We drive past them virtually every day without thinking much about them. Indeed, highway guardrails are part of our periphery, something we don’t much ponder until something terrible happens. But for those of us unfortunate enough to land in an accident on a highway, these guardrails often play critical roles in how the crash plays out. Trinity Industries, a manufacturer of guardrails on highways all across the country, has come under fire recently.

How Should Guardrails Act in a Collision?

The end terminal, or guardrail head, is usually striped, painted yellow and black. In an accident, this piece is designed to absorb the impact of a vehicle and accordion backward. As the head is pushed back by the car, the piece pushes the rails aside, peeling it away from the vehicle.

Trinity ET-Plus Design Flaw

Unfortunately, the Trinity Industries guardrails have been malfunctioning. Instead of those side rails peeling away, they have reportedly sliced right through cars. This malfunction has resulted in needless injuries (including amputations) and even some fatalities. The lawsuit against Trinity Industries argues that a 2005 redesign of these guardrail heads went unreported to federal regulators. The redesign is said to have saved the manufacturer about $2 per head.

As the investigation into this matter continues to unfold, accident victims across the country will watch to see if the malfunctioning guardrail head was indeed the result of the cheaper redesign. Trinity Industries will have a lot to answer for if this is indeed the case.

Seriously Injured in an Accident Involving a Guardrail?

Our Guardrail Injury Lawyers are currently investigating serious and fatal guardrail accidents related to this untested guardrail design. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident with a guardrail, contact our attorneys to discuss your legal options. We offer a free, no obligation, case evaluation – Get Help Now 877-544-5323