The Nevada Department of Transportation has announced they will no longer allow any new ET-Plus guardrail end terminals to be installed along their state’s roads and highways. This decision comes after the revelation that the manufacturing company, Trinity Industries, failed to disclose critical design changes to state regulators back in 2005. This lack of disclosure directly violates Nevada policy, which requires manufacturers to alert their Department of Transportation of any changes to products previously approved for installation.

Experts now say that those changes in design are responsible for at least four deaths and nine serious injuries across the country. According to ABC15.com, the guardrail head is malfunctioning due to the one inch reduction in size that went unreported to federal regulators. Internal emails revealed this change saved the company production costs.

Highway guardrail heads are supposed to push vehicles off to the side by folding backward under the weight of colliding cars. The ET-Plus doesn’t do this. Instead, the end terminal pierces the front of vehicles, often injuring passengers and sometimes even amputating limbs. The original design, the ET-2000, did not malfunction in this way.

Trinity Industries is working to prove their product is safe through additional crash tests. This may prove to be too little, too late, as they recently were found guilty by a Texas judge of defrauding the federal government. Trinity’s failure to report the design changes has resulted in millions of dollars in fines for the company, as well as their product being pulled from over 30 states approved products lists.

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