When I lived in NE Ohio the city where I was would pay off claims for vehicle damage, wheels, tires, suspension, caused by potholes. No clue how they determined city vs. driver responsibility since both would come into play in certain circumstances.
If this accident occured within the city of Los Angeles I'd approach them and ask for reimbursement. You have nothing to lose at this point. I mention Los Angeles specifically because the poor condition of their roads is well documented.