For all those people who have had any damage to their vehicle due to a pothole, here is my experience:
On March 4, 2021 at 9:30 PM, while travelling southbound on 9th Ave NW and at the corner of Edmonton Street, we hit a pothole that ripped the sidewall out of the tire. I returned to where the pothole was with a tape measure at 8:15 the next morning and the pothole measured 6 feet long by 2 feet wide with a depth that couldn’t be measured due to a freeze from the plus degrees we had the evening of the incident.
I filed a claim through the City’s Insurance Company (ClaimsPro) and was denied the $300.00 dollar tire replacement. I then appealed the Adjuster’s decision to the Manager of ClaimsPro to which I was denied again. I sent a letter to the Mayor on this and I was told the only option that was left was Small Claims Court.
Why was my claim denied, you ask? Well here is the explanation from the Insurance Company. Because I had the car tire damaged and I turned it in AND there were no other claims or calls PRIOR to mine, the claim is denied. Had someone “called” the City about this pothole PRIOR to my tire damage, then it would be payable because the City would have been advised of it. I asked the Insurance Company (ClaimsPro) if I drove into a sink hole would the City’s Insurance pay for the damage to which they replied not unless it was reported earlier.
What I have learned from this episode is this, should your car get damaged from a pothole, make sure someone else advises the City FIRST, then your claim will be paid. Call a friend first rather than the City when your vehicle gets damaged, then make that “second” call to the City and then your vehicle damage will be paid.
Respectfully Submitted
Bill Pitts
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
