Potholes and Personal Injury

A pothole is a type of defect on the surface of the road where a part of the road has deteriorated due to weathering and time. Over time, ice can make a pothole bigger and deeper as the pavement expands with temperature change. The pothole absorbs water, and when it becomes cold enough, the water will freeze, making the cracks in the pavement larger. Then, when warmer temperatures rise, the ice thaws, leaving the pothole bigger and deeper. These potholes represent a great risk to drivers on the road and to pedestrians because they are often large, deep holes that people must traverse over.

Road maintenance of public street is the responsibility of the state. The liability of streets on private land is completely different, as are the expectation of maintenance.

The Risks of Potholes

Potholes are dangerous because they make roads uneven. Potholes can cause damage to you and your car. It is often quite easy to miss a pothole, especially when it is dark or during inclement weather. While it is cold, potholes can be filled with snow, causing them to be completely hidden from view. Drivers can therefore drive over these potholes at normal speeds and be completely taken aback by the initial shock. Even a shallow pothole can cause damage to your tires and suspension and cause an accident if the car becomes stalled within the pothole.

These may not sound incredibly risky, but even the smallest pothole can cause a significant accident. For example, if a driver swerves to miss a pothole and crashes into a roadside tree. Most people think only of property damage caused by potholes, but it can also cause severe personal injury and even death.