A man who hit a pothole that he described as the size of New Jersey, is demanding the city of Milwaukee pay for the damage to his car.

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AS QUICKLY AS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS CAN PATCH THEM, IT SEEMS LIKE NEW POTHOLES ARE POPPING UP THIS TIME OF YEAR >> I WAS A VICTIM OF THE POTHOLES. >> ED ANHALT OF FOX POINT HAS THE DAMAGE TO PROVE IT. >> THE ACTUAL RIM WAS BENT, AIR WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TIRE AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET HOME. >> NEARLY $300 FOR REPAIRS AND ALIGNMENT HE SAYS CAUSED BY A POTHOLE HE HIT LAST WEEK NEAR 2ND AND LOCUST. >> THIS IS ME IN TRAFFIC OR I CAN’T AVOID ANYTHING. I AM JUST IN AT REGULAR SPEED. I CAN’T AVOID IT, SO I AM TAKING INTO THIS HOLE WHICH ENGULFED MY VEHICLE. >> ANHALT IS SENDING THE BILL TO THE CITY. THERE’S ACTUALLY A CLAIM FORM FOR THIS TYPE OF THING. BUT, IT’S DIFFICULT TO PROVE. IN PRACTICE, MOST CLAIMS ARE DISMISSED UNLESS THE DRIVER CAN PROVE THE CITY KNEW ABOUT THE POTHOLE FOR THREE DAYS AND DIDN’T REPAIR IT. ANHALT’S HOPING A WAVE OF CLAIMS WOULD MOTIVATE THE CITY TO FIX THEM FASTER. >> I AM HOPING NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT OTHERS WHO WERE HIT WITH A LARGER BILL THAN I WAS WILL COMFORT SOLUTION FOR THE DAMAGE DONE AND THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. PATRICK: THERE IS A FORM, BUT HOW OFTEN ARE POTHOLE CLAIMS ACTUALLY PAID OUT? >> THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLI WORKS TELLS US THAT STATE LAW DOESN’T REQUIRE MUNICIPALITIES PAYOUT FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY POTHOLES, SO UNLESS THE DRIVER CAN SHOW THE CITY KNEW ABOUT IT AND DIDN’T REPAIR IT IN A TIMELY MANNER THEY’RE "RARELY IF EVER COVERED BY THE CITY." PATRICK: TO REPORT A POTHOLE, YOU CAN GO TO THE

Advertisement Man says his car was damaged by pothole 'the size of New Jersey' A man who hit a pothole that he described as the size of New Jersey, is demanding the city of Milwaukee pay for the damage to his car. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A man who hit a pothole, which he described as the size of New Jersey, is demanding the city of Milwaukee pay for the damage to his car. "I was a victim of the potholes," said Dr. Edward Anhalt, of Fox Point. "The actual rim was bent and air was leaking out of the tire, but I was able to get home with it." It cost him nearly $300 for repairs and alignment caused by a pothole he hit last week near Second and Locust streets."I have cars on the other side of me, and I'm just sucked in, going at regular speed. I can't avoid it, so I'm taken right into this hole, which engulfed my vehicle," Anhalt said. Anhalt is sending the bill to the city. There's actually a claim form for this type of thing, but, it's difficult to prove. In practice, most claims are dismissed unless the driver can prove the city knew about the pothole for three days and didn't repair it. Anhalt is hoping a wave of claims would motivate the city to fix them faster."I'm hoping that not only myself but others that were, I'm sure, hit with a larger bill than I was will get compensation for the damage that's done until they'll fix the problem," Anhalt said. The Department of Public Works said state law doesn't require municipalities to pay out for this type of damage, so unless the driver can show the city knew about it and didn't repair it in a timely manner they're "rarely if ever covered by the city." To report a pothole, go to the city of Milwaukee website or call field operations at 414-286-CITY (2489).