Jeremy Clarkson broke my wheel (pothole)

[24lemons]

Actually he didn’t but I’ve just driven through a puddle concealing a pothole on Grafton Lane, which was the road Top Gear resurfaced in 24 hours many years ago. This resulted in an immediate flat tyre and I’m hoping it’s just a sliced tyre and not a damaged rim.

The pothole concealed by the puddle was about 7in deep and 2.5 feet in from the side of the road. I’ve reported the pothole on the local government website. I don’t hold out much chance of any contribution toward the cost of replacement tyre but if anyone has had success doing so I’d be interested to hear.

[PositronicRay]

They tackled that road in 2006, fair play sounds a pucker job. Better than many in Warwickshire.

[Voldemort]

The local council will allege a due diligence defence. Ask for copies of all the paperwork they will be relying on. Surveys, inspections of the road in question. Make sure the section of road is clearly identified in the paperwork, that all inspections are clearly dated, and that all the paperwork is signed and the signatures are legible or clearly annotaed [print name] and ask for copies of the qualifications these people hold that make them eligible to certify the road in good condition. Remind them what the cost of a new tyre and/or wheel is. Ask if the pot hole has subsequently been repaired.

I did all this and got the cost of my wheel/tyre refunded.

[24lemons]

Voldemort said:

The local council will allege a due diligence defence. Ask for copies of all the paperwork they will be relying on. Surveys, inspections of the road in question. Make sure the section of road is clearly identified in the paperwork, that all inspections are clearly dated, and that all the paperwork is signed and the signatures are legible or clearly annotaed [print name] and ask for copies of the qualifications these people hold that make them eligible to certify the road in good condition. Remind them what the cost of a new tyre and/or wheel is. Ask if the pot hole has subsequently been repaired.

I did all this and got the cost of my wheel/tyre refunded.

Thank you that’s very helpful

[Deranged Rover]

Wife’s Focus ST failed its MOT a couple of weeks back due to a ‘badly buckled front wheel’. I could point on a map to the approximate location of the damn thing that did it, up in Scotland back in the summer.

We swore, grumbled and then coughed up for a new wheel. Such is life.

[ChocolateFrog]

7in deep, you're lucky it didn't set the airbags off.

[24lemons]

ChocolateFrog said:

7in deep, you're lucky it didn't set the airbags off.

It was a fair old clatter that’s for sure!

[Draxindustries1]

ChocolateFrog said:

7in deep, you're lucky it didn't set the airbags off.

A pot hole won't trigger airbags.
If the hole is big enough to swallow the whole car then yes, when the front makes contact they'll trigger..

[Glenn63]

There was a large one on the M6 near Wigan last year which I didn’t see but the crash was almighty and I was in a hgv! Air seat sent me into the stratosphere like a Jack in the box.
Couple 100 yards later there was around 10-15 cars all pulled up on the hard shoulder assuming with flat tyres or damage.
Funny thing a few days earlier I had seen it be ‘patch fixed’ obviously not very well.

[Its Just Adz]

Glenn63 said:

There was a large one on the M6 near Wigan last year which I didn’t see but the crash was almighty and I was in a hgv! Air seat sent me into the stratosphere like a Jack in the box.
Couple 100 yards later there was around 10-15 cars all pulled up on the hard shoulder assuming with flat tyres or damage.
Funny thing a few days earlier I had seen it be ‘patch fixed’ obviously not very well.

I hit one on Friday in the truck, it was just after you come off that tall bridge between 27 and 26.
It was a hell of an impact and Im really surprised it didn't ruin a tyre.

[Rolls-canardley]

Glenn63 said:

There was a large one on the M6 near Wigan last year which I didn’t see but the crash was almighty and I was in a hgv! Air seat sent me into the stratosphere like a Jack in the box.
Couple 100 yards later there was around 10-15 cars all pulled up on the hard shoulder assuming with flat tyres or damage.
Funny thing a few days earlier I had seen it be ‘patch fixed’ obviously not very well.

No worries, I’m sure that with all the road fund licensing fees collected, all the potholes across the U.K will be rectified ASAP.........

[nebpor]

Deranged Rover said:

Wife’s Focus ST failed its MOT a couple of weeks back due to a ‘badly buckled front wheel’. I could point on a map to the approximate location of the damn thing that did it, up in Scotland back in the summer.

We swore, grumbled and then coughed up for a new wheel. Such is life.

It’s just one of the small, but satisfying things us Scots do to English visitors as a punishment for starving us of funds

The Welsh and Cornish are allowed to claim a refund at the border

[Rolls-canardley]

nebpor said:

It’s just one of the small, but satisfying things us Scots do to English visitors as a punishment for starving us of funds

The Welsh and Cornish are allowed to claim a refund at the border

I’m English and we do chuckle about the Scots......but they can never seem to accept being a conquered nation!

Edited by Rolls-canardley on Sunday 8th January 19:28

[Koyaanisqatsi]

24lemons said:

Actually he didn’t but I’ve just driven through a puddle concealing a pothole on Grafton Lane, which was the road Top Gear resurfaced in 24 hours many years ago. This resulted in an immediate flat tyre and I’m hoping it’s just a sliced tyre and not a damaged rim.

The pothole concealed by the puddle was about 7in deep and 2.5 feet in from the side of the road. I’ve reported the pothole on the local government website. I don’t hold out much chance of any contribution toward the cost of replacement tyre but if anyone has had success doing so I’d be interested to hear.

It's a bit of a paradox in that they will almost never pay out if they aren't aware of the road defect already. If they are aware of a surface defect and somebody then drives through it and sustains damage then there is more of a case because they haven't yet done anything about it.

I blew out both offside tyres on a monumental rutted patch on the M25 last year. and reported it as soon as I could using via the Highways England reporter tool thing online. Claim was dismissed because of that above reason. The subsequent repair report they sent shows that they dispatched and repaired it within 90 minutes of me reporting it, which almost entirely eliminates the possibility of a motorist running through an unrepaired pothole that they are already aware of, therefore substantially minimising the claims they have to pay.

Good luck.

[Deranged Rover]

nebpor said:

It’s just one of the small, but satisfying things us Scots do to English visitors as a punishment for starving us of funds

The Welsh and Cornish are allowed to claim a refund at the border

This seems reasonable, as I do consume a fair amount of your whisky. The decent single malt stuff as well, not the drain-cleaner with "bells" written on the bottle.

However, it was actually Mrs D.R who was driving and it's her car that was damaged. She's Irish, so how does this affect her? I'm hoping there's some sort of Celtic solidarity at work here, so i can send you the bill for the new wheel to sort out for her if you like?

[nebpor]

Deranged Rover said:

This seems reasonable, as I do consume a fair amount of your whisky. The decent single malt stuff as well, not the drain-cleaner with "bells" written on the bottle.

However, it was actually Mrs D.R who was driving and it's her car that was damaged. She's Irish, so how does this affect her? I'm hoping there's some sort of Celtic solidarity at work here, so i can send you the bill for the new wheel to sort out for her if you like?

Please pass our abject apologies on - next time she's over she can get three free prescriptions and a degree of her choice

[nismo48]

Draxindustries1 said:

ChocolateFrog said:

7in deep, you're lucky it didn't set the airbags off.

A pot hole won't trigger airbags.
If the hole is big enough to swallow the whole car then yes, when the front makes contact they'll trigger..

[24lemons]

Fortunately damage was confined to the tyre
And not the wheel rim. Both front tyres now replaced and I’m back on the road. I’ll look at putting in a claim but I won’t hold my breath..

[Its Just Adz]

Its Just Adz said:

I hit one on Friday in the truck, it was just after you come off that tall bridge between 27 and 26.
It was a hell of an impact and Im really surprised it didn't ruin a tyre.

Yesterday there was 4 vehicles with punctures after this hole, all lined up on hard shoulder.

This afternoon, 2 lanes closed for emergency repairs.

[Glenn63]

Its Just Adz said:

Its Just Adz said:

I hit one on Friday in the truck, it was just after you come off that tall bridge between 27 and 26.
It was a hell of an impact and Im really surprised it didn't ruin a tyre.

Yesterday there was 4 vehicles with punctures after this hole, all lined up on hard shoulder.

This afternoon, 2 lanes closed for emergency repairs.

Yep yet another monster hole on that bridge, seems to be a regular occurrence on there after they did some road works and resurfaced it a few years back. Was down to 1 lane on Wednesday and finally sorted it yesterday evening.