Damage to highways; liability of driver and owner.

Any person driving or moving any vehicle or combination of vehicles, object, or contrivance upon any highway or highway structure shall be liable for all damages which the highway or structure may sustain as a result of any illegal operating, driving, or moving of such vehicle or combination of vehicles, object, or contrivance, whether or not such damage is a result of operating, driving, or moving any vehicle or combination of vehicles, object, or contrivance weighing in excess of the maximum weights or exceeding the maximum size as provided in this chapter but authorized by special permit issued pursuant to s. 316.550. Whenever the driver is not the owner of the vehicle or combination of vehicles, object, or contrivance but is so operating, driving, or moving the same with the express or implied permission of the owner, then the owner and driver shall be jointly and severally liable for any such damage. Such damage may be recovered in any civil action brought by the authorities in control of the highway or highway structure.