Watch above: A city solicitor outlines how many people in Saskatoon actually get money back after a pothole damages their vehicle. Amber Rockliffe finds out under what circumstances that happens.
SASKATOON – With potholes popping up in nearly every Saskatoon roadway, city crews have a big job ahead of them. Deteriorating roads can wreak havoc on vehicles and cost their owners a hefty sum.
To date, the city has paid out $83,000 to drivers for pothole, sinkhole and utility cut claims submitted in 2014.
This is at a 26 per cent payout rate: almost 500 claims came in and only 129 were compensated.
“Each claim is received and evaluated based on its own merits, based on the facts of the case and we pay out claims that we believe the city is liable to pay out,” said city solicitor Patricia Warwick.
READ MORE: Pothole problems persist in Saskatoon
If you damage your vehicle in a high-traffic road, city officials say you’re more likely to have your claim paid.
“Things that might make us liable would be where we knew or ought to have known of the disrepair, so we knew of the pothole and we didn’t repair it in a reasonable state of time,” Warwick explained.
On average, about $230 was paid out to individuals who submitted a claim last year.
Watch below: See what it takes to make a pothole happen in a road
“We suggest people approach their insurance providers, and have their claim assessed that way,” Warwick explained.
In most pothole claims, SGI said drivers are not found to be at fault but there are some exceptions.
“Let’s say there was a sign up warning them that there were potholes and then they still drove down it anyway – that kind of a situation,” said SGI spokesperson Kelley Brinkworth.
If a driver is found at fault, they’ll receive six demerit points against their record.
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