SEATTLE, WA -- A motorcyclist who was severely injured when he crashed into a dump truck working on a Department of Transportation project is getting $18.5 million from the state and a contractor.
Scott Bliss of Raymond was riding his motorcycle in April of 2015 when a construction truck pulled a U-turn in front of him, causing a violent collision that altered the rest of his life.
Bliss, a welder, was heading to work before dawn when he crashed into the truck, which was working on a WSDOT construction project along I-5 in Chehalis.
Bliss suffered a devastating head injury that left him in a coma for months.
Bliss and his girlfriend Cheryl Aton sued the state and the project's construction contractor, Scarsella Brothers. The suit argued that the accident was caused by faulty state supervision and the contractor's truck driver.
"This was just a matter of, we believe, under staffing, under training on behalf of their nighttime inspectors," said Bliss lawyer Viivi Vanderslice.
And now a judge has approved an $18.5 million settlement, which is believed to be the largest settlement of its kind involving WSDOT in Lewis County history.
The state took out a special insurance policy governing its project, so the settlement money will be paid out by the insurance carriers for both the state and the contractor.
While the settlement is welcome news to all parties, it won't change the fact that Bliss will never be the same again.
"He'll need 24 hour assistance for the rest of his life, he'll need constant physical therapy," said lawyer Kirk Bernard, who is also representing Bliss.
A representative for Scarsella Brothers would not comment on the settlement. WSDOT released a statement saying, in part, that safety is a "top priority for WSDOT and we work diligently with our contractors to reduce the risk of roadway incidents."