"Now, I’m just waiting to hear from the Legal Department in Kansas City about reimbursing me for my expenses due to their pothole damaging my wheel and tire. . Will my luck hold out? I sure hope so."

Good luck with that. By the time you file all the necessary paperwork, and a half dozen phones calls later after several denials, you will probably just accept your loss. Just what the Government wants!

However you’ll maximize the chances you get paid if you take a few key steps:
Take photos of the damage.
Get an itemized repair estimate or receipt.
And pinpoint the pothole’s exact location.
When you file a claim, keep a copy of the form for yourself.
Don't wait, many States only gives you six months to file.
The best reports include an exact location.