentary records, and invoices plus estimates for repairs and proof of payments.”

It can be an epic fail. But here’s to you, as you try to persuade the government to reimburse you

for that pothole claim. Most governments stipulate they will only reimburse the pothole damage claim for vehicle repairs if the pothole was reported in advance and the agency failed to repair it in a timely manner.   

The District of Columbia

Drivers who sustain pothole damage in a street or roadway in the nation’s capital should file a claim with the Tort Liability Division of the District Office of Risk Management (ORM).  The office has updated its “Guide to Tort Liability” for the public.

Virginia

If your vehicle hits a pothole in Virginia, drivers can submit a damage claim to the Customer Service Center at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). To file a claim for reimbursement in Virginia, call the Virginia Department of Transportation at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623).

Maryland

A written claim for pothole damage in Maryland can be filed with the Maryland Treasury Department. You can also call (410) 260-7684 or 1-800-942-0162 to speak with someone in the insurance division. However, some claims are handled by the department of transportation of individual counties.

Most local governments in Virginia are famously parsimonious when it comes to paying claims, news reports show. On a case-by-case basis, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), which is responsible for patching potholes on 58,000 miles of state maintained roadway, often honors documented claims that are investigated. In the District, drivers have six months from the date of the pothole incident to file a claim with the government of the District of Columbia. In Maryland, the check is not in the mail.

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com