Compensation for pothole damage

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - WAVY.com continues to help you steer clear of potholes. But sometimes, running over a nasty crater is unavoidable.

Driving around Hampton Roads these days could be hazardous to your car. The change in temperature is causing potholes to form quicker than they can be filled.

"You come around a corner you've been driving on every day, and you don't even think there's going to be a huge pothole," said Norfolk resident Danny Lawrence.

Lawrence became a pothole victim last week on Interstate 64.

"I hit it and I heard a loud thud in my front tire," Lawrence added.

Lawrence, an Army veteran turned college student, soon felt his car start to vibrate.

"I got off the interstate at Witchduck and this bend was here," Lawrence said pointing at his rim." Right here, there was a puncture hole and up here is where it blew out the tire."

Mechanics told Lawrence he had to replace not one, but three tires, which he blames on that darn pothole.

"I'm pretty much dependent on going to school, so shelling out almost $300 puts a strain on the monthly income," Lawrence said.

VDOT officials say drivers could be compensated for their damage, but only after a claim is filed.

"The claims are submitted to the contractor," said VDOT spokesperson Lauren Hansen. "The report would be sent to [the] contractor who would then research and investigate the claim."

VDOT tells WAVY.com it contracts two companies to fill potholes in Hampton Roads. Whether drivers can be reimbursed for damage depends on whether or not the pothole was previously reported.

"If the pothole has been reported and it has not been fixed and it's a safety hazard, then the contractor could potentially be liable for replacing tires or fixing damage on the vehicle," Hansen added.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) established a Customer Service Center to take drivers' calls and answer transportation questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Drivers can call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report potholes. Drivers can call the same number to report any damage done by a pothole.