Law Offices of David S. Vogel, Seattle, Washington

King County, Washington, has agreed to pay $3 Million to an injured nurse left with severe brain damage following a 2002 automobile accident involving a county dump truck and loader.

The county equipment was parked on the side of the road near Sahalee Way in Sammamish, blocking the view of other vehicles.  A police officer had notified the King County Department of Transportation that the equipment posed a danger to drivers.  "For whatever reason, the county ignored the directive given by the Sammamish police, a decision that resulted in horrible injuries to Francis and lasting damage to her and her family," Mike Nelson, attorney for the plaintiff, Francis Rader, said.

Following the accident, the county workers operating the equipment left the scene without calling for help.

The plaintiff is a 41-year-old mother with four children.  She suffered a broken back and significant head injury, resulting in several operations.  She has been unable to return to work at the University of Washington Medical Center.