7 Types Of Damages That Potholes Can Cause To Your Car
- Suspension Damage. A car’s suspension system is designed to absorb the impact the car makes with the road while in motion.
- Tyre Damage. Potholes can puncture your tyre or bend or crack your wheel. ...
- Poor Steering System Alignment. Driving into a pothole can affect your steering system. ...
- Engine Damage. ...
- Body Damage. ...
How can I tell if my car has pothole damage?
- Wheels/steering knocked out of alignment
- Damage to the tire’s steel belts
- Intact tire balancing weights
- Bent or cracked wheel rim
- Damage to shocks and struts
- Other broken suspension components
What to do if your car has pothole damage?
Tips for City, County, or State Pothole Damage Reimbursement
- Take a photo of the pothole at the time of the incident.
- Take a photo of the damage done to your vehicle
- Note the date and time of the accident
- Get at least two estimates from two different mechanics 3
Who pays when your car is damaged by a pothole?
You might be able to claim compensation from the council for the cost of any repairs to your car. Write to the council responsible for the road with the pothole on. Include all the details you’ve collected, like copies of your quotes, invoices and receipts.
How much damage does a pothole do to your car?
When you hit a pothole, the bumpers or sides of your car could get scratched or chipped. Although this damage is mostly cosmetic, it’s still a costly repair if you want to keep your vehicle looking sharp. Sportier cars that hang lower to the ground are at a higher risk of experiencing cosmetic damage from potholes. Suspension
How can you avoid damaging your car going over a big pothole?
Always make sure that your tires are properly inflated and in good condition. Be cautious when driving on unfamiliar roads. Avoid distractions when driving. Drive slowly while firmly holding your steering when driving over potholes if you're unable to avoid them altogether.
Can a pothole cause engine damage?
Undercarriage Damage When you hit a big enough pothole, you could scrape the undercarriage of the vehicle when you bottom out. With so many different parts and components under the vehicle, you could cause extensive damage depending on the size of the pothole and how fast you were going when you hit it.
Can potholes cause frame damage?
Uneven roads and potholes can wreak havoc on your vehicle's tires, suspension, and frame.
What can break when hitting a pothole?
When you hit a pothole, it rocks the entire suspension system and can cause premature wear and tear on shocks and struts. Spotting damage to shocks and struts can be tricky. A flat tire or bent rim is obvious after slamming into a pothole; you'll have a hard time driving with either of these problems.
Do bumpy roads damage cars?
Sure, it shook you up, but what about your car? Rough roads take a big toll on automobiles, especially the steering and suspension components. And it is not only potholes. Hitting curbs, blasting across rough railroad tracks or speeding over speed bumps can all cause damage.
Can a pothole damage a driveshaft?
There are many things that can cause driveshaft damage, from hitting a pothole to running over something in the road. It's important to have the part inspected regularly to avoid any problems.
How do you know if your car has frame damage?
7 Signs Of Car Frame DamageVisible Bending Or Damage. After a serious accident, you may be able to see that the frame of your car has been bent or damaged. ... Poor Car Alignment. ... Unusual Noises. ... Uneven Wear On Shocks & Suspension. ... Uneven Wear On Tires. ... Incorrect Fit Of Other Parts. ... Poor Wheel Tracking.
Can a pothole damage front bumper?
If you are traveling fast and the pothole is deep, the impact could even bend the axle, wreck the shocks, break the muffler, destroy the bumper, or cause the frame to warp.
What is considered minor frame damage?
Minor damage may refer to any injury to the car body that does not directly affect the vehicle's main structural support. This could include things such as dents in the outer panels or scratches in the car's paint.
Is it better to hit a pothole fast or slow?
While it's best to go over potholes slowly, you should avoid braking immediately before you hit one. This will likely cause your vehicle to nosedive right as you hit it, which can increase the amount of damage that can occur.
Why does my car shake after I hit a pothole?
If your steering wheel is shaking after hitting a pothole you've thrown off your wheel balance or that a rim or tire has physical damage. Out of balanced wheels cause premature wear to the tire along with a reduction in gas mileage and handling quality.
Can a pothole damage ball joint?
You will know if hitting a pothole has compromised your suspension if it feels as though your car is swaying left when turning corners or is bouncing. This type of damage affects your vehicle's shocks, steering rack, bearing, struts, ball joints, and seals.
What happens if you have a pothole in your car?
If it is deep, potholes can cause the bottom part of the car where the exhaust pipe is to scrape part of the pothole. This can dent or cause a hole in the exhaust pipe, muffler or catalytic converter. When this happens, you would experience loss of power or unpleasant noises if there were a hole in your exhaust system, ...
What happens when you ride into a pothole?
Each time you ride into a pothole, your car engine parts shifts or breaks.
How to throw your car's front wheels out of alignment?
Hitting a bad pothole is one of the quickest ways to throw your car’s front wheels out of alignment.
What to look for when driving into a pothole?
If you are worried that your rims might have been damaged after driving into a pothole, the first thing to look for is bends or cracks in the side of the wheel, where the rim meets the tyre. If there is visible damage, that wheel will most likely need to be replaced.
How to tell if car suspension is damaged?
Some signs of damaged car suspension component include unusual vibrations and sounds, wandering steering, poor ride quality, or the vehicle leaning to one side.
Can potholes wreck a car?
The damages that potholes can wreck on your car are numerous. Here, we list 7 common damages that entering potholes can do to your car.
Is it better to lower a car to the ground or to the ground?
Generally speaking, the lower a car is to the ground, the better it handles, but cars that sacrifice ride height in pursuit of sportiness are more likely to be damaged by potholes.
How do potholes affect cars?
Potholes can viciously assault innocent vehicles—you're lucky it didn't swallow the car whole. Unless you were going extremely fast, though, there probably isn't any structural damage. It takes a pretty big hit to bend a piece of the suspension. Still, a pothole can do a number of bad things to the wheel and tire. It's most likely that vibration comes from a bent wheel rim. You should be able to see any damage on a close inspection; don't forget to check the inside lip of the wheel as well. Most steel and aluminum wheels can be repaired for less than $150 by companies such as Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists, a mobile service that fixes wheels on the spot. In your case you can also buy a used factory-style wheel for about the same price. It's also possible that the impact knocked off one of the wheel balancing weights. And though it's unlikely, crashing your tire into a pothole can sometimes damage the steel belts inside, causing them to be out of round. After a quick look, take the car to a tire-and-wheel specialist for inspection and repair.
Can a pothole hurt a car?
Potholes can viciously assault innocent vehicles—you're lucky it didn't swallow the car whole. Unless you were going extremely fast, though, there probably isn't any structural damage. It takes a pretty big hit to bend a piece of the suspension. Still, a pothole can do a number of bad things to the wheel and tire.
What happens if you drive over a pothole?
Car damage from potholes is common during the spring season. Check for tire bulges, suspension problems, and body damage if you drive over a pothole.
Why do roads have potholes?
Potholes are road imperfections that occur when soil compacted beneath pavement becomes weakened or displaced. Roads are particularly likely to form potholes in winter and spring months, when ice and lots of running water disrupt the base layers under the pavement. As cars drive over these weak spots, the pavement deforms, cracks, and chips away, leaving a hole in the road surface. Potholes start small, but grow as traffic hits them, potentially becoming deep or large enough to damage a car.
What are the parts of a car that touch the road?
Tires: Tires are meant to be the only part of your car that touches the road, so it isn’t a surprise that they’re susceptible to pothole damage like sidewall bulges, tread separation, or flats.
What happens if you have a hole in your exhaust?
You may experience a loss of power or unpleasant noises if there’s a hole in your exhaust system, but perhaps worse is the fact that your car will spew out harmful pollution unchecked. What’s more, a leaky pipe can let exhaust fumes into the cabin, posing a potentially serious health hazard.
What happens in spring when you drive on the road?
Warm spring weather melts away slippery snow and ice, but it also brings out one of the most problematic elements on the road: potholes. You might encounter dozens of potholes on your daily commute, and they can only be avoided for so long. You’re bound to hit one eventually, which can seriously damage your car.
What percentage of roads are in poor condition?
Even in sunny climates like California and Arizona, over 50% of roads are rated as being in poor condition and are often riddled with potholes. Feeling the jolt from hitting a pothole - and the uneasiness of facing an expensive repair - is something drivers everywhere have to deal with.
Can a car roll through a pothole?
The good news is that most potholes aren’t big or deep enough to pose a threat to your car. With correctly inflated tires and aligned suspension, chances are it will roll right through them. However, as seasons change and potholes grow, you need to stay alert and avoid them as best you can.
1. Wheel Bearing Damage
Did you know that a wheel bearing can fail after hitting a pothole? This video explains it pretty well:
2. Wheel And Tire Damage
Even a small pothole can cause damage to your wheels and tires. Hitting the wrong part of the wheel or tire can cause the wheel to bend or crack. This usually happens with alloy wheels, which are more likely to have low profile tires installed.
3. Suspension Damage
A pothole can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s suspension system. Here are some of the most common suspension system components that can get impacted by a pothole:
4. Wheel Alignment Issues
When your car is out of alignment, it can affect everything from cornering to straight acceleration. A pothole impact can cause the steering and/or suspension components to shift out of place. This knocks the wheels out of alignment.
5. Steering Issues
When your steering system components are knocked out of place from a pothole, you’ll experience some steering issues, such as:
6. Wheel Speed Sensor Damage
The wheel speed sensor monitors how fast the wheels are spinning. The engine control module receives that information and uses it to keep the ABS system stable and functional. If a pothole hit damages one of these sensors, it can cause a few issues.
7. Axle Damage
When your car hits a pothole at high speeds, the axle shaft can get bent or damaged. This is seen most often in vehicles with live axles.
What should you do if your vehicle is damaged by a pothole?
If you hit a major pothole and can tell that it has done damage to your vehicle, take photos of any visible damage and the pothole (if it’s safe to do so), and write down where the pothole is located. Contact your insurance broker or your insurance company’s claims service line right away so they can tell you what to do next and help you coordinate repairs. If you need to have your vehicle towed, your insurer can help with that as well.
How to avoid hitting a pothole?
When it’s light outside and weather conditions are clear, it’s pretty easy to avoid hitting a pothole by safely changing lanes or slowing down when you see one up ahead . But when it’s dark outside or weather is impacting visibility, it can be a lot harder to spot a pothole until it’s too late to avoid hitting it. Keeping your tires properly inflated, travelling at a safe speed for the road conditions, and keeping your eyes on the road can all help you avoid the damage that can come with hitting a pothole.
Do you have to pay a deductible if you hit a pothole?
If you make a claim for damage to your vehicle after you hit a pothole, you’ll have to pay the deductible for whatever part of your policy is covering the damage. For example, if your claim is being paid out through your collision coverage, you’ll need to pay the deductible listed for that section of your policy. If your insurer tries to seek reimbursement from the local government and they’re successful, there’s a chance that they may be able to get your deductible back for you at the same time.
Can you get reimbursement for a pothole?
In some cases, after your claim is paid, your insurance company may be able to seek reimbursement from the local government where you hit the pothole. They generally have a very short timeframe to do so, so it’s important that you tell them about it right away.
Does car insurance cover wear and tear?
Remember: the point of car insurance is to put you back in the same position you were in before a collision. Car insurance doesn’t cover everyday wear-and-tear (that should be addressed with regular maintenance), but it covers unexpected events and resulting damage.
Can you claim this damage on your car insurance?
Yes, most car insurance policies will cover damage caused by a pothole — as long as you have the right coverage. Hitting a pothole is generally considered a single-vehicle collision. This means that any damage done would either be covered by the collision section or the all-perils section of your car insurance policy. Collision coverage and all-perils coverage are optional, so if you didn’t opt to have both of these when you bought your policy, you’ll have to pay to repair the damage yourself.
What is a pothole?
A pothole is a general term that refers to any depression in the road surface where traffic has removed broken pieces of the road. As a result, a hole is created on the road surface. Several things can cause potholes, but the most common culprits involve water in the underlying soil structure and heavy traffic passing over.
Why are potholes bad for your car?
Potholes are bad news for your car, as hitting one can cause damage to your vehicle. The damage will depend on how hard you “hit” the pothole. The faster you are going, the more problems it can cause. That is why it is always wise to go slow in areas riddled with potholes. But what actual damage can potholes do? Let’s find out.
Steer clear of potholes at all times
If you want to save yourself the trouble of worrying about the damage potholes can make on your car, you should steer clear of potholes as much as you can. You can do this by paying close attention to the road at all times and maintaining just enough speed so you can react to seeing a pothole.
What happens if a road is cracked?
Obviously, if there is a pothole or sinkhole in the road, or if the road is cracked or broken, the road is in bad shape. But many other conditions can also give rise to liability for bad road conditions, such as poor or confusing street signage, narrow roads, construction debris in the road, and lack of sufficient shoulder on the road, ...
What to do if your car is damaged?
If your car is damaged because a road or highway is in bad shape, you can usually file a claim with the government (city, county, or state) that is in charge of maintaining that road. The claim process acts as a sort of prerequisite to filing a civil lawsuit against the government (or the government could decide to settle your claim without you ...
How to prove negligence?
In order to prove negligence, you must usually prove that the government knew or should reasonably have known of the problem with the road. And it's not reasonable to expect a town's public works department to learn about and repair a sinkhole in 15 minutes. Under these facts, it is unlikely you could prove that the town was negligent. Learn more about proving negligence.
Can you recover a car damage claim if you have bad road conditions?
If you file an administrative claim with the government for vehicle damage because of bad road conditions, depending on your state's laws, there might be a cap on the dollar amount you can recover via the claim process. But this issue is a little more nuanced than that.
Can you file a claim against the government if your car is damaged?
If you're not sure whether it is the state, county, or town that is legally responsible for the maintenance of the road where your vehicle was damaged, you usually can't go wrong with sending a claim to as many governmental entities as possible. It may also make sense to contact a lawyer who can help with a claim against the government.
