Guardrail Accidents
Guardrails are strategically placed along highways and motorways to not only protect drivers, but also to limit the damage done in a motor vehicle accident. Guardrails are designed with an energy-absorbing end terminal, which is supposed to absorb the shock of a collision. However, when these terminals malfunction, the guardrail can cause more harm to motorists than the collision itself.
The problem with the Trinity ET Plus guardrails is that the end terminals manufactured between 2005 and 2012 do not work as they are intended to in crashes. More specifically, the end terminals fail to absorb crash energy by riding down the guardrail as designed. Instead, the energy of the vehicle impacting the terminal is transferred into the guardrail itself, causing it to deform into a metal spear, impaling the vehicle and causing sever injury to those inside. The cause of this has been found to be small changes of around 1″ or less in the dimensions of two components: the exit gap through which W-guardrail is extruded during a crash, and the height and width of the feeder chute.
Trinity Guardrails Cause National Concern
On October 22, 2014 Oregon and Mississippi joined five other states in prohibiting the installation of guardrails produced by Trinity Industries of Dallas, Texas, due to safety concerns. An undisclosed change in design resulted in the guardrails becoming defective and causing the rails to pierce through the body of the vehicle, resulting in serious injuries including limb amputation and death. The Trinity guardrail units have been installed in almost every state. A number of states, including Maine, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont, are assessing the guardrail systems. Other states have said they are awaiting guidance from the Federal Highway Administration. Delaware said it was also considering a ban.
Contact Our Guardrail Accident Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in a guardrail accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. The expert accident lawyers of [firm-name] represent accident victims across the country. Our dedicated, experienced team of guardrail accident attorneys have more than 50 years of experience helping victims of accidents involving guardrails.
Contact [firm-name] today at 844-686-5397 or through our online contact form for a FREE initial consultation. We can discuss your legal options for obtaining compensation for the losses you or a loved one have suffered.
At [phone-number], our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through team work and the use of our considerable resources and experience. For a FREE consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us at [phone-number].
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