Vehicle damaged by a pothole?*

According to a recent survey from consumer group, Which?, in the last two years nearly 25 per cent of UK motorists damaged their vehicles by hitting a pothole. More surprisingly perhaps it revealed that less than 50 per cent of those motorists filed claims against the relevant council. It was determined that the main reasons for not filing a pothole claim were due to lack of understanding on how to file a claim, and that people felt it would be a ‘hassle’ to file one.

However, despite the general reluctance to file a claim, over half of the motorists who filed claims received compensation. The key factor to this success was whether the damage to their vehicle was caused by potholes that had been reported. Under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980, a motorist is entitled to claim damages if the local authorities were aware of the dangers that a pothole presented, yet failed to fix it. If your vehicle is damaged by a pothole, follow these simple steps to improve your chances of receiving compensation:

• By visiting www.potholes.co.uk you can confirm whether a pothole has been reported. If it hasn’t then you can do so yourself. This website also contains a step by step guide on how to claim from your local council.
• Take photographs of the damage to your vehicle as well as the pothole
• Make sure to keep all receipts for any work that is done to your vehicle due to the damage.

Advice for people living in flood prone areas**

Recent UK floods have been wreaking havoc and causing untold damage to residential properties up and down the country, with Cumbria being one of the worst hit areas in December.

In response to the damage, Chancellor George Osborne announced that a £50 million repair and renew scheme for Cumbria and Lancashire. The scheme aimed to provide each homeowner affected by the storm with £500 for temporary accommodations and up to £5,000 to protect their homes from future flood damage.
As the storms seem to have become more frequent the risk of further flooding is still high. If you live in an area likely to suffer from flooding, here are some top tips to assist you should you be affected.

1. Although you may be tempted to conduct emergency repairs, the best thing to do first is to contact your insurance broker and inform them of the damage. Make sure you document the damage with photographs and detailed descriptions. If you have them then put together any receipts for furnishings, fixtures, flooring, etc to present with your claim.
2. Avoid doing any potentially dangerous repairs—such as patching up the roof—as the risk of severe physical injuries is high and best left to professional tradesman.
3. Turn off your power, as long as you can safely do so without risking harm from debris or electrocution
4. Be sure to conduct a thorough inspection of your home before travelling to a new safer location, and lock all windows and doors so that your home is safe from potential looters or further weather damage.
5. Save receipts and other documentation for any emergency work that is done to your home, and include it in your claim.

It is never too late to protect your home from the damaging effects of inclement weather. Ensure you speak with your current insurance provider/broker to discuss the cover you have in place if you are in any doubt.

Source: Zywave Personal Lines perspective newsletter 2015

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