Part of the taxes you pay go to social infrastructure upkeep, which includes safe roads to commute on. And depending on where you live, you might be able to file a financial claim if an unkempt motorway results in damage to your vehicle. That’s what TikTok user Dajlife (@dajmikaell) says she was able to do after a pothole in Boone County, Missouri, wrought havoc on her Tesla Model S.

In a viral post, she shows off documentation that appears to indicate she’ll be receiving government funds to pay for repairs to her vehicle. Her caption for the video reads, “The state tried to play me with these potholes… knowing they owe me more, but it’s cool! File that claim!”

The letter is titled as a “Property Damage Release,” which also features the specific claim number associated with Daj’s incident. It indicates that damage was sustained to a Tesla Model S on July 13th, 2025. Furthermore, the notice reads that her claim is being considered by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, and she’ll receive up to $1,000 for any harm caused to her car as a result of the purportedly unsafe road she was driving on. It also states that by signing the waiver, she gives up rights for further claims pertaining to this incident.

Filing a Pothole Claim

According to her, this notification from the State of Missouri is a “sign” to others that they, too, should seek similar compensation should they find themselves in the same situation. “File that claim to get paid from the state if the pot holes caused you damages,” she pens in an on-screen caption.

Various legal outlets indicate that drivers can indeed file claims against the states they live in if their cars sustained damage due to striking a pothole. Legal team Ethan Ostroff Law remarks that success with such claims will often depend on “local laws about road maintenance, and proving negligence.”

This latter bit about negligence was echoed by Legal Clarity, which provides a general list of factors claimants should pay attention to before going after a reimbursement check. First, folks must gather evidence. Snapping photos of the pothole or unsafe driving conditions in question from various angles is paramount. Doing so immediately after damage has been sustained to one’s vehicle is best.

Additionally, notifying police could presumably help one’s chances as well. This added record will not only demonstrate due diligence from the driver’s perspective but could also culminate in further documentation for your claim. Furthermore, taking detailed pictures of the damage directly after the accident is also recommended by Legal Clarity as well as insurance firm Joseph W. McMcartin Insurance, Inc. Posts from both also state that providing a detailed write-up of the incident, along with eyewitness accounts, will bolster one’s claim.

State Pothole Claim Processes

Moreover, different states have different ways to go about filing such claims. In New Jersey, for instance, folks can head on over to the Department of Risk Management online here to get started.

In all U.S. states except Maine—where the state is generally not considered liable, per Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance—drivers can file damage claims they believe were caused by a failure of the state to properly maintain its roads. These generally fall under property damage (Tort) law claims and are often handled by the Department of Transportation. Additionally, some states have time limits on when claims can be filed from when the damage first occurred. So, as a rule of thumb, gathering evidence and filing sooner rather than later will more than likely serve drivers’ best interests when trying to get paid in such claims.

Moreover, particular municipalities may have independent laws when it comes to filing damage claims due to unsafe roads. Longmeadow, Massachusetts, for instance, has its own web page for filing claims.

Motor1 has reached out to Daj via email for further comment.

 
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