Car insurance news
Motorway madness for pothole damage claimants
New figures have revealed that only one driver in nine who made a car insurance claim for compensation following motorway pothole damage was successful, report the BBC.
The statistics, obtained from the Highways Agency, were published under the Freedom of Information Act and showed that out of 382 claims made for motorway pothole-related compensation last year only 40 claims actually received a damages payout.
Of all of the UK's motorways the M1 was the road which caused the highest occurrence compensation claims due to potholes - at 49 - but only five of those claimants received a payout.
Although only 34 miles long, the M56 had 31 pothole claims made against it and 12 of these claimants received compensation - working out at one payout for almost every three miles of motorway.
A Highways Agency spokesman said, "We thoroughly investigate any compensation claims and deal with them fairly and on their own merits. It is for the driver to provide evidence that damage was caused to their vehicle by a pothole.
"If maintenance records show that the road was properly maintained and there is no evidence of a defect, then it is right that we deny the claim."
A duck2water spokesperson commented, "It may not always be possible to make a claim for pothole damage on your car insurance, but if you have taken out legal expenses cover as well as insurance for cars this could help you mount a claim through the civil courts."