Who pays for infrastructure damage during accidents?

Question

There was a big accident this afternoon in Florida south of Tampa. On Rt 75 and Rt 301, a tractor trailer driver calling gasiline lost control, fliped over and exploded. The fire has caused damage to a significant bridge. Who pays for the repairs if the driver is found to be a fault?

Answer 1

The responsible driver pays the cost of an accident.  Recently happened in the Bay Area where a gasoline tanker blew up a Bay Bridge approach.  They said flat out "We'll pay to fix it."  

Another outfit in Indianapolis was moving a small 80-ton locomotive on a flatbed trailer, it came off the trailer and destroyed most of the uprights holding up a freeway bridge, which fell 6 inches onto the locomotive, now holding up the bridge.  GE builds strong locomotives, lol! Again, mover pays.

In both these cases, these were professional movers of unusual stuff, and they had loads of insurance and could pay.  

What if a private citizen caused a perfect storm like this?  I don't know about you but I don't think my auto insurance can handle a $10M repair bill.  So they cap out the poor guy's insurance and go after him personally, ok, what's he worth?  Not $10M... so what's the point, you sue him, he spends all his money in legal defense, you get a judgment he declares bankruptcy and you get $0, and you've ruined a man's life.  What's the point, unless he was a real bad guy?   Yeah the state eats it (i.e. you and I).

Answer 2

In an accident situation, the state initially pays to repair the damage to expedite the repairs. However the state, utility company or whatever will then sue the vehicle owner for damages. In the case of a guard rail, light pole etc. the vehicle owner or insurance pays for it hands down. In the case of a bridge, it may never be collectable from the vehicle owner or insurance, so the state ends up eating it. They will try to collect though.

Answer 3

i know in pa if a driver damages public property, he/she has to pay for it.  My friend hit a house (yikes) and she had to pay for the damages.  My boss hit a telephone poll and had to pay for that.

If fl is like pa, then the tractor trailer driver will have to pay.

Answer 4

That would be you, the taxpayer.

Answer 5

The state would pay for it and then go after the trucking companies insurance..........