A motorist whose newborn baby’s health was put at risk after his car hit a pothole during torrential rain has criticised Suffolk County Council after his compensation claim was rejected.
Liam March said he, his partner, their three-month-old baby and their dog were left stranded for more than two hours in darkness and heavy rain after his vehicle struck a large pothole in Hadleigh on January 15, causing two tyres to burst.
Mr March, from Ipswich, said the ordeal became “especially distressing” because they were forced to keep their young baby “safe and sheltered” in worsening weather conditions while his partner was still postpartum.
“No family should be left in such a vulnerable and unsafe situation because of dangerous road conditions,” he said.
After contacting multiple recovery companies, Mr March said he was eventually forced to pay £350 on his credit card for emergency assistance and repairs after being unable to find help for around two hours at the roadside.
He said the unexpected cost had placed significant financial strain on his family because he is currently on parental leave.
Mr March said the pothole was reported several times and claimed other motorists were also affected that evening, but despite this, Suffolk County Council denied liability for the damage after a four-month wait for a response.
He has since contacted his local MP and formally requested that the decision is reviewed again, saying he believes the public should be aware “not only of the dangerous state of the road, but also of the lack of accountability shown when families are put at risk”.
A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council said: “We understand the frustrations of the motorist, and sympathise with them, knowing that repairs can be costly, and these situations can be distressing.
“In Suffolk, we have a robust inspection programme where our roads are checked regularly and, if a pothole meets our safety criteria, it is identified and repaired within set timescales.
"We recognise the impact road damage can have on individuals. However, we also have a duty to protect public funds. Money spent on compensation is money that cannot be invested in maintaining Suffolk's roads for everyone."
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