Photo via shoopins.com
A recent post about an incident took the internet by storm when our YB Menteri Khairy Jamaluddin posted a few pictures of the injuries he sustained after an accident he encountered when he ran through a pothole on his bicycle on the 27th Dec. After seeing comments posted by netizens, JKR (Jabatan Kerja Raya) posted a public apology to address the issue about the poor road conditions in Malaysia.
Did you know that hitting a pothole is considered a collision?
A pothole damage claim is a single-car accident, which is filed as an at-fault accident by your insurance carrier. Which brings us to the main question, can I claim insurance for vehicle damage and personal injuries if a pothole causes an accident?
Photo via: theagentinsurance.com
The answer is yes!
Pothole damages are covered, provided you have collision coverage. Collision coverage is an optional portion of a standard auto insurance policy that covers damage to cars resulting from a collision with an object e.g. Lamp post, guard rail or potholes. Many motor insurance companies like Allianz, MotorTakaful and Axa cover pothole damages, also keep in mind that others don’t. So, just make sure that you double-check your policy with your insurance agent.
What to do next?
Take photos of any visible damage and the pothole and write down where the pothole is located. Next, make a police report at your nearest police station about the accident. Contact your insurance company’s claims service line right away so they can tell you what to do next and help you coordinate repairs. If you need to have your vehicle towed, your insurer can help with that as well.
Photo via: wisegeek.com
Don’t take pothole damages lightly!
You should never underestimate the damages sustained by potholes. While most modern vehicles are built to withstand rough road conditions, hitting a very large or deep pothole at a high speed or with inadequate tire pressure can damage your steering, suspension, or alignment systems. Some signs of post-pothole damage might include a pulling sensation in one direction, dents in your tires or rims, or low tire pressure. In the worst-case scenario, hitting a pothole could cause you to lose control of your vehicle end up in a collision with another car on the road.
Be safe on the roads!
By: Rayelene Chin
