Don’t Get Your Hopes Up: Lansing Hasn’t Paid For THIS Kind Of Damage Since 2007
Potholes. We're no strangers to them here in Michigan. In fact, I've memorized the potholes on my route home from work because they've gotten so bad. And they're only going to get worse from here. And here's something else to keep in mind when it comes to potholes: If you hit one and your car gets damaged, don't hold out hope that you'll see any money from the City of Lansing.
According to the Lansing State Journal, The City of Lansing is very unlikely to pay for any damage done to your car by the hitting a pothole. In fact, during the 2017 fiscal year, 15 pothole damage claims were submitted averaging just under $500... and exactly $0 was paid out. That seems to be the usual though... "Less than 1% of the 284 pothole claims submitted to the city between 1999 and 2017 were granted according to a log provided to the LSJ."
If you file a claim, you're very unlikely to see any money for a few reasons.
- City officials must have "actual or constructive notice" of said pothole before the accident occurs.
- The City must be given enough time after notice of the pothole to then fill it. Usually 30 days.
- Most claims are denied because the government is protected under immunity laws.
To read more about Lansing potholes, click here. And if you'd like to report a pothole, you can call the 24-hour Lansing Public Service Department hotline at (517) 483-4455, or visit their website by clicking here. And safe travels!