Auto insurance What are your options?

Spring is back, and periods of freeze / thaw causing potholes that turn our roads into true battlefield. During this period, your car is facing unwanted damage: the shock of a wheel that touches a pothole can cause a puncture, damage your wheel, break your suspension and even disrupt the alignment of the car, multiplying fees on repairs and your visits to the garage. Need to make a claim to the city that does not condescend to properly maintain its roads, or having to make a car insurance estimate from your insurance broker? Worse, is that you will need to have the entire bill?

First, know that in Quebec, since 1993, the cities and the provincial government are exempted from liability for damage to tires or suspension caused by road conditions. They are not required to reimburse for property damage to these parts of your car if you hit a pothole. You can still try a lawsuit against the Department of Transportation or a municipality in the event of negligence or carelessness, but few court cases have proven winners for the driver in case law.

Check your car insurance company whether it would be advantageous to make a claim to her. Remember to consider the deductible on your policy. If repair costs are less than your deductible, no need to make a claim. You will have to pay out of pocket maintenance costs.

To avoid these unwanted costs, CAA Quebec offers some tips to minimize damage when you hit a pothole. Do not try to deviate drastically from your lane to avoid a pothole, you could cause much more serious accident. Do not try not to brake hard when approaching a pothole. In addition to risk contact with the motorist in front of you, it is important to know that a locked wheel will endure much more damage than a spinning wheel.

In short, the poor condition of roads is unfortunately part of the Quebec landscape and is more noticeable in the spring. So be careful and adopt safe driving for you, your passengers and other motorists.