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Report: New York City spent $138 million for pothole damages, injuries

By Amy R. Connolly
Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at a press conference with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton where they announced lower crime rates in 2014 in New York City at 1 Police Plaza on Jan. 5, 2015. Thursday, a newly released report showed New York City has spent $138 million in taxpayer dollars to settle injury claims from potholes and road defects in the past six years. De Blasio said the city is actively working to rectify the problems. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at a press conference with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton where they announced lower crime rates in 2014 in New York City at 1 Police Plaza on Jan. 5, 2015. Thursday, a newly released report showed New York City has spent $138 million in taxpayer dollars to settle injury claims from potholes and road defects in the past six years. De Blasio said the city is actively working to rectify the problems. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

NEW YORK, July 31 (UPI) -- New York City has spent $138 million in taxpayer dollars to settle injury claims from potholes and road defects in the past six years, the city's comptroller said Thursday.

The comptroller's report showed there have been 5,913 personal-injury claims for "defective roadways" from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2015. Of those, 2,681 claims, mostly trip-and-fall injuries, were settled at a total cost of $136.3 million. Another 12,286 claims were filed for vehicle damage in the same period. Of those, the city paid on 1,549 claims, at a total cost of $1.5 million.

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The analysis showed the Belt Parkway, which runs through Brooklyn and Queens, produced the highest number of claims involving vehicles (706) and Broadway, in Manhattan, had the most pedestrian claims (195).

"For anyone who's driven in our city, this list should come as no surprise," City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer said. "If you happen to drive on the Belt, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers."

Stringer's findings were part of the ClaimStat Alert initiative, aimed at identifying patterns of claims made against the city and creating goals to reduce the amounts of settlements paid. New York City law makes the city liable for damages or injuries caused by potholes that it knows of.

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The report notes there are several variables that contribute to the pot holes, with snow creating the biggest problems. During winter 2013 to 2014, 57.4 inches of snow fell over New York City, resulting in 2,955 injury and damage claims, the highest number filed.

A spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city is actively working to deal with the problems.

"We believe we've already acted aggressively in this area," Wiley Norvell said. "In many ways it mirrors conclusions the city has already reached."

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