Home / Blog / How to Handle Vehicle Damage Caused by Defective Roadways

Defects in the roads we drive on have been listed as the cause of numerous Birmingham car accidents and thousands of dollars in vehicle damage. But many citizens continue to question who is liable for such damages and how liability is determined.

An article from FOX 6 News examined these questions when looking into the case of an Alabama woman whose vehicle was seriously damaged after driving over a pothole. The victim claimed she struck the hole on Minor Parkway in December 2013, causing around $600 in damages to her tire and wheel and knocking the vehicle’s front end out of alignment.

The woman began the process of attempting to hold the city, county, and even state, responsible for the damages, but was passed to another agency each time. With some assistance though, the City of Birmingham determined the area where the damage occurred was within the city’s borders and reimbursed the woman for her loss.

It’s important to know there are several key factors to consider when attempting to hold municipalities or government entities responsible for vehicle damages caused by a defective roadways. They include:

  • Contacting the correct authority– Any vehicle damage that is caused by faults in a public roadway should be reported to the entity that maintains the road immediately.
  • Reporting the incident– There are statutes of limitations on vehicle damage claims, so letting the responsible party know about the damage as soon as possible is crucial.
  • Documenting the case- Take plenty of pictures of the damage and hold on to any receipts of expenses incurred as a result of your vehicle’s damage.

At Norris Injury Lawyers, our team of Birmingham personal injury attorneys know how annoying vehicle damage can be and hope these tips help you if a faulty roadway leaves your vehicle broken down.