Virginia Judge Refuses Trinity Industries’ Request to Dismiss Guardrail Case

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Claims that no fraud was committed by the guardrail manufacturer Trinity Industries fell on the deaf ears of a Virginia judge. After listening to more than an hour of arguments, the judge instead ruled that a lawsuit against Trinity could move forward, according to reports. This is just one of the many lawsuits Trinity is facing from around the country following malfunctions of their guardrail, the ET-Plus.

The ET-Plus has faced much scrutiny over the past year. Last October, a Texas jury found Trinity Industries had defrauded the federal government and the company was fined. Since then, nearly every state in the nation has blacklisted the device from installation. Unfortunately, though, thousands of the guardrail end terminals remain on roads across the country.

The dangerous ET-Plus currently in use on our roads has been known to pierce vehicles during collisions, rather than peel away from the car as intended. This malfunction has caused countless injuries and deaths over the years. Some victims have lost limbs in the accidents – the sharp metal guardrail has amputated feet and legs. Experts say that a small change in design by Trinity Industries made the product cheaper to manufacture but more likely to malfunction. The Virginia Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Trinity to make sure the company – not Virginia taxpayers – are responsible for the cost of removing and replacing these dangerous safety devices.

While the case continues on, the Virginia Department of Transportation has not yet announced whether the ET-Plus devices on Commonwealth roads will be removed or replaced anytime soon.

Guardrail Injury Lawyer

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