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When you think of driving in California, you might picture the sun, palm trees, and miles of open road. But many of these roads have potholes, and they can be more than just a bumpy ride. Potholes are holes or dips in the pavement caused by water, heavy traffic, and weather changes over time.
If you have ever hit a pothole, you know it can shake your car, damage your tires, or even cause you to lose control. Below, we will talk about the hidden dangers of potholes, why they form, what you can do if one causes an accident or damage, and why you might need the help of an experienced California car accident attorney,
What Are Potholes, and Why Do They Form?
Potholes happen when water seeps into small cracks in the road. Then, cars and trucks drive over these cracks, causing the pavement to break down. Over time, chunks of the road surface fall apart, making holes or craters.
In California, heavy rains and temperature changes can speed up this process, especially after wet winters or storms. Roads in busy cities like Los Angeles can develop thousands of new potholes in a short time, leaving drivers dodging around them or taking unexpected hits.
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Why Are Potholes So Dangerous?
Many people think potholes are just annoying, but they can lead to serious accidents. A pothole can:
- Damage Your Car: Tires, rims, and axles can break or bend. Suspension parts and alignment might also be harmed.
- Cause You to Lose Control: Hitting a deep hole at higher speeds might jerk your steering wheel, making you swerve.
- Lead to Multi-Car Crashes: If you suddenly change lanes or brake to avoid a pothole, other drivers might not have time to react.
- Hurt Motorcyclists and Cyclists: Smaller vehicles like motorcycles and bikes are especially at risk, as a pothole can throw them off balance.
These problems can be worse at night or in bad weather when a puddle might hide how deep a pothole really is.
How Do Potholes Affect California Drivers?
With nearly 400,000 miles of roads, California has a lot of places where potholes can form. Some recent storms have caused roads to flood or crack, and the sudden changes in temperature can break down the pavement further. Cities like Los Angeles reported over 5,600 pothole repairs in just one month after big storms. Despite these efforts, many potholes remain, creating hazards for daily commuters and travelers across the state.
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Can You Get Compensation if a Pothole Damages Your Car?
Yes, it is sometimes possible. You might be able to file a claim with the city, county, or state responsible for road maintenance. However, there are key challenges:
- Proof: You must show the government agency knew or should have known about the pothole and failed to fix it in a reasonable time.
- Documentation: You will likely need photos of the pothole, repair receipts, and any previous complaints made by others.
- Time Limits: Claims against government entities often have short deadlines (like six months from the date of damage).
Many claims are denied because it is hard to prove the agency had enough notice or time to fix the pothole. In Los Angeles, for example, only about 10.9% of pothole damage claims were approved in a certain recent period.
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What About Car Accidents Caused by Potholes?
A pothole can lead to accidents if you lose control or if you swerve and collide with another car. Liability for such accidents can get complicated:
- Government Responsibility: If the pothole is on a public road, you might try to hold the city or state responsible. You must show they were negligent about repairs.
- Driver Actions: If a driver was speeding or not paying attention, they might bear some fault.
- Comparative Negligence: California uses “pure comparative negligence,” which means multiple parties can share fault. For instance, the government might be partly at fault for not fixing the pothole, but the driver might also be partly at fault for driving too fast.
How Do Potholes Hurt Motorcyclists, Bicyclists, and Pedestrians?
- Motorcyclists: Hitting a deep pothole can flip a bike or throw the rider off. At high speeds, the rider has little chance to react, leading to severe injuries.
- Bicyclists: Even a small hole can catch a bicycle tire, causing a sudden stop or crash.
- Pedestrians: They can trip on broken pavement or be forced to step into the street to avoid a sidewalk pothole, risking a collision with cars.
All of these scenarios can lead to serious head injuries, broken bones, or worse.
What Are California Cities Doing About Potholes?
Cities know they need to fix potholes, but repairs can fall behind when storms create holes faster than they can be patched. Some approaches include:
- Quick Patching: Crews fill holes with asphalt mix as a short-term fix. However, these patches may not last long, especially with heavy traffic.
- SB 1 Funding: California’s Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB 1) injects money into road improvements, including pothole repairs.
- Innovative Materials: Some places are testing recycled plastic asphalt or other new solutions to create more durable roads.
Even with more money and new methods, the state’s pothole problems often outpace the repairs, especially after intense rain or storms.
How Does Weather Make Potholes Worse?
Rain causes water to seep under the asphalt, eroding the base. Heavy traffic, especially trucks and buses, then pound the weakened surface until a hole forms. This process speeds up when the weather swings from cold to hot or during repeated storms. So, if you notice more potholes after a wet winter, you are not alone.
Why Contact a California Car Accident Lawyer?
If a pothole caused a crash or serious damage to your vehicle, it may be unclear who’s responsible. A California car accident lawyer can help you:
- Identify the Right Government Agency: Was it a city road or a state highway? Different agencies have different rules.
- Gather Evidence: Photos, witness statements, and past complaints about the same pothole.
- File a Claim on Time: Government claims often have strict deadlines.
- Negotiate or Litigate: Some claims settle quickly; others need a lawsuit.
Our firm can help you navigate insurance issues, figure out if your situation qualifies for a claim, and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Ready to Talk? Call Us Now
Dealing with pothole damage or a pothole-related accident can be overwhelming. You should not have to pay out of pocket if someone else’s negligence caused the road to be unsafe. At BANA LAW, we help people across California get the justice they deserve. Our team understands the laws and can guide you through the steps to file a claim.
We proudly serve all of California and Hablamos Español. Call 855-997-6599 or contact us online to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION. There are NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN, and we advance all case costs. Injuries unravel your life—we piece it back together. Let us stand by your side and help you through this challenging time.
"We use over 100 years of combined legal experience to help our clients get the maximum compensation available under the circumstances."
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN GUARANTEE
