What evidence should I keep for a pothole damage claim in Northern Ireland?

Keep clear photographs of the defect and location, damage photos, repair invoices or estimates, the date and time, and any witness or recovery information.

In relation to “What evidence should I keep for a pothole damage claim in Northern Ireland?”, when something happens in live traffic, do not trade personal safety for a photograph or damaged part; gather evidence only from a safe position.

For “What evidence should I keep for a pothole damage claim in Northern Ireland?”, separate the duty to tell an insurer from the decision to make a claim. Some policies require incidents to be notified even where no payment is being sought.

For “What evidence should I keep for a pothole damage claim in Northern Ireland?”, photograph the defect with context and scale, note the exact road and direction, keep tyre or wheel invoices and retain damaged parts where practical. Claims often turn on evidence of the defect and loss.

For “What evidence should I keep for a pothole damage claim in Northern Ireland?”, for Northern Ireland, the key is to use the authority or contract that actually controls this issue. The sources attached to this answer include PSNI - Road Traffic Collision, nidirect - Motor insurance explained, and GOV.UK - Vehicle insurance. Those sources should take priority over forum posts or guidance written for a different jurisdiction, particularly where a deadline, offence, fee, finance right or policy condition is involved.

Practical next step for “What evidence should I keep for a pothole damage claim in Northern Ireland?”: make a short incident note while details are fresh — time, exact location, registrations, people involved, witnesses and photographs or original video. If police, insurer, road authority or recovery operator is involved, keep each reference number with that note.