Michigan Roads and Potholes

Anyone in Michigan can attest to how bad potholes can become. Over the winter months, streets are constantly eroding, leading to inevitable holes on paved roads. However, this year, the Michigan roads are the worst that people have experienced. To the point of Governor Whitmer having to pass an executive order to speed up the process of filling these dangerous holes. 

In fact, I am a victim of this year’s potholes. The road that house resides has many of these potholes. As a result, I was always extremely cautious. However, it did not save me. As I was driving to work one morning, my tire pressure alert came on and was followed by an unusual sound. Although my car was not shaking, my instinct told me to pull into a gas station. To my horror, my tire had been punctured. Not by glass or a nail though. The responsible party was a piece of pavement that was stuck in my tire.  The moment it happened, the overwhelming dread of what to do came over me. 

Fortunately for you, this article will discuss your insurance options and other ways to get your pothole damaged tires and car taken care of. 

Michigan Potholes

According to current news, Michigan residents are experiencing hundreds in damages from potholes in 2022. This is not anything new. In fact, Michigan is in third for the worst potholes in the country, following Washington and Indiana. The reason why potholes are a major problem in Michigan is because of our winter season. Potholes are created through the seasonal freeze-thaw cycle. When snow and ice melts, it sinks into the pavement.

When the moisture freezes, it causes expansion. Once the ice and snow thaws again, it leaves a gap within the pavement. When cars begin to drive over them, the weakn pavements break, resulting in potholes. However, what options do you have to avoid damage? 

Tips to Avoid Pothole Damage

Considering potholes are a seasonal occurrence and take time and money to fix, migrating your chance of pothole damage?

The Michigan Department of Transportation has an entire page dedicated to helping locals avoid potential damages while potholes are being fixed. These tips include: 

• Extra Vigilance

• Vehicle Maintenance

• Find a Technique to Drive Over Potholes

Despite these recommendations, pothole damage is still possible. While the most common type of damage is to your tire and wheels, you can face severe car damage as well. Some pothole incidents can lead to steering alignment issues, broken suspensions, and other problems. So, what do you do then? Does auto insurance cover pothole damage? 

Will Insurance Cover Pothole Damage?

Repairs from pothole damage are not cheap. According to the AAA Pothole Fact Sheet, the average pothole repair can cost $306. Yet, there is still a percent that deals with repair damage over $1,000. 

The Michigan Department of Transportation does offer options. For those fortunate enough to have less than $1,000, you can file online. However, if the damage is severe, you have to file a lawsuit. Even then, you need to repair your car in a timely manner. So, what about your insurance?

Fortunately, most car insurance can cover pothole damage. As long as you have the right police, you can protect and repair a car after a pothole accident. This is because pothole accidents fall under single-car collisions. While you will have to pay a deductible, it is better to wait to see if you will get compensated. However, you need to find the right coverage. That is where GBK Insurance comes in!