Car insurance claims for pothole-related damage to cars are on the rise, according to figures from AA Insurance. Its latest stats highlight a four-fold increase compared with this time last year.

Simon Douglas, the broker's director, points out that if a highway authority is notified of a road defect, it may be liable for damage caused so it is important to tell them about such hazards.

"It would take a quarry-like pothole to cause the sort of damage that would justify an insurance claim, but there are certainly some 'A-list' holes out there," he continues.

Motorists most often end up lodging a car insurance claim after trying to avoid a pothole and then hitting something else, such as a kerb, or hitting a hole which causes them to momentarily lose control and hit another vehicle or object, he explains.

"If you hit a pothole and afterwards you notice vibration, the steering wheel doesn't 'centre' properly or it pulls to one side, get the car checked immediately, as faults such as tracking or steering damage can lead to later expense or even an accident," he advises.

Tyre bulges are another indicator of serious internal damage that could end in a blow-out.

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