Pothole crashes happen every day on Yakima’s aging streets, yet most people have no idea where to turn when a sudden ka-thunk ruins a wheel or sends them to the emergency room. Scott Brumback and Sidney Ottem spent more than three decades helping Central Washington families recover after road defect accidents. Their veteran-owned practice has secured millions in verdicts and settlements because they treat each client like a neighbor, not a file number. If a pothole has damaged a client’s car, or worse, injured them, attorneys at Brumback & Ottem Injury Law will walk them through every option and fight for full compensation.

Call (509) 457-7258 now to speak directly with Yakima pothole attorneys Scott Brumback & Sidney Ottem. We’ll fight for full compensation. You’ll pay nothing until you win.

“I called them needing legal representation. I explained everything, they actually listened to me, to my concerns. They even helped me fill out paperwork I didn’t understand well enough to feel comfortable filling out on my own. Thus far they have been the best decision I’ve made regarding my choice of legal representation in this case.” – Feibing G.

Why Potholes Endanger Yakima Drivers

Yakima streets develop thousands of potholes each winter. The freeze-thaw cycle breaks pavement, and heavy orchard trucks widen every crack. A deep hole can bend a rim, blow a tire, or throw a motorcycle off balance in a heartbeat.

City crews maintain roughly 400 miles of roadway, yet budget limits mean many holes linger past Yakima’s 24-hour repair goal. That delay leaves everyday commuters, parents on Tieton Drive, and farmhands on Yakima Valley Highway, exposed to serious harm.

What Damage and Injuries Can a Pothole Cause?

Car parts absorb the first hit, but people often pay the bigger price.

Common vehicle losses

Tires & Rims: Sidewall blowouts and cracked alloy wheels occur instantly.
Alignment & Suspension: Struts, tie-rods, even axles can warp, making steering dangerous.
Undercarriage: Oil pans, exhaust systems, and brake lines scrape or rupture.

Typical injuries

Whiplash & Back Strain: A sudden jolt snaps the neck and spine.
Concussion: The impact can slam a driver’s head against the headrest.
Soft-Tissue Trauma: Bruises and sprains from seatbelts or airbag deployment.

Uncommon but real scenarios

Unexpected Airbag Deployment: A Yakima teen recently suffered facial burns when a curb-deep pothole triggered side curtains.
Secondary Collisions: Swerving cars strike other vehicles or rollover in gravel shoulders.
Psychological Harm: Children develop travel anxiety; adults may relive the crash and avoid certain roads.
Lost Livelihood: A delivery driver without a functioning van can miss weeks of wages.

Our pothole accident attorneys document each loss: mechanical, physical, and emotional so nothing is left off the claim.

Will My Auto Insurance Pay for Pothole Damage in Washington?

Collision coverage generally pays for pothole repairs. You must still meet your deductible, and the insurer may view the event as an at-fault crash unless another driver forced the maneuver. If damages fall below the deductible, paying out-of-pocket may be wiser. When repairs soar past $1,000, insurance can speed the fix while we pursue the city for reimbursement, including your deductible.

Can I Sue the City or State for a Pothole Crash?

Washington law requires public agencies to keep roads reasonably safe. They are liable only when they knew, or should have known, about the hazard and failed to act within a reasonable time.

Actual notice: Another driver filed a complaint days earlier, yet no patch appeared.
Constructive notice: The hole was so large and long-standing that routine inspections should have caught it.

Depending on location, the responsible entity might be Yakima City Streets, Yakima County, or the Washington State DOT. Sometimes a private contractor or utility company owns the problem. Our Yakima pothole lawyers investigate maintenance logs and prior complaints to pinpoint fault.

What Should I Do Right After Hitting a Pothole?

Protect safety. Pull over, check for injuries, call 911 if anyone is hurt.
Document the scene. Photograph the pothole with something for scale and every angle of vehicle damage.
Record details. Note date, exact location, weather, and witnesses.
Report the hazard. Use Yakima’s “Yak-Back” system or call Public Works; for highways, alert WSDOT.
Inspect your vehicle. Hidden damage wrecks tires days later—get a written estimate.
Notify insurers. Even if you plan to pursue the city, collision or PIP coverage might assist now.
Call Brumback & Ottem. Early advice preserves evidence and avoids costly procedural mistakes.

How Do I File a Yakima or Washington Pothole Claim?

City of Yakima: File a written damage claim with the City Clerk at 129 N. Second Street, attaching photos and repair bills.

Yakima County: Submit a county damage form to Risk Management for roads outside city limits.

State highways: Complete a Washington Tort Claim and mail it to the Office of Risk Management in Olympia.

Include every receipt and medical record. Reviews take weeks; small offers or outright denials are common. Our attorneys, Scott Brumback or Sidney Ottem, prepare airtight packages and handle follow-ups, so the agency takes your loss seriously.

How Long Do I Have to Act?

Washington’s statute of limitations is three years, but you must serve the government a claim notice 60 days before filing suit. Evidence fades fast, and repaired potholes vanish overnight, so starting within weeks is best. Our firm calendars every deadline to keep your rights intact.

Do I Really Need a Lawyer?

You can pursue a $200 tire claim alone. You should call a lawyer when injuries, high repair costs, or government entities complicate matters. Our pothole accident attorneys:

Prove notice. We subpoena maintenance records the public can’t access.
Meet strict rules. One missed date voids a claim; we never miss deadlines.
Maximize value. We pursue medical bills, lost income, and pain—not just parts.
Fight lowball offers. We negotiate firmly and file suit when needed, all on a contingency fee.

By hiring us, you focus on recovery while we handle red tape.

What If I Swerved and Crashed Without Touching the Pothole?

Swerving accidents are common. Liability may still rest with the government if the pothole created an unavoidable danger, but Washington’s comparative negligence rules divide fault. Investigators will analyze speed, road conditions, and witness statements. Insurers might cover your damage first; we then pursue the city for reimbursement, arguing the pothole was the proximate cause. These cases hinge on evidence, dashcam footage, traffic video, or multiple witness accounts, which our firm can secure quickly.

What Compensation Can I Recover?

Our attorneys at Brumback & Ottem Injury Law demand every penny you deserve:

Vehicle repairs or total-loss value including alignment and paint damage.
Medical expenses for ER visits, follow-up care, and future treatment.
Lost wages and earning capacity if injuries sideline you.
Pain and suffering for physical pain, emotional distress, or PTSD.
Loss of use for rental cars or rideshare costs during repairs.
Miscellaneous out-of-pocket costs, from towing to therapy sessions.

No category is “too small” when the city’s negligence caused your loss.

Where Can I Get Help with a Pothole Claim in Yakima County?

Right here at Brumback & Ottem Injury Law. Our office at 1905 Rainier Place in Union Gap offers free parking and a friendly welcome. Call (509) 457-7258 anytime, day or night. We will:

Listen to your story with compassion.
Evaluate liability and potential recovery at no cost.
Handle every form, deadline, and negotiation while you move forward.

Yakima’s roads may be rough, but your path to justice doesn’t have to be. Let Scott Brumback, Sidney Ottem, and our dedicated road-defect attorneys shoulder the burden and turn your pothole problem into a paid-in-full solution.

Meet Our Attorneys

Scott Brumback, JD

Scott Brumback is a decorated U.S. Army veteran and seasoned trial lawyer serving Yakima Valley clients for nearly three decades. After 30 years of combined active duty and JAG service, he earned dual degrees at Michigan State and a law degree from Case Western Reserve (1991). Scott prosecuted cases for Yakima County and the City of Yakima before co-founding what is now Brumback & Ottem Injury Law. He is admitted in all Washington courts, the U.S. District Courts for Eastern and Western Washington, and remains active with veterans’ and trial-lawyer associations.

Sidney “Sid” Ottem, JD, MS

Sid Ottem couples farm-honed work ethic with high-level federal litigation experience. A Brown University graduate and former football recruit, he earned a JD and master’s in Environmental Science at the University of Oregon (1992). Sid managed the state’s landmark Yakima Basin water-rights case, then served as a managing attorney for the U.S. Department of the Interior before partnering with Scott Brumback in 2015. Licensed in Washington and the U.S. District Court for Eastern Washington, Sid focuses on complex injury claims when he’s not fishing Northwest waterways with his family.

Together, our Yakima pothole damage lawyers blend courtroom skill with small-town empathy.

“In my experience in business and with countless other attorneys, I have never been treated with such respect or witnessed such hard work and dedication to a client. Scott Brumback and his entire staff worked tirelessly to help me navigate the extremely complex case I was facing.” – Wes B.

Still weighing your options? Call (509) 457-7258 now for a free consultation. We only get paid when you do. Let Brumback & Ottem put our experience, tenacity, and hometown care to work for you today.