This New England State is Among the Worst in the Country for Potholes
Aren't potholes simply the worst?
Historically I have driven smaller vehicles; Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas, the small sedans of the world.
When I hit a pothole in my Honda Civic, if it's a really good one (and by good I mean large and deep and not good at all) the car bottoms out! I can hear the undercarriage (is that the correct term?) scraping the pavement, and I yell, "Whoa! That one is going to leave a mark."
Unlike me, you should probably claim the damage to your car that is caused by potholes because it's really not your fault.
Local authorities have an obligation to keep roads in good condition. So making them aware of a pothole – and claiming for any damage – might encourage them to fix the issues.
According to the survey from Compare the Market here's what you should do if your car has been damaged by a pothole:
- Log the damage: make sure you take your car to a garage and ask your mechanic to take photos of the damage, and also to give details in writing.
- Collect evidence: If, and only if, it is safe to do so measure the depth and width of the pothole. The depth is especially important to note down, so try and take photos with a measuring tape in the photo.
- Take notes: Note down exactly what happened and when it happened, including the exact location of the pothole, and keep detailed notes about what repairs were needed for your car so you can track the costs.
- Check who to report it to: Find out which local authority, council, or government manages the road where the pothole is located, and head to their website to find a form to claim for pothole damages.
I have lived in New England my entire life (aside for six months after college when I moved to Florida, that didn't last!) For most of my years I have lived in Massachusetts, and for the last five, I have called New Hampshire home.
Potholes have always been prevalent in both states and I just thought it was a problem everywhere.
Apparently, some states have it far worse than others.
The survey also revealed which U.S states have the biggest pothole problems.
This data was gathered by seeing which regions searched for terms around ‘potholes’ most often.
According to the survey, Wyoming is the No. 1 state in the country with the most pothole complaints with 2.34 searches per capita. Vermont came in right behind it at No. 2 with 2.24 searches per capita.
Maine came in at No. 9 with 1.47 searches per capita, and New Hampshire was No. 11 with 1.37 searches per capita.
I'm shocked to not see Massachusetts further up on the list!
Do you feel like your neighborhood has a pothole problem? Is it being addressed or does it just get worse year after year? Let us know!
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