Do you have additional photos?
Take at least 10 high quality ones.
I find early morning or late evening gives the best ones as the sun is lower in the sky. Around the middle of the day when the sun is overhead, the edge of the hole don't have a shadow so looks shallower.
Take photos which show the hole, previous repairs on the same section, general condition of the section (crazing or other damage and previous repairs)
If there is a bus stop or other reason for exasperated wear, photograph and note that.
Bet you bottom dollar they will have a regular inspection regime documented going back years and they will use this for what they call a statutory defence in that they took reasonable care in their duty to maintain the carriageway and the defect was unforeseen.
You need to show that it was not unforeseen (such as a collapsed utility or void) by way of previous history of repair, general state/condition being poor and the class of usage of the road, that it had developed over a period of time (ejected material location) and you need to aver that their inspection and repair regime was inadequate and so they failed in their duty of care and due diligence to maintain the condition of the carriageway.
In the past I have always submitted a letter of claim, which is rebuffed and then raised a claim on moneyclaimonline website which they usually pay a few days before the court. The one time I did go to court it was great, the firebrand Judge was like Judge Judy but English and she made mincemeat of the council solicitor (whow as very good but had no case to defend really) and entourage of two, even complaining that they brought three people and what a waste of taxpayers money. To add insult to injury, a group of law students sat in (they asked both parties if that was ok) and I heard the council solicitor telling them how easy it would be with the statutory defence etc... and she pretty much ran out 1 second after judgement was made for the claimant for the sum of £1346.
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