So right off, put a basic claim in for the damage, at the same time put a FOI request in for the inspection log, the repair log and the reports log for that section of road. Expect your claim to be denied. At this point go quiet.
The key thing is going to be this:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/58
If you put a claim into the council, they will deny it saying they have a suitable inspection record, and unless youve hit that pothole after its been already been reported, you'll hit a brick wall.
To get any chance of getting money out of them for a replacement, you need to show that the inspection and maintenance falls short of the required standards.
First thing, go back there with todays newspaper, and take some photos to evidence the date the hole was there. Also take a tape measure, to show the size, and you'll need a way to show the depth, so need one down at ground level with a straight edge across the top and the rule so that the depth can be measured. If you can find another road with a pothole in it, do the same there, effectively you need to catch them out by showing that the potholes are not being picked up and repaired in a timely manner.
Next, keep going back and taking photos with newspapers until the hole gets filled. Once it is filled, request for pre-action disclosure of the inspection log, the repair log and the reports log for that section of road. If they refuse, you need to make an application to court for a court order to compel them to disclose the log to you and ask the court to award costs against them also. This wont be information you can get fully in a FOI, as under FOI they will redact times and dates, which make the records useless, you need to show that the road inspection and repair schedule falls short of national standards.
You'll also need a statement from someone, the AA would be ideal but unlikely to provide it, to explain that damage was caused by that pothole.
You are also likely going to be told that you were driving too fast, or without due care to avoid the pothole. Again, you need to rebut this point, either with a detailed description of why you couldnt avoid it, or dashcam footage would be ideal.
Its a game of cat and mouse, effectively, if you go down the route of small claims to recover the money, you need to put evidence forward to the judge that the council has failed in its duty to maintain the roads.
