Pothole damage can happen in seconds, be costly to repair and even lead to accidents. Potholes’ abilities to send a powerful jolt through both the vehicle and its driver can cause damage as well as a loss of control, which can lead to accidents.
Though avoiding potholes can seem impossible, taking some precautions, such as maintaining a safe distance and avoiding standing water, can prevent you from absorbing the worst damage they can offer or help you avoid them altogether. It also helps to know how your insurance can handle pothole damage.
If you do take a direct hit from a pothole, though, pulling over to check for damages and taking your car to a professional are just a few steps that can help keep you safe and get back on the road in no time.
What Danger Does a Pothole Pose?
Most commonly, pothole strikes can lead to:
- Wheel Damage: Potholes can cause tires to puncture, rims to bend or crack and your wheels to become misaligned.
- Suspension Damage: The impact can cause issues with your car’s suspension, resulting in damage to ball joints, shocks, struts and other key components.
- Underside issues: Potholes deep enough to scrape your car’s underside can pose danger to your car’s exhaust pipes or cause leaks from exposed fluid reservoirs.
Even if potholes don’t cause acute trauma to your vehicle, they can still prevent your car from driving properly and lead to greater damage over time. Pothole damage that can get worse over time includes:
- Uneven tire wear
- Suspension wear
- Wheel bearing damage
Pothole sizes can vary, but in general, the wider and deeper they get, the more damage they can cause. But even small potholes can bring significant harm depending on the speed and angle that you hit it.
Does Insurance Cover Pothole Damage?
Yes, pothole damage is usually covered by collision coverage, which pays repair costs when your vehicle is damaged in a car accident, either with another vehicle or a stationary object.
Pothole damage is typically rather minor, and your deductible must be met before collision coverage kicks in. So, if the repair costs are small, it might make more sense to pay out of pocket.
As collision coverage is optional, you should consult your auto policy or check with your agent to make sure you have it. If you want collision coverage, some insurance companies may require you to have comprehensive coverage, which covers damages caused by things such as weather events, vandalism and animals. Both collision and comprehensive coverages pay up to specific limits, which is typically based on the vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV).
Will I Be Considered At Fault?
Hitting a pothole is deemed a single-car accident. Whether it will affect your premium depends on your insurer’s underwriting guidelines and your claims history.
What Should I Do After I Hit a Pothole?
Inspect Your Car
If a pothole sends a shock through you and your car, it’s a good idea to pull over and check your vehicle’s wheels, tires and undercarriage for any obvious damage.
When driving in heavy traffic or on a busy highway, however, it may be difficult to safely pull to the side of the road and exit your vehicle. Whether you stop and inspect your car or continue driving, you should be on the lookout for the most common signs of damage to your vehicle:
- A pulling to one side
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Low tire pressure
- Rattling noises
- Fluid leaks
If you notice any of these signs, take your car to a mechanic right away so they can take a closer look at any possible damage.
Report the Pothole
When you see a pothole, note its exact location, including its proximity to a nearest address or intersection. Depending on whether the road is maintained by the state, county, or municipality, you may need to report the pothole to the appropriate government agency responsible for its upkeep.
If you can, take photos of the pothole as well as any damage to your vehicle. You might be able to submit a claim for repair cost compensation, but each jurisdiction has its own policies and procedures for how it handles these requests.
Use Roadside Service
If your car is inoperable, it’s best to contact roadside assistance. If you have our optional ERIE’s Emergency Roadside Service Coverage on your auto policy, you can call for assistance to help with services like towing, tire changes or other roadside emergencies.
The process is simple, and the service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can file a claim online, through the ERIE Mobile App or by calling 800-FOR-ERIE (367-3743).
How Can You Avoid Potholes
Avoiding potholes isn’t always possible, but to give yourself the best chance of steering clear, follow these dos and don’ts:
- Do. Drive cautiously by adding extra distance between you and the car in front of you.
- Don’t. Strike the pothole with your wheels turned. Damage is more likely to occur if you hit the pothole at an angle.
- Do. Drive slower in the dark to increase your chance of reacting to a pothole.
- Don’t. Swerve into the opposing traffic lane to avoid the pothole.
- Do. Stay current on car maintenance. Tires fare best when they are properly inflated, and your car’s suspension can absorb shock better when it’s in good condition.
- Don’t. Drive through puddles, as they could be concealing potholes.
Terms to Know
Potholes are depressions that form in the road when water penetrates the surface. As potholes often form during temperature fluctuations in freeze-thaw cycles, late winter and early spring are common times to spot them on roads.
When water freezes, it expands, and as it thaws, it contracts. This repeated cycle weakens the pavement and eventually causes cracks to form. Additional water and traffic further weaken the surface, causing the fractures to grow.
Collision coverage can cover the cost of repairing your vehicle when it is damaged in a car accident with another vehicle or object.
To learn more about collision coverage, read this explainer.
A Deductible is the amount you’re responsible for paying out of pocket before your insurance policy begins to pay a covered claim.
Actual Cash Value (ACV) is the value of your vehicle at the time of a covered loss. Collision coverage typically covers to a limit, usually the ACV minus the deductible.
Drive with Confidence This Pothole Season
While it can send a shock to your system, hitting a pothole doesn’t have to catch you off guard. Knowing what to do afterwards, the damage to look for and how your insurance coverage might come into play will prepare you for the road this spring.
Your local ERIE agent can help you better understand your coverage and make sure you’re protected before the next bump in the road .