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What happens if your vehicle was damaged by a pothole?

I hit a pothole on the highway yesterday because I didn't want to risk swerving out of my lane and hitting someone else. Now, my alignment seems off. What should I do?

avatar
Sophie Newman · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“Understandably, you didn’t want to swerve out of your lane on the highway! Hitting potholes is terrible, but if you have the right insurance coverage, you can submit a claim.
To have your insurance possibly
cover pothole damage
, you’ll need collision coverage on your policy.
Collision coverage
protects your vehicle from damage that you cause by colliding with something.
If you have collision coverage, you’ll want to take your vehicle to a repair shop to assess how much repairs would cost. With that number you can figure out whether you can file a claim with your insurance.
If the cost of repairs is less than your deductible, you’ll have to pay for them out of pocket. If they are more than your deductible, you’ll want to decide whether it’s worth submitting a claim. Insurance rates will likely increase after submitting a claim, so you’ll want to be sure it’s worth the possible increase.
Should you decide to submit a claim and your insurance increases, use the
Jerry
app. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, Jerry gathers affordable quotes and helps you switch plans for free.”
View full answer 
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