An Omaha man is upset the city denied his claim for damages to his tire and rim after hitting a pothole.

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WEBVTT KETV NEWSWATCH 7'rtS MICHELLENDUR INVESTIGATES.MICHELLE: BARRICADES NOWSURROUND THE SPOT OF THEPERILOUS POTHOLE.>>rt IT WAS LIKE MY LIFE WAS JUSTABOUT TO BE GONE.MICHELLE: MAY SOUND A BITDRAMATIC, BUT CHRISTOPHERGOODMAN ISN'T JOKING.rt>> ONCE I HIT THAT POTHOLE, IHIT THE BREAAKE,rt AND MY WHEELSWENT FROM SIDE TO SIDE.IT TOOK EVERYTHING I COULD TOKEEP FROM HITTING THAT POLE.>> PEOPLE GOT HURT OUT HERE.DUDE FELL OFF A MOTORCYCLE.rtPIECE OF A BUMPER OUT HEREMESSING UP THEIR CARS.MICHELLE KEIVES MCGAUH LIVES ONTHE CORNER OF 29TH AND PARKER,AND SAYS HE WATCHED THE POTHOLEGET BIGGER THIS SUMMER.>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED.MICHrtELLE: HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKEDLIKE AUGUST 19, THE DAY GOODMANHIT THE HOLE.>> IF YOU COMING UP THAT HILLOVER THERE, IT'S A BLIND SIDEUNTIL YOU GET ON TOP OF THEHILL.rtMICHELLE HE GOT TWO ESTIMATESON THE DAMAGE TO HIS RIM ANDTIREONE ESTIMATErt WAS $449.I GOT ON FOR $470.MICHELLE: AND TURNED IT IN TOTHE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT ASPART OF HIS CLAIM, ONE OF ABOUTrt100 THE CITY RECEIVES EVERYYEAR.>> IT'S UP TO THE CITY TOCOMPENSATE FOR THE DAMAGE I DIDTO MY CAR AND MY TIRE.rtMICHELLE: THE CITY DISAGREESWITH GOODMAN, SENDING HIM THISLETTER, DENYING HIS CLAIM,SIGNED BY DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEYMICHELLE PETERS.>>rt IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WEHAVEN'T PAID ANY CLAIM RELATEDTO POTHOLES.MICHELLE:rt SHE SAYS THE CITY HASTO KNOW ABOUT THE POTHOLE, ANDINTENTIONALLY NOT FIX IT WITHINA REASONABLE TIME TO BERESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES.rtWE HAVE TO BE ON NOTICE THATTHERE IS AN ISSUE, AND WE HAVEREASONABLE TIME TO MAKE REPAIRS.UNDER THAT STANDARD, WE HAVEMADE DETERMINATION WE ARE NOTLIABLE FOR THOSE.rtMICHELLE: PETERS TELLS US STATELAW PROTECTS THE CITY.GOODMAN WANTS TO KNOW WHOPROTECTS HIM.>> IT AIN'T MY FAULT THE CITYFAILED TO DO THEIR JOB.MICHELLE PETERS SAYS IF THEYrtDON'T KNOW ABOUT A POTHOLE, THEYCAN'T FIX ITSO IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM, CALLTHE MAYOR'S HOTLINE AND PUT THECITY ON NOTICE.rt

Advertisement City of Omaha hasn't paid any pothole claims in the past two years An Omaha man is upset the city denied his claim for damages to his tire and rim after hitting a pothole. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

If you hit a big pothole, good luck getting the city of Omaha to pay for repairs to your car.In the past two years, the city hasn't paid out one claim filed by hundreds of drivers. The city receives about 100 claims a year dealing with potholes.Christopher Goodman filed a claim after hitting a pothole August 19th near 29th and Parker."When I got up the hill, all of a sudden I hit the pothole and it took everything I could to keep from hitting that pole," Goodman said.He said the large pothole is difficult to see on the incline. Goodman said the damage to his tire and rim is estimated at about $470."It's up to the city to compensate for the damage I did to my car and my tire," Goodman said.He turned in his claim to the city, one of about 100 the city receives every year. The city sent him a letter, signed by Deputy City Attorney Michelle Peters, denying his claim."In the last two years, we haven't paid any claim related to a pothole," Peters said.Peters said the city is protected under a state law called the political subdivision tort claim act."Under that act, it gives the city the ability to determine whether there is a problem, " Peters said. "We have to be on notice there is an issue and we have reasonable time to make repairs. Under that standard,we have made determination we are not liable for those claims."Goodman wants to know who is protecting him and other taxpayers."What am I paying taxes for? Just for the city to do something else with," Goodman said.Peters said it's also up to drivers to bear some responsibility, knowing they live in a pothole laden city.She said they can't fix a pothole, if they don't know about it."The city has 5,000 lane miles of roadway and we can't be everywhere at once. We have to be able to have notice of the defect and fix it in a reasonable amount of time, " Peters said.Peters encourages residents to report potholes when you see one. Call the Mayor's Hotline at 402-444-5555.