You are being unreasonable!

by Carnage 09 Jun 2009 I work for a local government in Canada and read about this website in a local newspaper. I am involved in defending a City against claims for pothole damage. Just as in the UK we refuse about 99% of the claims. It is interesting that the number of claims has risen substantially as a result of the fact that so many cars come with low profile tires and aluminum wheels. Back in the days of tall sidewalls and steel rims, we had very few claims. I am at a loss to understand how drivers who choose to buy cars with such fragile wheels should expect the taxpayer to compensate them when they fall apart while rolling through a pothole. I also find it interesting that 75 percent of the claims we get are associated with potholes located right at the edge of the pavement on the inside of a turn. The driver always insists that they weren't speeding but apparently they were going so fast they had to cut right to the edge of the pavement to stay on the road. The purpose of this posting is to point out that although local governments have a role in ensuring that roads are safe, most of the damage suffered to wheels and tires comes as a result of the poorly considered actions of a small group of motorists. These people need to learn to live with the consequences of their decisions rather than trying to deflect their costs onto taxpayers. Rob

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Comments (6)

powercut68    posted : 31/03/11 at 12.54am

Rob sorry thats a crap excuse its NOT the taxpayers money to horded up by councils and governments its our money which is paid in road tax to maintain the roads to a decent standard. in fact these councils probabally waste more money defending claims than they would maintaining them so a claim doesnt arise in the first place.rnan oh by the way try putting that story to the young man that lost his life when he hit a water filled pothole on a motorbike. he wasnt going fast, or cornering, nor was it a "fancy sports bike" it was a boring commuter bike and the hidden hole was so big he was thrown off as his wheel collaped with the impact.rnit is people like yourself that are the ones wasting tax payers money defending genuine claims in court. so before you shout just think first about what your saying.

Letitiahot    posted : 18/11/10 at 8.02pm

Cannot agree more Alfie! every incident is individual and different.. there are some people who do wrong but not all of us do.

MrBradley    posted : 17/03/10 at 6.03pm

God he sounds like a Jobsworth!!!!!!

andyg    posted : 08/09/09 at 5.02pm

I have read your story with interest and can offer you a practical solution. Here at Instarmac Group plc we manufacture the Ultracrete Permanent Pot Hole Repair Material to deal with such issues. As the UK's leading manufacturer with over 30 years experience we can provide not only the product but technical support as well. Please contact us and we can discuss your pot hole problem further.

adiohead    posted : 16/06/09 at 6.18pm

Why not just scrap road maintenance and we all drive around in tractors? ;)rnWhat someone has on their car is irrelevant (as long as it is road legal).rnrnIf the Councils maintain the roads then people wouldn't be able to claim.

Alfie    posted : 09/06/09 at 1.49pm

i don't normally comment on these types of things, but hate generalisations so couldn't resist. I am a responsible woman who hasn't modified her car in any way, it is completley standard as it came from the factory. I was travelling along an un-lit road of which i don't frequent at dusk and drove through a pothole that was 3ft long, 2ft wide and 6" deep and in the driving line (not off to the side and on a straight stretch of road). The road carries a 60-mph speed limit and i was doing 40, the result being two alloy wheels (not with low profile tyres) being completley buckled and beyond repair, despite my trying. I'd be interested to hear how this was my fault and why, when i pay in ecess of £400 a year in road tax, i should be expected to fork out the additional £700 for repairs to my car?

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