City Driver Seeks Compensation for Vehicle Damage from Pothole
Los Angeles City Faces Delay Over $7,000 Pothole Damage Claim
A resident of Los Angeles is alleging that the city is stalling on a $7,000 claim for damages incurred after his car struck a pothole.
Michael Riley contends that the city is responsible for substantial repair costs following an incident on Laurel Canyon Boulevard that occurred shortly after he had his vehicle serviced in October 2024.
Riley describes the moment of impact: "Bam! I hit a pothole so hard it ripped the steering wheel out of my hand and threw me into the left lane." After pulling over to inspect the damage, he discovered that the bumper and both passenger-side wheels needed replacement.
In his effort to resolve the situation, Riley reported the pothole to the city, only to be informed that it had been reported more than two weeks prior to his incident. "In my case, they had 18-19 days to repair it after it had been reported and not until after the second report did they fix it," he noted.
Following his initial report, Riley engaged with the City Attorney’s office, which requested further documentation, including photographs and an explanation of the damage. Despite submitting the required information in October, he claims to have received no response or compensation. "I want to get this resolved. I think a sharp attorney should pick this up, and there should be a class action lawsuit," he expressed.
Riley emphasizes his desire for improvement in road maintenance, questioning the city’s accountability: "We pay our property taxes and our automobile registration taxes to keep these roads safe; what’s the deal?"
In response to the claims, the city attorney’s office stated that the case remains under investigation.
