PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Timothy Taylor, a Portland, Oregon resident, could hear the thud of cars hitting the pothole outside his home. He could sympathize with the drivers, too, since he had to avoid his own neighborhood pothole, but another one damaged his car’s suspension, costing him $1,000.
“It’s not a fun way to start your morning,” Taylor said.
Potholes are a common problem, and the city of Portland says it’s seen a lot more damage in the last year due to increased rainfall and freezing/thawing cycles. The city also says that its resources are stretched thin.
Like Taylor, other residents have experienced car damage as a result of potholes. According to the city’s website, the city received 5,500 pothole repair requests in 2023, compared to 3,600 in 2022.
“We know we need to find funding and find a system where we can address our streets that we need to as well,” said Rebecca Coffee, the neighborhood involvement manager for the local organization of Sellwood-Moreland.
Pothole incidents are the leading cause for auto damage claims.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, there was an increase in pothole damage claims in the year 2022, with 6% being in 2023. The number of pothole damage claims rose to 10.5% in 2022 compared to 9.5% in 2021.
In one instance, a person with the last name of Koch who says they have a car with pothole damage will receive $3,000 in damages. Repair costs for the city will amount to about $500,000 in 2024, up from $400,000 in 2023.
The city’s public works department is addressing these concerns.
“It’s really about making sure the public is safe on the road,” said Deputy Director of Public Works, Nick H. “And we are doing it to fix the vehicles, to inspect them and make sure they are safe.”
The main challenge for Portland has been tackling the increasing number of complaints.
Portland is working to ensure that the drivers will receive the adequate compensation for the damage done on their cars.
However, the number of claims for the damage has gone down.
More local residents can file car damage claims with Oregon Department of Transportation.
