Commuters weaving down Tri-City streets to avoid potholes is a common sight these days.
But if you drive into one and blow a tire, don't expect to get any money out of the municipality for your loss.
Under the province's Local Government Act, municipalities are generally not liable for damages that arise from a breakdown in a road.
For it to be held liable, a municipality must be found negligent in its road maintenance and "the city cannot entertain claims for compensation in a case where there is absence of negligence," said Ian Wind, Port Coquitlam's purchasing manager.
Since early December, when the snow storms and freezing weather began, PoCo has seen a spike in the number of inquires and requests related to vehicle damage, he said.
Port Moody, too, has had four formal pothole complaints related to tire and/or rim damage that have been forwarded to the city's insurance provider, the Municipal Insurance Association of B.C., said city spokesperson Rosemary Lodge.
And in Coquitlam, 15 claims about poor road conditions have been made since Dec. 1.
"Potholes are often not the result of snow itself but the freezing and thawing cycle accompanied by any winter storm (snow or otherwise) so there is no way to determine if the potholes were due to a snow storm specifically," communications manager Kathleen Vincent noted.
Wind suggests commuters seek advice about coverage their from their personal car insurance provider. And he recommends if drivers see a pothole to immediately contact the city for repair:
• Coquitlam: call 604-927-3500 or email [email protected];
• Port Coquitlam: call 604-927-5498 or email [email protected];
• Port Moody: call 604-469-4574.
