Potholes are quickly becoming a problem due to the intense storm soaking SoCal roads.
In the Valley Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, one large pothole on Riverside Drive caused damage to several cars and has led to one lane being shut down.
Video captured early Tuesday morning shows police blocking the lane off with flares as multiple cars sat on the side of the road with flat tires and bent wheels.
Some drivers are even reporting damaged suspensions due to new potholes, officials said.
One man told KTLA that after his car was damaged by the Valley Village pothole, he tried to warn other drivers of the crater in the road.
“After my car, there were like ten other cars one after another,” said Miguel Guzman. “I tried to prevent [them from driving over it] but people were like ‘Oh, what is this crazy guy doing?’ and then boom, boom.”
Nearly 550 potholes were reported because of the storm on Monday, according to L.A. public works officials. About half of them have been repaired as of Tuesday morning.
Drivers whose vehicles sustain damage from potholes must check who owns the stretch of roadway where the incident occurred before submitting a claim.
Claims about potholes on freeways and state highways should be filed with Caltrans.
Caltrans may reimburse drivers up to $10,000 in repairs. However, payments are not guaranteed and drivers may have to submit photos of the pothole, damage to their vehicle and a repair estimate before receiving any funds.
“In limited circumstances, Caltrans may be statutorily responsible for damage to a vehicle,” a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation told KTLA. “Caltrans evaluates claims for sufficiency and decides whether to reject, accept, or deny such claims.”
Drivers who believe Caltrans is responsible for damage to their vehicle can learn more about filing a claim on the department’s website.
Motorists were also reminded that they only have six months to file their claim.
To submit a claim about damage sustained on Los Angeles city streets, visit www.clerk.lacity.org
Potholes in L.A. can be reported by using the city’s MyLA311 app. For greater Los Angeles County, contact the L.A. County Road Maintenance Division.