Reporting a Pothole in Huntington and a Tip to Make Sure It Gets Fixed

We all look forward to the spring except for the potholes that wreck our roads and our cars. To report a pothole to the Town of Huntington you can call (631) 499-0444 or click here to file an online report call. But don’t go away so fast! Reporting the pothole is one thing; making sure it gets fixed takes a little more work. Read on and I will share the information you need to make sure the Town pays attention and fixes that pothole.

Identify Who Owns the Road

You need to report the pothole to the government level of government that owns the road. Most roads in this area belong to Town of Huntington and or one of the four incorporated Villages (Northport, Ashroken, Huntington Bay or Lloyds Neck). IF the Town owns the road, report the pothole to the Town. If a Village owns the road, report the pothole to the Village. But there are County and State Roads in Huntington too.

For a New York State road, you can call 1-800-Pot-Hole. (Click here for more information on reporting a pothole to New York State). In Huntington, the State Roads include:

· The Long Island Expressway

· All of the Parkways

· Roads with a state designation such as Jericho Turnpike (Route 25) Route 110, 25A and so on.

For a pothole on a Suffolk County Road, you can call the Department of Public Works at 631-852-4070. Suffolk County does not offer an online form or app, but the Department staffs the pothole number 24 hours a day. Some of the County Roads in Huntington include all or part of: Pulaski Road, Greenlawn Road, Oakwood Road, Commack Road, Cuba Hill Road, Elwood Road, and Motor Parkway. (This list is not exhaustive). For more information on reporting a pothole on a county road, click here for Suffolk County and click here for Nassau County.

The More Information You Have, the Better

Here is the information that you will need to report the pothole:

· The community or hamlet where the pothole is located

· The name of the road and the nearest cross-streets

· The street address, if available

· Direction of travel

· Any near-by landmarks

The Secret to Getting the Pothole Fixed

To report a pothole in the Town of Huntington, you should call the Department of Highways at (631) 499-0444 or click here to file an online report. Yet reporting a pothole does not create a legal obligation to repair the pothole.

If you put the complaint in writing and send it to the Town Clerk (yes, the Town Clerk), that puts the Town on notice about the pothole. The Town must then repair the pothole in a reasonable amount of time (the courts have not set a strict amount, but within a few days). If the Town fails to fix the pothole in a timely manner, then the Town becomes legally liable for any damages caused by the pothole. With money on the line, the Town pays attention and makes sure that pothole gets fixed pronto.

Why a letter to the Town Clerk? New York State law says that towns must receive prior written notice and the towns get to decide who should receive that notice. Huntington (as have other towns on Long Island) has designated the Town Clerk. So take the information listed below and send your letter to

Hon. Jo-Ann Raia
Huntington Town Clerk

Town Hall (Room 102)
100 Main Street
Huntington, NY 11743

Want to read more about Huntington and their view of written prior notice? Click here to read how the Town fought in court to protect their right to receive that written notice. Want to put Suffolk County on notice? You have to send a certified letter to the Clerk of the Legislature. Click here to read more about putting Suffolk County on notice.

So call in the pothole to the Department of Highways, but write that letter to make sure you have the Town’s attention and to get that pothole filled.

I hope this information has helped. If you have need for a car accident attorney or personal injury attorney, I would be glad to speak to you and help you. The consultation is always free. You can call me at 631-425-9775 or email me.

Carol L. Schlitt
The Schlitt Law Firm
Huntington Personal Injury Attorney
1-800-660-1466
Contact@SchlittLaw.com

This material is intended for informational uses only. It is not meant as legal advice. To receive legal advice, you should consult an attorney. Remember, past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in the future.