city of omaha pothole claim 2021 city of omaha pothole claim 2021

We are seeing our kind of our typical late February, March pothole season thats happening out there right now, Austin Rowser with Omaha Public Works tells 6 News. If the pothole has been reported, you can then file a claim with the city clerk. There are a few guidelines and You may also like: Countries that have mandatory voting, - Pothole complaints: 1.1 for every 1,000 km of road. It's easier to file damage claims in some states than in others. In fact, the city of Yakima, Washington, was recently found to be the absolutely worst city in America for potholes. Claims are governed by the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act (GTLA). Like us on Facebook to see similar stories Please give an overall site rating . and more. We dont' necessarily put out all the reasons as far as on the reasons we denied the claim. Here are some of the worst pothole locations, based on drivers complaints to the City of Omahas online hotline or as witnessed by others. Omaha is a city located in Douglas County and Sarpy County Nebraska.It is also the county seat of Douglas County.With a 2023 population of 509,178, it is the largest city in Nebraska and the 38th largest city in the United States. Take a photo of the pothole at the time of the incident. With 1.7 million people spread out over nearly 28,000 miles of roadway, it's been able to maintain a robust maintenance program on a county-by-county basis.The city of Idaho Falls, for example, has a pothole hotline, and recent major road repair projects have targeted potholes on state highways 33 and 45. Take a photo of the pothole at the time of the incident. In fact, while overall traffic was down during the pandemic, there was an uptick in the volume of truck traffic. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Then, the city must have a certain number of business days to determine whether it is liable. Several communities, however, have been looking for alternatives to using saltin the hopes that they might see environmental improvementsnot to mention fewer potholes. Plattsmouth breaks ground on new wastewater treatment facility. The northern portion of the state, in particular, sees winter storms on par with those that impact portions of neighboring Utah and Colorado, but southern Arizona is not immune from the same weather events either. - Pothole complaints: 5.4 for every 1,000 km of road. More:North Carolina substations attack a 'wake-up call' in latest nationwide infrastructure threat. But in 2021, I reported two potholes on a road that had been repaved in the previous year. Last week right before the snow actually, I hit a pothole and it bent my rim, I had to replace the rim and also get another tire, Richardson adds. The transportation departments response: Get ready for more of the same. Allison Mergens of Omaha said she felt super thankful for road hazard coverage on new tires she bought from Discount Tire. Historically, the City of Omaha has not paid claims for vehicle damage, as allowed by the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act, according to a city news release. The state also maintains what it calls a needs book, where data is broken down for every highway in the state in terms of its condition and maintenance profile. A link for the application is located on the Omaha City Clerk's website. - Pothole complaints: 20.5 for every 1,000 km of road. Echoing guidance from the insurance agencys website, Paul said drivers should file a claim as soon as possible after an incident because of the time limitations for doing so in some areas. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is all too aware of its pothole problem, despite a steep dropoff in official reports. When it gets cold at night, the roads crack, resulting in a small or large pothole, he said. By Friday, Stothert said the city had nearly 750 work orders ready. Champion said it is definitely pothole season. . Northbound lanes of 144th between Q and U Streets are closed due to potholes. I'm basically just permanently a left laner at this point until I have to turn. One recent example was in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, when a Culligan water delivery truck found itself suspended in a 4-foot by 2-foot hole that required the assistance of a tow truck. He felt his car driving differently. Updated: Jul 19, 2021 / 10:27 PM CDT. After receiving a claim, the office will investigate and may try to reach a settlement with the driver based on the results. In 2022, the era of social media, a little bit of Facebook or Twitter lobbying never hurt anyone. OneJanuary 2022 report out of Nashville spoke of clouds of road dust and hunks of rock flying up from the roadway into drivers windshields as the result of potholes. In doing so, youre agreeing to the below guidelines. If you hit a bad one, you may need anything from a simple flat-tire fix to extensive wheel and suspension repairs. Beyond that, Bloom said, potholes can come up quickly, and often the city hasnt received any notice until after someone hits it. Even then, you would have to pay your insurance deductible, which just might be higher than the damage, and perhaps then pay higher premiums. Theyre still liable once theyve gotten notice of the condition, he said. The states NMRoads website offers real-time updates on road conditions. Stothert said city crews have been chasing their tails in extraordinary winter conditions to keep up with filling potholes, as the weather often washes out their work. Copyright 2023 WOWT. While it's easy to file a pothole damage claim, it may be more trouble than it's worth and may increase your insurance rates. Report the pothole to the City of San Diego. The peak month for this road work is between January and May. Potholes start forming in winter and early spring temperatures change frequently. Phone: 402-444-1128. Ronda Dolan from Omaha posted a picture of her flat tire on the Nextdoor app, leading to 80-some comments from other metro area residents. The public can assist in road repairs by reporting potholes here, . If you happen to hit debris or a pothole and damage your . Despite the occasional social media rant, Wyoming drivers are generally happy with the state of their road system. He also asks for a little patience from the community. You don't need an attorney. Last week was a rough week for repairing potholes with a run of cold, rainy weather. We all know the sound. A January 2022 TRIP report estimates that poor road conditions cost the average driver $813 each year. You may also like: 25 terms you should know to understand the health care debate, - Pothole complaints: 0.4 for every 1,000 km of road. Then, when the temperature drops again, the water refreezes and . A driver recently encountered just such a situation on I-85 that resulted in thousands of dollars of damage to his car. Be sure to note the exact location including the route, mile marker, and any nearby cross streets or interchanges. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. What are we doing wrong with our streets, highways and trails? Still, Oregon is about to be flush with $400 million in federal funding, about one-quarter of which is expected to be earmarked expressly for addressing problems like potholes. Bills that can't get passed with the current filibuster rules, States most affected by government shutdowns, Notable Supreme Court decisions passed in 2021, History of the Supreme Court and how it impacts America today, 25 terms you should know to understand the health care debate, A timeline of WWII, the most devastating conflict in history, Major newspaper headlines from the year you were born, over $1 billion in annual federal funding, Most and least popular governors in America, Defining historical moments from the year you were born, Former jobs of the governor of every state, I Have a Dream and the rest of the greatest speeches of the 20th century, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1. Starting Saturday,the city will return to its long-standing claims policy, which does not pay out claims for vehicle damage. The work is meant to hold over the street through winter. Asked whats a reasonable time to fill a pothole, Gray said he didnt know given the challenging set of circumstances this year. Despite a sizable investment in surface transportation, Washington state struggles mightily with fractured roads. 2. Amazon.Com, Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) is halting construction on its second headquarters near Washington. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. People deserve better.. In one Yukon suburb, an anonymous citizen made clear how he thinks potholes are affecting his community. WRIC-TV, July 20, 2021, Richmond's little-known pothole claims policy makes getting damages covered difficult KMTV, Aug. 13, 2019, Most Common Reason City of Omaha is Denying Pothole Claims (WOWT) - Its not unusual for the city of Omaha to see potholes this time of year, but for many, it feels like theyre unavoidable. We are the award-winning television station at the University of Nebraska Omaha. According to insurance marketplace QuoteWizard, Grand Junction, Colorado, is the second-worst city in the union for potholes. This year's crop of potholes could be mercifully low thanks to a . The comments informed others where major potholes were located. State law makes it difficult to get money for pothole damage. The state is certainly aware of this factdrivers can apply for reimbursement for repairs needed to their vehicles as a result of a run-in with a pothole. I understand the hardship many people faced with unexpected vehicle repairs. 4. In January, Bailey filed a claim against the City of Omaha in hopes of getting reimbursed. - Pothole complaints: 6.9 for every 1,000 km of road. Keep a record of each one and go with the cheapest. On Jan. 20, 2022, six city trade unions authorized a strike after contract negotiations with the city stalled. Claims dated after June 1 will be reviewed by the Law Department under existing city policy, which follows the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act, enacted in 1969. Make sure to pay attention to the road when youre driving. One should be forgiving to Alaskans for pothole being a relative term. But seriously.. With traffic deaths in the city the highest theyve been in three decades, the ongoing strikes impact on pothole filling may only intensify an already dangerous situation. The city of Bangor, Mainehome to local writer Stephen Kings most famous house and now writers retreatwas recently cited as one of the most pothole-riddled cities in America, despite local officials imploring Mainers to phone in every defect they hit or miss. The incident had to occur between January 1st and March 18th. OMAHA, Neb. Well, in 2021, the city approved 94 claims submitted for vehicle damage from potholes. The remaining claims are being processed. When a pothole complaint is made, Rowsers team typically fills it within five to seven days, but they prioritize major roads and intersections, or potholes that are extremely large or damaging. by: Jessica . Pursuant to an update to New York State General Municipal Law 50-e, the Comptroller's Office provides for the electronic filing of claims against the City via the eClaim system. A Fremont man was driving near 144th and Pacific when he encountered a pothole, blew a front tire and knocked his cars front end out of alignment. Please subscribe to keep reading. The pothole had to be located on a city street. Lincoln and both made the list of top U.S. cities for potholes. We did some scouting for you. Call the appropriate state or city police department and file a report. While two complaints per 1,000 km of road might not sound like much, when you consider Delawares size relative to states further up the list, its a significant number. In Atlanta, there is. But if its a dark and stormy night, or if youre messing with the radio dial, you might hear that sickening Clunk! Claims will be paid from the citys contingency fund. The tally continued to fall in 2019 to 16,520 and again in 2020 with 12,500. Thornton Expressway near Dallas. - Pothole complaints: 7.3 for every 1,000 km of road. If drivers hit a pothole and experience damage to their . Whether you are filing a claim with your insurance or the government, three things are essential: Documentation, documentation, documentation! Youre looking at a situation you cant get to every pothole right away, Bloom said. For now, Mergens said she focuses less on other traffic and more on the road conditions. Driver Lorna Sage says for those like her who drive older cars, the potholes are a major issue. Omaha drivers have seen it all. Im hoping that its just the tire thats an issue, but I mean it goes down into the ground several inches. Potholes tore apart 144th Street in Millard, leading the City of Omaha to shut down a section of street to rebuild it. They are a ubiquitous occurrence nationwide. Despite the relative frequency of pothole-related complaintsnot to mention the estimated $709 per year hit a given driver will take as a result of their preponderancethe futures looking brighter for Utahs roads. Many drivers end up paying hundreds to repair damage caused by the potholes, too. Despite its statewide defect law, Maine still contends with its fair share of potholes. However, several people meeting the basic requirements are being denied for the same reason, Neb. Every claim is thoroughly reviewed. And MnDOT has help: Minnesota Public Radio has teamed up with SeeClickFix to map out the worst potholes and alert the agency. Follow this link to call it in and get the name of the representative that assists you. Omaha residents Mark and Janine Emmons said their car suffered a flat tire earlier this week from a pothole, and they immediately contacted the mayors helpline. Document the time, date and location of the incident. Since Jan. 1, the city has received 2,393 claims. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. - Pothole complaints: 1.9 for every 1,000 km of road. A City of La Vista crew works to patch a stretch of 84th Street between Parkview Boulevard and Brentwood Drive on Monday. One in 7 Ohioans owes their living to agriculture, and as corn is a staple ingredient in not just food you find in the supermarket, but ethanol and the feed that powers the livestock industry as well, the state is a veritable topography of truck routes. File a police report. Original reporting by University of Nebraska at Omaha students. The staff is doing the best we can, he said, and I dont know any other way to do it.. In 2017, 22,500 potholes were temporarily patched in Tacoma. Potholes can cause serious damage to your vehicle. Follow us on Facebook! In one case, a local resident could sit right along one pothole edge like he was dangling his legs in a pool. As of May 24, more than half have been reviewed and assigned claim numbers, 104 offers of payment have been made for a total of $31,650.33 and $21,620.91 has been paid. People have submitted more than 600 claims for payment of pothole damage costs to the city since Monday afternoon, Mayor Jean Stothert says. If the citys small claims team approves the application, the driver may be compensated for half of the cost of repairs. However, the statute does not define "reasonable amount of time.". Since about Feb. 13, Mergens said she damaged three tires on her Ford Fiesta from three different potholes around Omaha one around Farnam Street and Happy Hollow Boulevard, the next on a turning ramp going from Millard Avenue to L Street, the third east of Benson around the Northwest Radial. Get a mechanic to confirm pothole damage and get repair quotes. 59 claims have already been filed during the two and a half month period to the mayor's office. Were constantly evaluating methods, evaluating different repairs, equipment even, personnel, so its one of those things where were always looking at how to do things better, he says. For a state with a $4.5 billion budget surplus, one might ask, is there any excuse for Marylanders to be dealing with so many potholes? In the vast majority of cases, being startled is the only damage you will incur if you go over a pothole. Randy Seffron, behind and John Helwig with the City of La Vista, drop hot asphalt into potholes on 84th St. A wheel cover near 84th Street between Parkview Boulevard and Brentwood Drive in La Vista.