(a) Any person driving any vehicle, object, or contrivance upon any highway or highway structure shall be liable for all damage that such highway or structure may sustain as a result of any illegal operation, driving or moving of such vehicle, object, or contrivance, or as a result of operating, driving, or moving any such vehicle, object, or contrivance weighing in excess of the permitted maximum weight but authorized by a special permit issued as provided in § 15-21.12.
(b) Whenever such driver is not the owner of such vehicle, object, or contrivance, but is so operating, driving, or moving the same with the expressed or implied permission of its owner, then such owner and driver shall be jointly and severally liable for any such damage.
(Sec. 15-21.7, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.)) (1990 Code, Ch. 15, Art. 21, § 15-21.7)