March 12, 2024 – Pothole season is here, which means road craters will be waiting to catch drivers off guard with hundreds in repair bills. The good news is that some of this trouble can be avoided, and when damage does occur, relief might arrive from an unexpected source: the Illinois Department of Transportation.
IDOT welcomes reimbursement claims from motorists for pothole damage through its website but there are limitations. One major exception is that the responsible pothole must already be one on the agency’s radar.
If IDOT had no knowledge of a hole or adequate time for repairs, it will not be shelling out taxpayer dollars for related damage, the website said. Neither will it pay out for damage caused by other motorists, bad weather or roadways not under its jurisdiction.
Regardless of whether a state claim falls short, motorists should not overlook a claim with their own insurer as it could be covered.
It is estimated that in 2022, 44 million U.S. drivers were hit with pothole repair bills, up from 28 million in 2021. Typically, one in every 10 drivers hitting a pothole ends up with a repair bill.
As far as how to avoid pothole damage, drivers can be proactive, especially when changing temperatures in March and April start to crack the pavement with the following tips:
- Get your tires checked. You want to have the tread depth looked at and the tire pressure.
- Avoid standing water, which might hide a pothole
- Avoid speeding or following too closely to see a road crater in your path
To file a claim with DOT, visit the agency’s website.
