DPW uses break from snow to perform patchwork on potholes

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - As the ice and snow start to melt, watch out for those potholes. They'll start to pop up more this week as Central New York finally gets a break from the bitter cold. Those pesky road imperfections can cost drivers big time if they're not paying attention.

We drive over them just about everyday. Some are big, some are small and some have the potential to get even worse over time. And, if a car hits a serious pothole, the jarring could cause costly damage.

P.J. Schmid, of Rudy Schmid Body and Frame Shop says potholes could cause damage to various parts of a car, including the rims. "You could easily throw $2,500 at it, just for hitting something hard with the wheel," said P.J. Schmid, of Rudy Schmid Body and Frame Shop.

If hitting a pothole does cause pricey damage, Schmid says insurance should cover most of the cost. "It doesn't have to all come out of pocket," he said. "Some people may have a $250 deductible on their collision coverage that may cover depending on your carrier."

Additionally, if the damage occurs on one of Onondaga County's roads, the county could also help pay for the repairs under some circumstances.

"Potholes exist, there is nothing we can do to change that," said Brian Donnelly, of the County Department of Transportation. "What we have to do is when we're notified is go out and take care of those potholes when we're notified. If we fail to do that then a person may have a legitimate claim."

New York State also covers some pothole damage, during about half the year. The state won't cover any damage that occurs during pothole season, between mid-November and the end of April.

Still, Schmid says it would be easier to just avoid the problem altogether. "The small ones with the half inch potholes, you can see those coming. Slow down a little bit and the car is supposed to take somewhat of an abuse," he said.

If you've hit a pothole and the damage isn't apparent, the telltale sign will be in the steering wheel. If it's off center and yet the wheels are straight, then the pothole likely knocked the alignment out of whack. Not taking care of that could make your tires wear unevenly, until the set would need replacement.

Onondaga County says it plans to roll out the "pothole killer" truck at the end of the month to fill in the holes.

The State Department of Transportation requests motorists to report potholes on the State's highway system by contacting 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653). On roads maintained by counties, towns, villages or cities, call that respective municipality's.