LA City Pothole Damage Claims: Form 100-A and Filing Steps

If a pothole or street defect in the City of Los Angeles damaged your vehicle or caused an injury, you can submit a City of Los Angeles Claim for Damages through the City Clerk. The City offers an online portal and a paper form commonly called Form 100-A. Filing asks the City to investigate your claim; it does not guarantee payment.

First confirm which agency is responsible for the location, document what happened, and check your deadline. Claims for injury or damage to personal property, including a car, generally must be presented within six months of accrual, often the incident date. Reporting a pothole for repair is a separate step.

Where to find the official LA City claim form

Start with the City Clerk’s official Claim for Damage page. It links to the online filing portal and current paper form, and lists submission instructions. Use that official page rather than an older downloaded copy.

The form covers claims alleging that a City action or failure to act caused injury or loss. A damaged tire, wheel, or suspension may involve a property-damage claim. A cyclist thrown from a bicycle or a pedestrian injured by a street defect may also have an injury claim. The facts determine whether the City is legally responsible.

Is the road maintained by LA City, LA County, or Caltrans?

A Los Angeles mailing address does not establish City responsibility. Before choosing a form, record the intersection, direction of travel, lane, and exact location. Road ownership, maintenance agreements, construction work, and the source of the hazard can all matter.

Possible responsible agency	Where to begin
City of Los Angeles	City Clerk claim instructions for claims against the City.
Los Angeles County	County claims process for claims against the County, which is a separate public entity.
State highway system	Caltrans damage-claim instructions, including the applicable filing route.
Another city, private owner, utility, or contractor	Investigate the responsible party and its applicable process. The LA City form is not a universal claim form.

Do not assume that filing with one agency preserves a claim against another. If ownership is uncertain or several parties may be involved, obtain help identifying them before the presentation deadline.

What deadlines apply to an LA City pothole claim?

There are separate deadlines for presenting a government claim and filing a lawsuit. The California Courts government-claim guide explains the general sequence:

• Injury or personal-property damage: The claim generally must be presented within six months of accrual. Vehicle damage belongs in this category.
• Certain other claims: A one-year presentation period generally applies to claims such as damage to real property. A damaged car is not real property.
• Written rejection: A lawsuit on state-law claims generally must be filed within six months after a legally sufficient rejection notice is personally delivered or deposited in the mail.
• No qualifying written rejection: A different rule may allow two years from accrual, subject to exceptions. This does not excuse a missed initial claim deadline.

The agency generally has 45 days to act on a presented claim, subject to applicable extensions. That is not a promise that payment or investigation will finish within 45 days. Do not wait for an adjuster’s final response without checking the legal deadline.

Late-claim procedures and exceptions are limited. If a deadline may have passed, seek legal advice promptly rather than assuming that another submission or an explanation will cure the problem.

How to prepare Form 100-A

Organize your information before starting the form. Keep statements factual and identify anything you do not know instead of filling gaps with assumptions.

1. Identify the claimant and notice address. Use reliable contact information and monitor the address designated for correspondence.
2. Describe the event. Give the date, time, precise location, direction of travel, and sequence of events. Explain which part of the vehicle struck the defect or how the fall occurred.
3. Explain the claimed City connection. State the factual basis for believing City conduct or property caused the loss. Do not assert that employees knew about the defect unless you have support.
4. Identify witnesses and reports. Include available witness details and relevant police, service-request, or incident numbers. Label reports made after the incident accurately.
5. Describe the loss. Separate vehicle damage, other property loss, and injuries. Keep an itemized record of expenses and insurance payments. The amount section must comply with the applicable government-claim rules; do not guess a final injury value simply to fill a blank. Significant or continuing injuries warrant review of the claim’s wording and amount requirements.
6. Add a useful diagram and supporting material. Show the defect in relation to streets, lanes, and landmarks. Label attachments so a reviewer can connect them to your account.
7. Review and sign. Follow the current form’s signature and attachment instructions. Keep an exact copy of everything submitted.

Evidence that helps explain a pothole or street-damage claim

Build a record of both how the incident happened y what it cost. A repair bill establishes an expense but may not establish why the City should pay it.

• Take close-up and wider photographs of the defect, surrounding roadway, and damage when it is safe. Do not stand in traffic to obtain pictures.
• Save original dashcam or phone footage before it is overwritten, along with the date and location.
• Keep repair estimates, invoices, towing receipts, and photographs of damaged parts. Ask the repair shop to describe its findings rather than simply repeating your conclusion.
• Record witness contact information and preserve relevant messages or incident notes.
• For injuries, retain medical records, bills, and documentation of missed work. Seek appropriate care rather than delaying treatment for the claim.
• Preserve available earlier complaints, inspection records, or maintenance records. A service request made after your collision does not by itself show the City knew of the hazard beforehand.

In a dangerous-public-property case, responsibility can depend on the condition, causation, foreseeable risk, and whether public employees negligently created the condition or the agency had legally sufficient notice in time to act. Defenses and immunities may apply. For the broader liability discussion, see our guide to injuries caused by poor road maintenance in California.

How to submit the claim and keep proof

The City Clerk currently offers online submission, mailing, or in-person delivery. The paper filing address is:

Office of the City Clerk
200 North Spring Street, Room 395, City Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Check the Clerk’s current instructions before visiting. Save the online confirmation and claim number, or your delivery records and a complete paper copy. An unfinished portal session is not proof of submission.

New claims are not accepted by email or fax. Sending supporting documents for an existing claim is different. If attachments prevent online submission, the Clerk says documents can be supplied later. Keep the initial claim complete, preserve its confirmation, and follow the official instructions for adding documents.

Reporting a pothole is not the same as seeking compensation

The Bureau of Street Services directs repair requests to MyLA311 through its pothole-reporting page. That helps alert the City to a road problem. A damages claim asks for payment for an alleged loss. Keep both reference numbers if you use both processes; do not treat a repair-request confirmation as proof that a damages claim was filed.

What happens after filing or receiving a denial?

After filing with the Clerk, the claim moves to the City Attorney’s Claims Division for handling. Use your claim number for follow-up and keep a dated log of correspondence. Respond to requests for supporting records while separately tracking deadlines.

If a notice says information is missing, review its instructions promptly. Correcting information does not guarantee acceptance, payment, or an extension. If the claim is denied, preserve the notice and envelope and evaluate whether a court action is appropriate before the applicable deadline expires.

For a straightforward vehicle-repair claim, you may be able to handle the administrative process yourself. Serious injury, uncertain agency responsibility, disputed notice, or a rejection close to a deadline can make legal review useful. If a proposed payment includes a release, understand which claims it would resolve before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Will Los Angeles reimburse me for a tire damaged by a pothole?

Possibly, but a pothole impact alone does not establish City liability. You need evidence supporting the loss and the City’s legal responsibility. The result depends on the facts and applicable defenses.

Can I use the LA City form for an LA County road?

The City and County have separate claim procedures. Confirm the responsible entity and use its process. Do not rely only on the name “Los Angeles” in the address.

Should I wait until all repairs or treatment are finished?

Do not let the claim-presentation deadline pass while waiting for final bills. Document the loss known so far and obtain advice when ongoing injury or uncertain damages affect how the claim should be prepared.

Does the City need a prior 311 complaint to be responsible?

A prior complaint can be useful evidence, but it is not the only possible way to establish responsibility. Agency notice and employee creation of a dangerous condition are distinct issues. A new complaint after your incident does not prove earlier notice.

Do I need a lawyer to file Form 100-A?

No. People can submit their own claims. Legal assistance may be useful where injuries are significant, several parties may be responsible, or a deadline or rejection requires closer analysis.

Discuss an injury caused by a street defect

If a pothole or unsafe street condition caused a significant injury, State Law Firm can discuss the circumstances and whether further legal investigation may be appropriate. Have the incident date, exact location, photographs, and any claim or rejection notices available when you request a consultation. For an overview of related injury matters, visit our premises liability practice page.

This article provides general information, not advice about an individual claim or deadline.