Minn. Cities Not Likely To Pay For Pothole Damage

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- If your car is damaged by a pothole you can seek reimbursement from the city or state, but don't expect to see any money.

Minnesota transportation officials say it's increasingly rare for a claim to be paid out. That's in part due to dwindling budgets and in part because of a policy that allows officials to deny a claim if they can show they weren't aware of the pothole.

Minnesota Public Radio says St. Paul receives between two and 20 pothole-related claims per year between January and March, but hasn't paid a single one in four years.

Minneapolis paid three of its 49 claims last year and none of its 59 in the first months of this year.

In Minnesota, cities are only liable for pothole damage if officials have been notified about the hole and didn't fix it.

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