Internal emails between Trinity Industries and the Federal Highway Administration have revealed that federal regulators knew about a change in the malfunctioning guardrail systems years earlier than they claimed. An engineer for the Federal Highway Administration, Nick Artimovich, was alerted to issues regarding the Trinity ET-Plus model by a safety expert. According to Bloomberg.com, the expert wrote to explain that Trinity had likely made a second unauthorized change to its guardrail head design. Artimovich’s reaction was to forward the message onto Trinity Industries consultants, recommending they alert company attorneys.
Such unethical behavior is shocking considering the Federal Highway Administration’s goal is to look out for the safety of American citizens on the road. These emails reveal what many people fear – that government agencies too often look out for the interests of private industry first and the general public second.Trinity continued to sell this guardrail system for two additional years after the Federal Highway Administration first learned of the unauthorized design changes.
These design changes are thought to be the reason behind the guardrail head’s malfunction, and responsible for injuries and fatalities nation-wide.
Texas courts recently found Trinity Industries guilty of defrauding the government. The company was fined $175 million. In spite of the verdict, Trinity Industries continues to stand by its product and promised additional crash tests to prove the safety of their guardrail heads. As the investigation into this continues, Trinity and their relationship with the Federal Highway Administration will continue to be under a great deal of scrutiny.
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