Potholes can cause car accidents, but the real challenge is identifying the party responsible for the pothole and holding them accountable. In spring and summer, many drivers in New England still face winter’s wrath in the form of potholes that linger long after winter weather ends. Before construction crews can repair the damage, drivers and motorcyclists must navigate roads full of hazards that can catch even careful drivers off guard.
In extreme cases, hitting a pothole can cause a serious or even fatal accident, especially if the accident involves a motorcyclist, bicyclist or pedestrian. If a pothole caused your car accident, understanding who’s responsible — and how to hold them accountable — is the first step toward recovering compensation for your injuries or vehicle damage. In many cases, car accident lawyers can help identify the liable party and guide you through the claims process.
Where Do Potholes Happen?
Potholes are holes or ruts that occur with repeated freezing and thawing cycles common across New England. Through an initial crack in the asphalt, water seeps below the surface and freezes. As it freezes, the ice expands, forcing some of the asphalt to buckle upward. The repeated cycle creates an uneven surface and dangerous depressions in the road, called potholes.
When vehicles constantly drive over these spots, it worsens the damage, resulting in wider, deeper potholes that remain when warm weather arrives. Although potholes can form on any roadway, they are most common in areas with poor drainage and lots of traffic.
If towns and cities take their time maintaining the roads, these depressions may remain for months. In some cases, they aren’t fixed until a major accident occurs.
Connecticut
Cities like Bridgeport, Stamford, Hartford, and New Haven are consistently recognized as having some of the state’s most deteriorated roads. Statewide, 59% of Connecticut’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, according to TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. That deterioration costs Connecticut drivers an estimated $2.2 billion a year in extra repairs, accelerated vehicle depreciation, and increased fuel and tire wear.
New York
On Long Island, officials reported a sharp rise in potholes in 2026, driven by heavy travel and repeated freeze-thaw cycles during the 2025-26 winter. That local spike reflects a broader statewide problem: 45% of New York’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, costing the average driver $718 a year in added vehicle expenses. New York’s Interstate highways aren’t immune either — 6% of Interstate pavement statewide is rated in poor condition, giving New York the fifth-worst share in the country.
Massachusetts
Road conditions in Massachusetts have worsened in recent years. A 2025 highway report from the Reason Foundation dropped the state from 20th to 40th in the nation for overall highway performance, with a particularly poor 46th-place ranking for urban arterial pavement condition. Statewide, 51% of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, costing the average driver an estimated $784 annually.
How Do Potholes Damage Your Vehicle?
Potholes can be hard to see, especially at night or when a depression fills with water, so even cautious drivers may not spot one before it’s too late. They’re also often worse than they appear from the surface, which can cause tire blowouts, wheel damage, or a sudden loss of control.
Vehicle damage from a pothole isn’t always obvious right away, which can lead to problems surfacing well after the impact. Common damage includes:
- Punctured tires
- Bent rims
- Misalignment
- Worn-out shocks and struts
- Damaged suspension parts
- Steering wheel misalignment
- Damaged exhaust system
- Engine damage
Potholes Can Also Cause Injuries
A pothole doesn’t have to involve another car to cause serious harm. A driver who hits one hard enough can lose control of the vehicle entirely, veering into a guardrail, oncoming traffic, or another vehicle in an effort to avoid it. In these cases, what started as a road defect becomes a multi-vehicle crash with all the same legal and insurance complications as any other collision.
Motorcyclists and bicyclists face even greater risk. A pothole that a car can absorb with minimal damage can throw a rider from their bike entirely, and without the protection of a vehicle frame, the resulting injuries are often far more severe.
Car accident victims in pothole-related crashes may experience broken bones, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord damage. These injuries can mean significant medical expenses, lost income, and a long recovery. A car accident attorney can help you understand your options for recovering those damages.
Who Is Responsible for a Pothole-Related Accident?
When a pothole plays a role in a serious accident, the following parties may bear some of the responsibility:
The Driver
A driver who collided with the pothole, lost control, or swerved into someone else may be partially responsible for the incident. This is especially true if they were driving while distracted or going too fast for conditions. However, these accidents are often complex, so you benefit from speaking with a car accident lawyer before making assumptions about responsibility.
Tire or Vehicle Manufacturer
If your tires blew out prematurely or parts of the wheel were improperly installed, the manufacturer could be partly to blame. Generally, tires should be able to withstand the impact from uneven road surfaces, unless they have already experienced significant wear and tear.
City or Town
While municipalities are typically responsible for road maintenance and repairs, different government entities manage different roads. To pursue a claim, you must first determine whether your accident occurred on a road maintained by the city, town, county, state, or other entity.
Depending on state laws, you may have to show that the government was aware or should reasonably have been aware of the pothole, but failed to repair or warn motorists about it. Pursuing a claim against a city or town is a challenge. You may encounter the following issues:
- Split liability: Some locales have divided responsibilities. For instance, the state may be responsible for filling in and paving potholes, while the city or town handles street cleaning and debris removal.
- Warning signs: Some entities post hazard warnings. In an ideal situation, the municipality or state routinely inspects the roads for defects or hazards, posts warning signs or repairs the road before the issue worsens. If warnings were present or repairs were ongoing, you may not have grounds to seek compensation.
- Prior reports: If someone reported the pothole previously and the municipality failed to act, they may be negligent and liable for your damages.
- New condition: If the condition hasn’t been around for long, the municipality may not have had time to repair or warn of the condition. You may not be able to recover damages if the municipality could not reasonably have fixed it before your accident.
- No reports: In some cases, the condition has existed for a while, but no one reported it, so the government entity doesn’t know it exists. The state may not let you seek compensation if the government was not given reasonable notice and time to repair the pothole.
A personal injury attorney with experience handling car accidents in your state will know how to identify the responsible party and hold them accountable. Don’t fight solo – call Trantolo & Trantolo to find out how you can recover medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and other damages after a pothole accident.
Get Help From a Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in an accident caused by an untended or unrepaired pothole, do not assume you’re solely responsible. You may have grounds to bring a claim against a negligent city, government entity, or manufacturer. Contact Trantolo & Trantolo to discuss your pothole-related car accident claim today.
We have represented injury victims throughout Connecticut, Long Island, and Massachusetts for more than 85 years. Our firm offers free legal consultations to help you understand your rights and options following a pothole collision.
