Hi, I was driving home last night in Victoria, and I hit a small but VERY deep pothole. This was on a highway going 100km/h, causing my tyre to burst on impact.
Has anyone ever got reimbursed by local or state government for something like this? And if so, how should I handle it?
Cheers
who is they?
They is:
by local or state government
Being VicRoads or Local Council/Shire.
It's only negligence of the concerned road authority if they had previously been notified of the pothole.
It has to be over a specific amount to be able to claim it. I think it is something like $500 and there has to be a lot of evidence and stuff. Plus whether it is a council road or VicRoads.
For the cost of the tyre, it won't fit into the specific amount. It will be a lot of effort even if it is over the $500 amount.
I recall it was like $1400
Yeah, just found it on Google, I thought it was $500, its a lot more!
A new set of rims and tyres, you can get for $1000 depending on your car, so you would have to have expensive wheels to get over $1400.
I'll sell em a new tyre. $1401
Dashcam footage or didn’t happen. It will be hard to prove that the burst tire was because of the pothole on the highway unless you can back it up with some hard evidence. It sucks but there’s not alternates. Also, even if you provide the responsible authority the evidence they can deny your claim. It’s a cruel world.
ms paint diagram also admissible!
holyshit! i can see why the op is so upset!!
Excellent MS Paint effort. 5/7
you got some gold nuggets. cheers
The threshold amount is approximately $1400, indexed annually in accordance with the Consumer Price Index. (Note: Where VicRoads is liable to pay compensation for property damage, the payment is reduced by the threshold amount.
Form is here
What are the wheel/tyre dimensions. There is a good chance you may have buckled or fractured the rim as well.
if your tyre burst then that's the least of your worries. There's no way that an impact at that speed would result in only damage being done to the tyre.
What happened after it burst? At that speed I'm surprised you maintained control of the vehicle and didn't crash.
In any case, government bodies don't just give out money for potholes unless they are shown to be negligent or its a long standing issue, even then it's difficult. So yeah, you don't really have much recourse unless they were notified of it a month ago and didn't do anything.
if your tyre burst then that's the least of your worries. There's no way that an impact at that speed would result in only damage being done to the tyre.
What happened after it burst? At that speed I'm surprised you maintained control of the vehicle and didn't crash.
I hope the OP isn't related to the accident overnight and is trying to get out of something saying it was their tyre and a pot hole……
A landcruiser pulling a a 2000kg trailer versus a Yaris head on. Ouch.
On a 80/100km an hour road…….
Speed or impact….don't know, but…..
Blew a boot at 130MPH… yes MPH back in '78. Not a mark on the Trusty ol' Ford.
Do recall how extremely lucky we were, car and all aboard drove home in one piece on the spare.
First rule of acquisition, once you have their money, never give it back.
Oh wow, your comment is so helpful.
What did you expect from a Ferengi?
Zathras knows. :)
In this scenario (car hit pothole, tyre gets destroyed), who has the money that they're not going to give back?
The government who pinched it to make and maintain the roads.
Govts don't maintain roads. They handball taxpayer $$ to (mainly foreign) contractors who half do the job to guarantee an infinite contract of maintenance. Things like diluting bitumen with too much diesel, so the roads lift on days over 30 C are a fan favourite.
Oh, it's a sov-cit "all taxation is theft" episode
@Crow K: Taxation IS theft. There is no way you get around that FACT. All you can do is try to justify it, sometimes it's 'acceptable' in terms of paying for things necessary for society to run (doesn't make it any less theft though) but most of it isn't as it's wasted on crap we didn't want, use, ask for, or is any use to the people of Australia (as a whole) while potholes go unrepaired.
And brush up on your sov-cit mantra too. :)
@EightImmortals: It's not a fact, it's conspiracy rhetoric.
If you have a loose definition of "theft" in your head and you like to point at things you don't like and call it theft (people taking up too much seat on the bus, cats lying in sunbeams), go wild..the rest of us will be waiting in the real world.
Better still, start calling 000 and letting them know a crime is happening, dob the ATO in for their factual theft. If your stance is correct, the truth is on your side and you won't have any problems. Speedrun to "Find Out".
@Crow K: lols. So basically call the establishment to complain that the establishment is criminal? No wonder you can't see it. :)
@EightImmortals: Oh wait, your very reasonable "fact" relies on assuming multiple government departments are involved in a conspiracy, I totally forgot about that.
Just for fun, what's the prize for "seeing it"? Paying your taxes and obeying the laws just like the rest of us normie sheep only every now and then you give a sly wink to a CCTV camera and go "I'm onto you boys! Can't do shit about it, but my head is full of dangerous facts I love to share with strangers"?
@Crow K: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_as_theft
Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for costs pertaining to the running of society, so if stealing from the people is the only way to allow that to happen then so be it. You do know there was no income tax here before around 1918 don't you? It's the ridiculous AMOUNT we are taxed that pisses me off, mostly because, as I said previously, of the ludicrous amounts they waste. I don't mind working for roads and schools, I do mind working for failed European banks, funding wars that have nothing to do with us, referendums we didn't ask for and PNG football leagues (only proposed at this stage). The list of wasted taxation money is very very long but hopefully you get the point. If not, then please explain why not?
"Just for fun, what's the prize for "seeing it"?"
It's kinda hard to explain. There is a certain type of peace in accepting we are slaves to the state. I noticed it when we visited China a couple of years back, the people were really nice and seemed happy for the most part. They were also under no illusions of the dictatorial and pervasive nature of government in China. I didn't have that conversation with anyone cos I didn't want to get them in trouble (you never know?) but my theory is that because they know their status from birth they are capable of finding their place in the universe at a much earlier age. Whereas in the west we are told from birth that we are 'free' and live in a 'democracy', neither of which is true (as witnessed by our complete lack of control over anything government does) and as we go through life and reality butts up against those cultural beliefs it results in all kinds of confusion and suffering.
Unlike in the Matrix movie metaphor, once you see it you can't be plugged back in to forget it.
Anyway, it's a theory. Blast away. :)
@EightImmortals: I'm not fond of the amount of my taxes that goes to the military compared to, say, education, but I still don't refer to tax as "theft" because I know what words mean, and I value clear communication. Still, I can appreciate people with a lesser grip on the concepts or a desire for some verbal clickbait might use the word in making outrageous claims.
As for "the prize", turns out it's the same identical prize you win if you (not so) secretly think everyone has a clockwork mouse inside their brain running things or that Israel controls the weather with a space laser: you live a normie life following exactly the same rules and obligations as everyone else, but you're a very special boy who loves to share the ultra secret facts in your head, which of course places you on a higher tier than the rest of us, what a very special boy indeed.
I think I'll somehow make do without being the one of the all-wise "awakened".
@Crow K: "As for "the prize", turns out it's the same identical prize you win if you (not so) secretly think everyone has a clockwork mouse inside their brain running things or that Israel controls the weather with a space laser: you live a normie life following exactly the same rules and obligations as everyone else, but you're a very special boy who loves to share the ultra secret facts in your head, which of course places you on a higher tier than the rest of us, what a very special boy indeed."
Problem with that theory is that there may or may not be any evidence for those things in the real world. (If I do ever put up a defence for brain mice or Jewish space lasers then go ahead and argue with whatever evidence I put forward for them). In the meantime please stop bringing up absurdities as a distraction from things I have claimed. On the other hand, if you don't allow the government to steal your earnings they will send their goons around and possibly put you in a cage (i.e. 'theft') that is a FACT, not my imagination. We have ZERO say in what government does or does not do (even if you might get to select who does them), that is a FACT not my imagination.
@EightImmortals: I like how "being put in a cage" is now 'theft' as well.
Is there anything "theft" cannot be? Tune in tomorrow when EightImmorals drops his icecream on the ground and discovers what crime has occured (Spoilers: it's "theft")
@Crow K: Being put in a cage is what happens if you refuse their theft, it's called 'kidnapping', c'mon man it's not that complicated surely?
@EightImmortals: It gets even more sinister than that, if you have a heart attack while walking on a government owned footpath, that's "state sanctioned murder".
@EightImmortals: If you're comfortable using the names for illegal acts (theft, kidnapping) that are so named because they break existing laws, and then equally apply them to processes that follow and enforce existing laws then you are already through the looking glass. Gaslighting wouldn't even begin to describe the delusions you have made for yourself.
@Crow K: Sure thing champ. So why is a particular action 'wrong' when committed by one group or person but perfectly fine if committed by another? Of what value are 'laws' when they are written by lawbreakers? When did any of us get a say on whether any particular thing should be put into 'law'? After all, aren't we a 'democracy'? Doesn't the 'majority rule' in a democracy? You live in a fantasy world, but it's OK, I understand how you got there, the same way that most people did, through the lies and programming of our culture and the silencing of anyone who dares to point out that the emperor has no clothes.
Feel free to have the last word.
@EightImmortals: The "who can really say where and when and how laws actually come about" is a skill issue you can address by reading some actual information that didn't come from Qanon or a TikTok video of a guy sitting in his car and talking into the camera about the new world order for eighteen straight minutes.
The last word is this:
Conspiracy theorists: "(thing that clearly isn't actual theft) is ACTUAL THEFT and that is an Undisputable FACT"
Also conspiracy theorists: "why don't people take my message seriously??"
It's hard to believe how little.we have both changed in a year
too bad 50% off pirelli sale just happened!!
your timing is terrible!
I had that happen and the person behind me stopped… to steal my wheel cap that popped off. The temptation to mow someone down has never been more tempting…. which I couldn't with a busted tyre.
Both were a loss. Shit happens.
Should’ve pictured the number plate.
I was just so dumbfounded. That on its own wouldn't have done anything.
You could report it to the cops to make you feel better :)
You do wonder about some people though don’t ya?
This was discussed last year, and also before that for a shopping centre. The outcome of both was that you will have difficulty claiming for compensation because it's your responsibility to watch the road.
Edit: and earlier this year too.
Been there, done that, no dice.
In Victoria, there's indexed threshold that VicRoads will only contribute after that amount. But even then, you need proof that'd been previously reported and at least two quotes. Send all the information in and they will decide at their discretion. All in all, just pay it and move on.
A pothole on the way back from Mt Buller burst and bent the tyres and wheels of my car and a few other. Vicroads and Police attended but the Vicroads guy said tough luck. Costed me $2000 in total for towing, 2 new wheels and tyres plus alignment. I looked up the form and cbf in the end after reading how they determine payout.
Oh OP…
as @DashCam AKA Rolts said, you'll need to prove that they were negligent in not fixing it.
How Can I Get Reimbursed?
You can't /thread
State government : Hello, how may I direct your call?
OP : I hit a pot hole and my tyre popped.
State government : <Click>
another zinger response.
This has been a solid thread.
Repeating advice from others.
Tyre is the least of your problems.
Make sure the wheel hasn’t been damaged. Which has happened to me in the past.
And no, I didn’t even consider trying for compensation. Just take the hit & pay up.
Well thanks for all the comments guys.
I took it to a tyre place and got them to check it out, rim is not cracked which is good and they fitted a tyre on the spot.
Guess I'll just have watch out in the future.
It's the cold truth brother
Yes.
Similar issue, coming off highway, ramp had very deep pothole (new) and it was raining, with very pool lighting.
Damaged a wheel as well as needed replacement tyre.
Took a while (Qld) but -as there HAD BEEN notification on the relevant department's website, it was shuffled off to the company that is upgrading(?) the main Syd/Bris highway.
It did take several emails, stat decs, as well as signatures of a couple of JP's but it did happen.,
Refund was what it cost me, around $200+
So, don't give up too easily!
The appropriate Authorities will answer all your questions on Compensation or not.
Just out of interest what is the aspect ratio of your tyre? Low aspect one's break regularly from the Yellow Rumble Bars.
How tucked is it that you pay rego fees but when the roads are shit and it ruins your tyres/wheels you have to fork out
You can actually claim reimbursement from local councils and state government, but you need to write a very compelling letter. Dashcam footage also helps. There's no guarantee, but it is possible to get them to pay up depending on the circumstances so it's worth a shot.
They won't reimburse you.