As a driver, you would have taken the necessary lessons and measures to ensure that you are the most cautious driver possible. There are many things on our roads that can cause a motor vehicle accident, such as hitting into another vehicle, or the pavement and so forth. Unfortunately, there can be danger lurking even when you are driving obliviously on the straight and narrow. And this danger comes in the form of a pothole.
Potholes are when there is a disruption in the surface of the roadway, caused by cracks in the fatigued cement which grow larger over time, as chunks of the tar wear away. The growth of a pothole can be attributed to heavy vehicles passing over the area, and also excessive rains and snow. Sun beating down on the area can also aggravate the issue. Excessive underground blasting in the nearby area has also been known to contribute to the formation of potholes. Potholes can grow to quite a few feet in width, as well as being a few inches deep. Fatigued cement on busy roads can crack easily under the constant wear and tear of cars, making larger cities more notorious for their existence.
These infamous landmines in the road can cause devastating damage to the tires and wheel suspension of a motor vehicle. Hitting a pothole at a high speed can completely wreck the alignment of your motor vehicle, not to mention the fact that it can puncture your tires. Even if your tires are not completely flattened by the impact, they could be damaged. Damaged tires are more at risk for having a blow out later on, which can be very dangerous '" depending on the speed you are driving. The cost of repairs for wheel suspension and your tires can cost quite a bit of money. Naturally, as it is car related, you would hope that it would be covered by the car insurance.
This, unfortunately, is not always the case! Most auto insurance policies will not automatically have coverage for damage to your motor vehicle caused by potholes. This means that you will be saddled with the cost of repairs for the damages caused by the pothole. If you are lucky, and have a lot of time, you can try and claim from your city's road fund, although this is usually more trouble than its worth. Alternatively, from the start you can ensure that your auto insurance policy covers damage to your vehicle caused by potholes, and other unexpected things on the road such as unmarked traffic calming measures, rocks in the road and so forth. This may cost you a bit more, but it is imperative, as you never know when you could hit one of these hidden disasters.
