The last thing anyone needs in their life is a pothole to ruin your day or even ruin your car on the way to work. In 2016, Little Rock reported a total of 1,627 potholes. Levar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers has broken down the facts and figures behind potholes in Little Rock.
Little Rock’s Worst Roads
It may seem a little obvious that the longest and busiest streets in Little Rock are in the worst condition. Well traveled roads are more susceptible to damage than side streets. Shouldn’t these streets have the best care, though? Shouldn’t they be made with the highest quality materials and repaired by the best crews? Here are the roads with the most reported potholes in 2016:
- W. Markham St – 41 Potholes
- N. Rodney Parham Rd – 26 Potholes
- S. University Ave – 23 Potholes
- Geyer Springs Rd – 20 Potholes
- Cantrell Rd – 19 Potholes
Intersections with the Most Potholes
These pothole numbers may not look that bad, but potholes can cost drivers a lot of money. In Los Angeles, The Road Information Program reported that one pothole costs drivers $832. This cost is no surprise since 64% of the city’s roads were voted to be in poor condition. Here are the top 6 streets in Little Rock with the most potholes:
- Rahling Road & Pebble Beach Drive | 6 potholes reported
- Baseline Road & Geyer Springs Road | 6 potholes reported
- West Roosevelt Road & South State Street | 5 potholes reported
- South Mississippi Street & South Rodney Parham Road | 5 potholes reported
- Gamble Road & Kanis Road | 5 potholes reported
- North Chicot Road & Mabelvale Pike | 5 potholes reported
Number of Potholes by Neighborhood
We also have compiled a list of the number of potholes by neighborhood, starting with the largest number of reported potholes.
- Hillcrest | 133
- Midtown | 127 potholes
- John Barrow | 117
- Boyle Park| 102 potholes
- Walnut Valley | 101 potholes
Why Are Potholes a Big Deal?
Potholes Can Damage Your Car
Not only are potholes annoying, they can cause serious damage to your car and lead to issues such as:
- Tire damage: Potholes not only cause wear to your tires, but they can even puncture your tires as well.
- Throwing off your car’s alignment: Hitting a pothole can cause your car to steer to one side more than the other (or, misaligning your steering).
- Denting your tire’s rims: Aluminum tire rims can face visible damage if you hit a deep pothole because they’re more likely to become dented.
- Damaging the undercarriage: If you hit a pothole and the undercarriage scrapes the asphalt, your car may experience a leak. This should be fixed immediately.
- Damaging the suspension: Suspension damage is more likely to happen if you hit a pothole at high speeds. Overtime, a damaged suspension can become dangerous.
Potholes Can Cause Accidents
Severe potholes can absolutely cause car accidents. In these cases, the car cannot handle the blow and you can lose control of your car. Sometimes, these accidents caused by potholes can lead to many wrongful deaths.
Motorcycles and bicycles, however, are more at risk of accidents caused by potholes. Because these modes of transportation only have two wheels (and an overall lower weight than cars), they are not equipped to handle potholes. Also, motorcycles and bicycles are not protected by the shell of a car, so not only can potholes cause accidents, they can even lead to death if a pothole is too steep.
The best way to prevent a car accident when you see potholes in the road is to drive very carefully. Our Little Rock personal injury lawyers know how unpredictable car accidents are–regardless if you are driving as safe as possible. If you have been injured in an accident, contact us immediately to get the help and compensation you deserve.
If you see a pothole on the street, do not hesitate to report it to Little Rock 311 on their mobile app, or call 3-1-1. Also, if you know of any potholes that we missed in our content or map, leave a comment below to let us know!
