Claims for damage to vehicles due to potholes is increasing. But why is this?
There are several reasons. Firstly, the number of potholes on UK roads has been steadily increasing in recent years, due to factors such as weather, aging infrastructure, and funding cuts. This has led to a rise in the number of vehicles being damaged by potholes, and subsequently, an increase in the number of claims being made.
Secondly, there has been a growing awareness among drivers of their right to claim compensation for pothole damage. The AA for example, are providing advice on how to claim, and with the rise of social media and online forums, drivers are more likely to share information about their experiences with potholes and the claims process. This has increased awareness and uptake of pothole claims.
Finally, the cost of vehicle repairs has risen by 40% from 2018 – 2022 so repairing vehicle damage caused by potholes is substantial, particularly for more serious damage such as bent wheels, damaged suspension, and punctured tyres. So, for many drivers, making a claim for compensation is the only way to recoup the costs.
Potholes on British roads.
Potholes are a common problem in Britain’s roads, particularly during the winter months when freezing temperatures can cause water to seep into cracks in the road surface, which then expands and contracts as it freezes and thaws, leading to the formation of potholes.
The issue of potholes has been a longstanding concern in the UK, with reports suggesting that the problem is costing drivers billions of pounds in repairs and causing significant damage to vehicles. According to recent estimates, there are around two million potholes on UK roads, and it would take over a decade to repair them all at the current rate of funding.
Local councils are responsible for maintaining the roads in their area, including repairing potholes. However, many councils are struggling to keep up with the demand for repairs, with limited budgets and competing demands on their resources.
So, managing pothole claims has become an increasingly frustrating and important issue for both drivers and local councils. It is important for local councils to manage claims in a fair and efficient manner, and ensure that potholes are repaired quickly and effectively to minimize the risk of damage to vehicles, and minimise the likelihood of multiple claims coming from a specific pothole.
Pothole claims management with ClaimControl.
ClaimControl is designed to streamline the claims management process and help organisations manage their claims more efficiently. Some of the key benefits of using ClaimControl include:
Improved efficiency: ClaimControl claims management software can help automate many of the manual processes associated with claims management, such as data entry, document management, and communication with customers and stakeholders. This can reduce the time and effort required to process claims, improving overall efficiency.
Enhanced accuracy: With automated data entry and claim tracking features, ClaimControl can help to reduce the risk of errors and ensure that claims are processed accurately.
Increased visibility/fraud detection: by providing real-time data, analytics, and reporting, ClaimControl can provide insight to carry out root cause analysis, fraud detection, and generally improve visibility and identify anomalies. ClaimControl also integrates with the DVLA which can again assist with fraud detection.
Geo location/integration with Google Maps: this feature will really help this situation as claims around a particular pothole can be accurately pinpointed to a specific location, and a heat map produced so that works can be directed to the areas where the potholes are causing most problems.
Better communication: ClaimControl can improve communication between insurers, customers, internal staff, and other stakeholders involved in the claims process and issues relating to the potholes. This can reduce misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is kept up to date on the status of each claim.
Cost savings: By reducing the time and effort required to process claims, and by being able to pinpoint pothole hot spots and make repairs quickly, ClaimControl will save you money.
Pothole claims management can be made easier with ClaimControl. Furthermore, the Geo location and heat map functionality can enable repairs and maintenance to be focused on the areas resulting in the most claims. Directing limited resourced to the exact spots where the most claims are being made.
Alphatec’s main aim is to provide software SOLUTIONS that improve processes, communication, and reduce the likelihood of data/communication silos, all of which can support better pothole claims management.
The best way to discover how our software can solve this frustrating issue is to request a demo.
We look forward to helping you.
