Free checks could help drivers claim pothole damage compensation

Potholes seem to be an increasingly common sight on our roads these days, leading to bumpy journeys and potential damage across the UK.

Annoyingly inescapable, fresh research shows that 27% of UK drivers suffered vehicle damage due to a pothole in the past year, resulting in an average repair bill of £718 per vehicle. This amounts to a shocking total of £7.5bn per year across the UK.

Many of us assume that if we hit a pothole on a council-maintained road, we're entitled to compensation for any vehicle damage. However, the reality is that due to a clear lack of evidence, only 18% of compensation claims are successful, leaving drivers heavily out of pocket.

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Even a small pothole can harm the wheels, tyres and suspension, necessitating a costly trip to a local garage. At this time of year, they can become increasingly severe as existing dents and holes worsen when roads freeze and contract.

As Tyre Safety Month continues in the UK, motor experts at Halfords have introduced a free 'Pothole Damage Check' for all UK motorists. This initiative aims to assist drivers in determining if their vehicle has been damaged after driving through one of the estimated 11 million potholes currently blighting UK roads.

The Pothole Damage Check will include a comprehensive safety inspection by a qualified Halfords expert, examining aspects such as damage to the tyres, wheels, suspension and wheel alignment, reports .

Customers will receive a report detailing any damage found on their vehicle, which can be used to support claims to councils. Halfords is offering this service in the hope that it will assist motorists in claiming compensation, especially when combined with additional evidence such as photographs of the pothole and the affected vehicle.

In line with this initiative, Karen Bellairs, Halfords' managing director of garages, has urged the Labour Government to go beyond its current commitment to fix 1 million potholes annually, arguing that this target is insufficient and merely a temporary fix.

Karen said "The UK's roads are in a shocking state and drivers are hitting potholes more and more frequently. But we know that most hard-pressed motorists are not in a position to book their car into a garage every time they drive through one."

She added, "Our new service will allow them to check, for free, if any damage has been caused - in most instances hopefully giving them peace of mind, without it hitting them in the wallet. If there is any damage, the accompanying report of any work completed may be able to assist them in gaining compensation."