JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Potholes are the worst. It’s a fact that’s not up for debate.
The annoying, and sometimes costly, holes in the road have been an issue for drivers since forever and sometimes they are hard to avoid.
On County Road 210 in St. Johns County, a pothole on Stonehurst Parkway on Tuesday caused traffic issues when crews had to shut down a lane.
News4JAX has been hearing from viewers about potholes all across town, at the St. Johns Town Center, in Riverside and on the north and westside of Jacksonville.
“103rd St between I-295 and Ricker Rd, especially on the far-right lane. Had to get an alignment early and I know the roads in Jacksonville are the culprit,” one local driver said.
One viewer directed us to Park Street in Riverside where the road is in rough shape.
A few blocks away on Post Street, News4JAX found FDOT crews repairing massive potholes. Most people News4JAX talked to described the stretch of road as one big headache.
“It’s like driving drunk on some of the streets even before we had all the rain. Dodging the potholes on Park Street in Riverside has been a long-standing joke,” one viewer wrote.
A 2022 AAA survey found that 1 in 10 drivers sustained vehicle damage significant enough to warrant a repair after hitting a pothole. With an average price tag of almost $600 per repair, damage caused by potholes cost drivers $26.5 billion in just one calendar year, AAA said.
One of the causes of potholes is rain, and Northeast Florida has had plenty of that lately, so the possibility of more potholes popping up is real.
So who’s responsible for the damage if you hit a pothole?
The short answer is you if you want the damage fixed quickly. In most cases, your car insurance policy will cover the damages after your deductible is paid.
But if you think the city or state should be held responsible, there’s also an option to file a damage claim with the city of Jacksonville or the Florida Department of Transportation. There’s no guarantee in these cases that the damage will be covered.
Most importantly:
- Take pictures of EVERYTHING
- And file a police report for a record of the incident
- Then you can file a claim
If a pothole on a city-owned street got you, call 630-City to file a claim. If it was a state highway, go to FDOT.com/legal.
In both cases, each claim is unique and will require an independent investigation. So, you could be waiting weeks if not months for an answer to your claim which can always be denied.
Are potholes plaguing you in your neighborhood? Fill out the form below and tell us. We may reach out to you or use your response on air or online.