Trafford Council faces over £20k in pothole compensation payouts

New data shows that Trafford Borough Council has paid out more than £20,000 in compensation to road users affected by potholes since 2022, reflecting the growing scale of the UK’s road maintenance crisis.

Figures obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK reveal that the council received 425 pothole-related claims over the past three years.

The busiest year for complaints was 2023/24, when 170 claims were submitted. However, the highest compensation total, £8,468.76, was recorded in 2024/25.

Potholes remain a major issue nationwide. With an estimated one million potholes across the UK, they continue to contribute heavily to vehicle breakdowns. In response to the worsening condition of the roads, the Government has committed £1.6 billion in funding through to 2026.

JF Law solicitor Patrick Mallon said: “Pothole damage has become a serious and persistent problem across the UK. Road defects worsen rapidly during cold and wet weather, and even a seemingly minor pothole can cause significant damage to vehicles.

“For vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists, hitting a pothole can lead to severe injuries or dangerous collisions. Many of these incidents are entirely preventable with better road maintenance.”

Potholes form when water seeps into cracks in the road and expands or contracts with changing temperatures, gradually breaking up the surface. Factors such as aging asphalt, inadequate drainage, and repeated utility work accelerate this deterioration.

The consequences can be severe. Each month, around 15 people are killed or seriously injured in crashes linked to poorly maintained roads.

The financial impact on drivers is also growing. According to The Daily Mail, pothole-related repairs cost motorists a record £579 million in 2024.

The RAC Pothole Index estimates that council-maintained roads across England and Wales contain roughly six potholes per mile. From October 2024 to September 2025, the RAC attended 25,758 breakdowns directly caused by potholes, an 11% increase from the previous year, averaging 71 callouts per day.

As of 15 August 2025, Trafford Borough Council had 54 potholes still awaiting repair, with the highest concentrations found on Carlton Road, Davyhulme Road, Woodbridge Road, and Furness Road, each reporting three unrepaired defects.

*Please note that a number of these potholes may have been fixed since August 15, 2025.

Speaking to Personal Injury Claims UK, Patrick Mallon said: “Local councils are legally responsible for maintaining safe roads under the Highways Act 1980, which means they must inspect and repair road surfaces within a reasonable time frame.

“When they fail to do so, and that neglect results in vehicle damage or injury, motorists are entitled to seek compensation.

“Many councils are working with limited resources, leading to delays in identifying and fixing these hazards, and that’s contributing to the steady rise in pothole-related incidents we’re now seeing nationwide.

“Submitting a claim not only helps recover your repair costs but also puts pressure on local authorities to address recurring problem areas more effectively.

Personal Injury Claims UK offers support to those who may have suffered harm as a result of potholes and can see if they have grounds to submit a claim.

They operate a 24-hour helpline, along with an online claim form, which can be accessed on their website._