Potholes on roads can be a source of annoyance for many motorists and pedestrians, but if they cause damage to vehicles or people, they become a serious problem. Often the responsibility falls on the Municipality, which has the obligation to keep the roads in good condition and safety. But how can you report a pothole to the City? In this article, we will explain when to report the City, how to identify the hole and collect the necessary evidence for the complaint, how to submit the complaint to the City and what documents to attach, what happens after the complaint and finally how to obtain compensation for the damage caused by the road
hole.
Table of Contents:
When to report a pothole to the City?
First of all, it’s important to understand when to report a pothole to the City. In general, you can report the City when the hole is large enough to cause damage to vehicles or people, or when it is not repaired within a certain period of time. Furthermore, the responsibility of the Municipality may vary depending on the characteristics of the road where the hole is located: for example, if it is a state road, the competence lies with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. It is therefore important to pay attention to the size and danger of the hole, but also to its location and the type of road on which it is located. In case of doubt, you can consult the website of your municipality or contact the technical department for more precise information.
How to identify the hole and collect the necessary evidence for the complaint.
To report a hole to the City, it is necessary to identify it and collect the necessary evidence. First, you need to look for a hole in the road, paying attention to your safety: it’s important not to park near the hole or interrupt traffic to take pictures. Once the hole has been identified, it is advisable to photograph or film it from different angles and measure its size with a meter or ruler. In addition, it is useful to mark the exact location of the hole on the road with a chalk or marker. Finally, if there are witnesses to the accident caused by the hole (for example other motorists or pedestrians), you can ask them to provide a written statement of the events. All of this evidence will be useful for submitting a full and documented complaint to the City
.
How to file a complaint with the City Council and what documents to attach.
Once the necessary evidence has been collected, it is possible to submit the complaint to the City. The easiest and fastest way is to do it online, through the website of your municipality or through the appropriate app. Alternatively, you can deliver the complaint to the City Council’s technical office in person or by registered mail with a return receipt. In the complaint, it is important to specify the exact position of the hole, its size and the date on which it was detected, attaching all the evidence collected (photos, videos, measurements). In addition, you must provide your personal data (name, surname, address) and those of the vehicle involved (make, model and license plate). Once the complaint has been submitted, the City has the obligation to respond within a certain period of time (usually 30 days), informing whether it accepts or rejects the request to repair the hole
.
What happens after the complaint: times and methods of intervention by the Municipality.
After filing the complaint, the City is required to verify the reported situation and to intervene to repair the hole. Intervention times may vary depending on the type of road and the severity of the damage: in general, potholes on busiest roads are repaired within a few days, while those on less busy roads may take a little longer. If the City does not intervene within the expected time, it is possible to file a complaint with the Complaints Office of the Municipality itself or to go to the Judicial Authority. In the event of an accident or damage caused by the hole, it is advisable to request compensation from the City, providing all the evidence collected and documents relating to the costs incurred (such as bills for car repair or medical
expenses).
How to get compensation for damage caused by a pothole in the road.
If the road bump caused damage to the vehicle or people, you can request compensation for the damage from the City. To do this, it is necessary to submit a written request to the Municipality itself, attaching all the evidence of the damage suffered (photos, videos, appraisals, invoices). The request must contain a detailed description of the event, indicating the date, time and place where it occurred. In addition, it is necessary to specify the damage suffered and the related repair or care costs. The City has the obligation to compensate for the damage within a certain period of time (usually 60 days), except in special cases of dispute or contestation of the request. In these cases, it is possible to contact the Judicial Authority to obtain compensation for the damage caused by the road hole
.
In conclusion, reporting a pothole to the City Council is a right of citizens who have suffered damage or inconvenience due to lack of road maintenance. It is important to identify the hole, collect the necessary evidence and submit a full and documented complaint to the City. After the complaint, the City has the obligation to verify the reported situation and intervene to repair the hole. In the event that the hole has caused damage to the vehicle or to people, it is possible to request compensation for the damage from the City. However, it should be remembered that the City Council’s intervention times may vary depending on the seriousness of the damage and the type of road. Therefore, it is important to be patient and follow the procedures provided by law to obtain the right compensation for damage suffered due to potholes.
