THE LONG and harsh winter has left its ‘legacy’ on Slovak roads in the form of thousands of potholes. The result is damaged cars and a rise in insurance claims. Allianz – Slovenská Poisťovňa, the biggest insurer in Slovakia, registered 1,199 insurance claims caused by potholes during the winter season from the start of December through to the end of March. The total claims reached €787,000, putting the average cost of damage at as much as €660 per vehicle, the insurer wrote in its press release.
Compared with previous years, this means a significant increase in the number of claims as well as the total damage. During the previous winter season the insurer registered 354 pothole insurance claims with aggregate damage of €387,000.
The highest number of claims – 400 – was reported in Bratislava, with total damage of €240,000, making up about one third of all claims and damage. After a huge gap Prievidza followed with 59 claims. Banská Bystrica was third with 55 claims and Košice was fourth with 50 claims.
