How to Document Vehicle Damage from Road Potholes in Thailand
The 'Sarawat Teun Phai' page has provided guidance on documenting vehicle damage caused by potholes to facilitate potential compensation claims from state authorities.
Following numerous inquiries from the public, the 'Sarawat Teun Phai' (Police Inspector Warning) social media page has issued advice on how to document vehicle damage caused by road potholes in Thailand. According to the guidance, if a vehicle sustains damage such as a burst tire or broken rim due to a pothole that lacks proper warning signage, the state may be held liable for negligence. To support a potential compensation claim, motorists are advised to take three specific types of photographs before moving their vehicle: a clear shot of the pothole showing its depth and the lack of warning signs, a close-up of the vehicle damage that includes the license plate, and a wide-angle shot capturing the vehicle, the pothole, and nearby landmarks or signs. Additionally, drivers are encouraged to secure dashcam footage of the incident. These materials should be used to file a police report, which serves as a necessary step before submitting a claim to the relevant road authority, such as the Department of Highways (1586). While this advice outlines a procedural approach for seeking damages, it remains to be confirmed how individual authorities will process these claims and what specific criteria they will use to determine liability in each case.
