South Carolina Paid $5 Million in Claims for Bad Roads

South Carolina has paid more than $5 million for damages from the state’s roads in the past year.

The Greenville News reported that documents it obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed the state spent more than $5 million in legal claims by motorists and others whose cars were damaged or who were injured or killed.

The figures from the state Insurance Reserve Fund show the state also spent more than $2 million in legal costs in those claims.

The payments range from several hundred dollars for pothole damage to several hundred thousand dollars for fatal wrecks.

Last week The Road Information Program released a report saying the average South Carolina driver pays $1,150 extra each year for maintenance, extra fuel and accident-related costs because of bad roads.