Ohio Code 5577.12 – Liability for damages – prosecution – application of moneys
Any person violating any law relating to or regulating the use of the improved public roads shall be liable for all damage resulting to any such street, highway, bridge, or culvert by reason of such violation. In case of any injury to such a street, highway, bridge, or culvert, such damages shall be collected by civil action, brought in the name of the state, on the relation of the director of transportation with respect to highways under his jurisdiction, and the attorney general or prosecuting attorney of any county shall institute such action, when requested by the director and prosecute it to final judgment. In case of any injury to an improved public road, bridge, or culvert of a county, by reason of the violations of any of the rules or regulations made by the board of county commissioners, the damages shall be recovered by a civil action prosecuted by the board; in case of an injury to an improved public street, highway, bridge, or culvert of a municipal corporation, it shall be the duty of the proper authorities of such municipal corporation to institute an action for the recovery of such damages; and in the case of an injury to an improved public street, road, bridge, or culvert of a township, the damages shall be recovered by a civil action prosecuted by the board of township trustees. All damages collected under this section shall be paid into the treasury of the state or proper political subdivision, and credited to any fund for the repair of streets, highways, roads, bridges, or culverts.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 5577.12
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
- state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59