Trinity ET-Plus Guardrail
A whistle blower lawsuit filed in June 2014 alleges that the manufacturer of the ET-Plus Guardrail changed the design so it acts like a spear instead of bending when hit by a car. Now, a growing number of people who were severely injured in horrific accidents are filing lawsuits.
The Pisanchyn Law Firm is accepting Trinity ET-Plus Guardrail induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by a defective highway guardrail, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Immediately contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (800) 444-5309.
ET-PLUS GUARDRAIL
Trinity Industries Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers of guardrail end-caps. These devices are designed to absorb an impact of an oncoming vehicle. The ET-Plus Guardrail is a safety feature on the end-cap. In a collision, the guardrail is extruded through the ET-Plus and deflected away from the vehicle. It was crash-tested and approved for use on highways in 2000.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
A whistleblower lawsuit alleges that Trinity quietly re-designed the ET-Plus in 2005, reducing the size of the feeder chute in a way that makes the guardrail more likely to get stuck and impale an oncoming vehicle instead of deflecting away.
The width of the head was reduced from five inches to four inches. The feeder channel height was reduced from 15-3/8 inches to 14-7/8 inches.
According to the civil lawsuit:
“Once throat locked, the energy of the crash is diverted elsewhere usually causing the guardrail to double over on itself or protrude through the crashing vehicle. If the guardrail and head assembly protrude like a spear through the vehicle, the inevitable result is usually death or serious bodily injury to the persons in the vehicle.”
Safety officials with the federal highway system say they were not aware that the design of the ET-Plus was changed until after the lawsuit was filed in March 2012. It is now pending in federal court in Texas.
Trinity has filed a defamation lawsuit against the whistleblower, Josh Harman, and says the lawsuit was filed out of spite. Harman was involved in a patent dispute with Trinity that cost him $12 million and sent his guardrail-installing business into bankruptcy, according to the Wall Street Journal.
WHY SHOULD YOU WORRY?
The re-designed ET-Plus Guardrail was not crash-tested or approved by the Federal Highway Administration, so it is unknown if it performs as well as the original design. Trinity insists it is safe and continues to sell the ET-Plus in all 50 states.
Nevada has removed the ET-Plus from the list of approved products and is no longer installing them, but most states have taken no action. In California, the ET-Plus is still on major highways.
GUARDRAIL INJURY LAWSUITS
Nationwide, lawsuits have been filed on behalf of numerous drivers who were injured or died when guardrails punctured their cars in an accident. Some of these injuries were described by ABC15:
In Tennessee, a 39 year-old woman who crashed into an end terminal died from severe organ damage and bleeding after the guardrail punctured her car and went through her torso.
In New York, a 20 year-old woman lost her right leg after a guardrail penetrated her driver’s side door in an accident in January 2010.
In Florida, a 20 year-old man was a passenger in a vehicle that swerved off the road. He had to have his left leg amputated below the knee after a guardrail punctured his vehicle.
DO YOU HAVE A TRINITY ET-PLUS GUARDRAIL LAWSUIT?
The Pisanchyn Law Firm is currently accepting Trinity ET-Plus Guardrail induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by a defective highway guardrail, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. We never charge a fee until we win your case. Contact us by filling out the form to the right or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (800) 444-5309.
Attention Lawyers: Click on referral on this website for compete details of our referral fee arrangements. Do yourself and your clients right by referring or working with experienced National experienced guardrail products liability Law Firm.
Get Free Advice Now!
Related Practice Areas
Dangerous Product Attorneys
We have prosecuted numerous cases of this nature and can honestly pledge to you, without any equivocation, that should we accept your case, we will make completely sure that you get the justice you deserve.
Defective Baby Products
If your child was the victim of defective baby products our Pennsylvania defective baby product lawyers can help, call 1-800-444-5309 now for a free consultation.
Chinese Product Injury Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a recalled or dangerous product made in China you need to consult with an experienced product liability attorney at The Pisanchyn Law Firm. You could be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer, the retailer, or even the wholesaler.
Lawn Mower Injury Attorneys
If you or someone you love suffered serious injuries or burns while using a lawn mower, Pisanchyn Law Firm has experienced product liability attorneys to evaluate your case.
Hoverboard Recall Attorneys
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries or burns as a result of a malfunctioning hoverboard, you call one of Pisanchyn Law Firm’s experienced hoverboard lawyers now for a free consultation at 1-800-444-5309.
Dangerous Toy Attorneys
When you retain the defective toy injury attorneys at the Pisanchyn Law Firm you know that you have a first-rate Law Firm that will fiercely pursue your rights and the money you deserve. As we have pledged, you will never pay a fee until we win your case.
Bards IVC Filters
If you or someone you love suffered serious injury or died due to complications from an IVC filter, contact our office by using the form on the right or call (800) 444-5309 to discuss your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or loss.
Hernia Mesh Attorneys
If you or someone you love is suffering from severe pain or injuries as a result of defective or faulty mesh, you may be entitled to a cash settlement. The Pisanchyn Law Firm will review your case, at no cost to you, and help you pursue justice for the pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages you have incurred during this time. In addition, you will never pay a fee until we win your case.
Vaginal Mesh | Pelvic Mesh Attorneys
The experienced, aggressive Vaginal Mesh/Pelvic Mesh lawyers at the Pisanchyn Law Firm will review your case, at no cost to you, and help you pursue justice for the pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages you have incurred during this time. In addition, you will never pay a fee until we win your case.
Medical Device Malfunction Attorneys
Our attorneys are experienced in both product liability as well as medical malpractice so we will be able to get you the compensation you deserve. We have prosecuted numerous cases of this nature and can honestly pledge to you, without any equivocation, that should we accept your case, we will make completely sure that you get the justice you deserve.
Talcum Powder Cancer Lawyers
Vaccine Injury Talcum Powder Cancer Roundup Cancer Defective Baby Products Trinity ET-Plus Guardrail Chinese Product Injury Lawn Mower Injury Hoverboard Recall Dangerous Toy Talcum Powder/Baby Powder Lawsuit For decades women used talcum powder for personal hygiene, as recommended by the makers of the product. Unfortunately, scientists and doctors have found a link between the powder [...]
Roundup Cancer Attorneys
If you or a loved one have suffered or have been diagnosed with cancer potentially related to the use of Monsanto Roundup, you may be entitled to compensation for all that you and your family have endured. Contact our PA Roundup Lawsuit Attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm so we and our team of medical experts can review your case.
Vaccine Injury Attorneys
If you or a loved one has experienced injury after a receiving a covered vaccine, contact our Vaccine Reaction Attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm so we and our team of medical experts can review your case.
Pain Pump Overdoses
Michael Pisanchyn and the Pisanchyn Law Firm will get the compensation deserved after you or a loved one suffers a pain pump overdose due to negligence.
