DoNotPay's Robot Lawyer Expands Services - Pothole & Damage Claims
Frustrated with Unaddressed City Issues? A New Solution is Available.
Are you regularly inconvenienced by road hazards like potholes, but unsure of the proper channels for reporting them to your local authorities? Have you previously submitted a report, only to feel it was lost without any action taken?
DoNotPay, a company focused on simplifying complex processes through automation, may offer a solution. Initially launched as a service to contest parking tickets, their “robot lawyer” has expanded its capabilities significantly.
Expanding Services to Address Common Problems
Over time, the platform has added features to assist users with tasks such as cancelling difficult subscriptions and securing deserved refunds.
Their newest functionality centers around reporting municipal problems – including potholes, fallen trees or branches, and malfunctioning streetlights – to the appropriate city departments.
Furthermore, if these issues have resulted in property damage or financial loss, DoNotPay can assist in filing a claim for reimbursement.
“It appears fundamentally unjust that a driver with a broken tail light can be ticketed and fined by the government,” explains Joshua Browder, founder of DoNotPay. “Yet, when a pothole causes damage, obtaining compensation from the government is often impossible.”
“Therefore, we’ve developed a tool that functions as a ‘repair request’ directed towards the government.”
How the Reporting System Works
When initiating a city issue report through DoNotPay, users are presented with two distinct options: reporting the issue itself or filing a claim for compensation.
The reporting function identifies the correct department within your city to receive the report. Then, a chatbot collects the necessary details and submits them to the city, including your contact information.
The compensation option guides you through the small claims court procedure. While the “robot lawyer” cannot provide legal representation, it generates the required documentation and offers guidance on building your case.
DoNotPay began as a personal project but rapidly evolved into a substantial service.
“During my time at Stanford, I accumulated numerous parking tickets,” Browder recounts. “I realized that the government often issues tickets as a revenue source, rather than solely for punitive reasons.”
“I initially created the platform for personal use and to assist friends. However, after a friend shared it on Reddit, it quickly gained international attention. I went from handling ten cases initially to over 50,000 within a couple of days.”
“This surge in demand demonstrated that there was a significant need for a service that addresses the frustration of being unfairly treated. I’ve dedicated the last six years to developing this concept further.”
Browder states that these new reporting features are currently available, functioning in the 50 largest cities in the United States. They are included as part of DoNotPay’s standard subscription, which costs $36 for a three-month period.
