NEWNAN, Ga. — Potholes can cause major damage to your vehicle and your wallet.
Fayetteville resident Micaela Whitlow learned that firsthand when she hit a pothole Tuesday. 11Alive learned that she wasn't even the only driver to face damage from the pothole that same day.
It happened on I-85 north near exit 51. Whitlow was on her way to Christmas shopping for her kids.
"I'm glad my kids weren't in the car with me," Whitlow said. "It would have been a lot scarier."
Before running over the pothole, she saw a warning.
"I saw the sign that said 'BUMP AHEAD,'" Whitlow said.
However, Whitlow said it wasn't just a bump but a huge hole. It wasn't safe for her to go around it, so Whitlow said she had to go over it.
"It was a hard hit. It was a deep hole," Whitlow said.
Whitlow quickly realized she wasn't alone.
"I pulled over. Shortly after pulling over, someone pulled behind me. And I thought that they were just trying to see if I needed help, something like that. Sure enough, they popped their tire also. About two minutes after them, someone else came up—two more tires popped."
A representative from the Georgia Department of Public Safety said troopers that day did work four incidents where vehicles struck the same hole in that area.
While Whitlow waited for the tow truck, everything changed.
"I saw the pick-up truck with the flashing lights. They had a sign, I'm assuming, that said 'ROAD WORK AHEAD.' And then, I saw a man run across the road and they were filling it," Whitlow said.
Though the pothole won't affect another driver, Whitlow was left with a hole in her tire, a damaged rim, and a misaligned SUV. It's costing her hundreds of dollars in repairs.
"It's the holidays," Whitlow said. "And no one wants the extra expense."
The Georgia Department of Transportation wants drivers to know they can file a claim. First, call 511 and report the location and issue. Drivers can also simply report potholes they run into online.
- To report a pothole in the road, go to the GDOT’s website.
- Then click on “Travel Info and Data”.
- Next, click on “Report a Pothole”.
- Finally, click on “Let’s Connect” and complete the information.
A representative said, "We all play a vital role in safety on our roads and these reports are instrumental in helping DOT identify areas where repairs are needed."
Whitlow plans to file a claim.
"It's frustrating just because it shouldn't have happened," Whitlow said.
Just because you file a claim doesn't mean you'll automatically be reimbursed. If denied, the next step would be to file a lawsuit.