Due to the unprecedented heavy rain, potholes where asphalt roads are dented all over the streets of San Francisco have increased significantly, requiring special attention.
San Francisco Public Works said it repaired 1,585 potholes in the month of February. This is an increase of 500 cases from January and three times more than the dry season average. SF pothole reports can be made at sf311.org or by calling 311.
“A pothole is a phenomenon that occurs when rainwater seeps through a paved road gap and puts pressure on the weakened ground, and a sinkhole is a collapse of the weakened ground,” said Rachel Gordon, spokesperson for the SF Public Works Department. The road collapses into a large puddle or hole that forms.” He said that during the dry season, there are 600 repair requests per month, which jumped to 793 in December and 1,056 in January. As of the 6th, 233 potholes had been repaired in March.
Caltrans said that since last January, when heavy rains were severe in the winter, more than 7,300 potholes have been repaired in the Bay Area. As a result, recently, vehicles with damaged tires due to potholes are flocking to car repair shops in the Bay Area.
According to a study by the American Automobile Association (AAA), 1 in 10 drivers in 2021 suffered car damage requiring repair due to a pothole, with an average repair cost of about $600. AAA reported that there were not a few cases where it cost more than $1,000. To prevent pothole damage, AAA advised maintaining proper tire air pressure, maintaining sufficient distance from the vehicle in front while driving, and driving slowly.
Compensation for pothole or sinkhole damage can be claimed through an insurance company after checking your vehicle insurance or against a public institution.
An official from Caltrans said that it is possible to apply for compensation in case of vehicle loss due to a pothole, and that 363 people in 2021 and 581 people in 2022 claimed compensation. This year, 280 claims were received in two months of unprecedented heavy rain. Claims may be made on the website https://dot.ca.gov/online-services/submit-damage-claim. It covers property damage of less than $10,000 and must be completed and filed with your local claims office on Form LD-0274.