Trinity guardrail attorneys note news reports that guardrail manufacturer Trinity Industries, Inc., must pay $663 million after it was found that the company defrauded the U.S. government by failing to inform the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of changes made to the Trinity ET-Plus guardrail system, which has been used in Alabama and many other states.
If you were injured or a loved one was killed in an accident that involved a Trinity guardrail, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Attorney Group for Alabama for a free consultation. We can answer your questions, inform you of your options, and connect you with an affiliated Trinity guardrail lawsuit attorney if you decide to pursue a claim. Your call is confidential and without any obligation.
Jury Finds That Trinity Defrauded U.S. Government
According to Bloomberg news, the $663 million penalty ends a three-year legal dispute with a smaller, Virginia-based competitor who alleged that the Trinity ET-Plus model guardrail would jam upon impact and pierce through cars instead of slow them down. The jury found that Trinity defrauded the government by selling the guardrail system without informing the FHWA of changes made in 2005.
$175 million was the original penalty, but the Federal False Claims Act tripled the amount to $525 million. The judge presiding over the case added an additional $138 million to the penalty, based on the finding that Trinity had made approximately 16,771 false claims to the government.
Guardrail manufacturers have a duty to make guardrails that are free of defects. If any changes are made to guardrail systems that could potentially compromise their level of safety, the manufacturers must inform the FHWA. Failure to do so could pose a danger to drivers or passengers on highways where the guardrails are used.
Injured Drivers or Passengers May Be Entitled to Compensation
Those who are injured in accidents involving Trinity guardrails may be entitled to compensation, which can include medical expenses, disability, loss of income or ability to work, and pain, suffering, and mental anguish resulting from an injury.
If a driver or passenger is killed in an accident involving a Trinity guardrail, family members may be able to pursue claims for their loved one’s wrongful death. Compensation for wrongful death can include pain, suffering, and mental anguish resulting from the loss of a loved one, conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death, funeral expenses, and loss of financial support.
The Time to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
If you or a loved one was in an accident involving a Trinity guardrail, contact Attorney Group for Alabama for more information about your options. We can answer your questions for free, confidentially, and without obligation on your part. If you choose to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated Trinity guardrail attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process. State laws limit the time you have to pursue a claim, so contact us today.
