I already spoke with a police officer who suggest I make an insurance claim. This will only raise my premium. Help!
2007-06-15 16:39:34 · 11 answers · asked by bill b 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Contact the District of Columbia Department of Transportation to make a claim for damages.
By Mail
District Dept. of Transportation
Government of the District of Columbia
Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center
2000 14th Street NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20009
By Web
Email:
ddot@dc.gov
Website:
http://ddot.dc.gov
By Phone
Phone: (202) 673-6813
Fax: (202) 671-0650
Office Hours
8:15 am to 4:45 pm, Monday through Friday, except District holidays
2007-06-15 16:44:40 · answer #1 · answered by Stuart 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Don't contact the police. They are simply their to take the report so you can file a damages claim. Try contacting city hall or else the Department of Transportation for DC. I am sure they have a claims department that can deal with this. They may try to fight you considering it is a public road and thus they did not create the pothole, but remind them that it is their job to maintain the roads regardless of who did it. Also contact your insurance company and find out if it will indeed raise your premiums. My insurance will not raise my rates unless I am actually charged in an accident. Any claims I make due to someone else's negligence goes under a special program where I only have to pay the deductible until the insurance company can make a determination that the damage was not caused by me.
2007-06-15 16:48:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you can recover your damages from DC government because potholes are everywhere and it's fiscally impossible to keep up with the constant repairs needed. However, the insurance claim is a good idea. Talk to your agent. $1200 is not a large claim and the damages were probably unavoidable. Therefore, your premiums will probably not go up. Your agent will tell you if they will or not. This will also depend on how many other claims you've had within a certain period of time.
2007-06-15 16:44:52 · answer #3 · answered by dicey047 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If hitting a pothole cost you $1200, then you probably can afford the extra premium after you make a claim on the insurance. This would go on comprehensive, not collusion, which is the thing that drives up your cost. Did you consider the cost of suing the city if you lost (lawyers fees, court costs, etc)?
2007-06-15 16:44:05 · answer #4 · answered by Joe M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't. Governments are immune from suits unless they agree to be sued. Also in this case DC is really a part of the US Government and is immune unless Congress explicitly waives the right to immunity from suits.
Sorry, but you're the one considered at fault since you didn't avoid the pothole.
2007-06-15 16:49:56 · answer #5 · answered by caffeyw 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
i would find the judge in dc that is sueing the pants off of the poor immigrants who run a dry cleaners. he seems to know his way around the law
2007-06-15 16:42:26 · answer #6 · answered by wheniawoke 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't hold your breath. The government doesn't pay, it just takes. You should be so lucky that you don't get shot in DC.
2007-06-15 16:49:20 · answer #7 · answered by Notredame 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They couldn't even fix the pothole, what makes you think they'll pay for your car?
2007-06-15 16:42:17 · answer #8 · answered by Karma 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Did the city give you any sort of guarantee before you drove on that road? No.
Dream on.
2007-06-15 16:46:10 · answer #9 · answered by Dion J 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Forget about it they are not going to pay for it. You Live In America!
2007-06-15 16:48:34 · answer #10 · answered by aLawrence 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋