Trinity Industries, a leading leader in the road safety business, has achieved a class action settlement over their ET-Plus guardrails that is worth $6 million. This is a significant milestone for both the safety of drivers and the justice of consumers. Specifically, this settlement addresses allegations that the ET-Plus guardrails were faulty and might have posed a risk to others.
Because of the consequences it has for both the safety of drivers and the responsibility of businesses, the legal dispute over these guardrails has attracted the attention of the general public. In this essay, we will go into the specifics of the settlement, investigate its consequences, and provide some advice on what this means for the parties who were impacted as well as for the future of road safety.
Trinity Industries ET-Plus Guardrails $6M Class Action Settlement 2024
Trinity Industries agreed to a $6 million class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims that ET-Plus guardrails were dangerous and defective.
The class action lawsuit settlement benefits Missouri counties with populations of 10,000 or more as of July 1, 2014, that have or had ET-Plus guardrail end terminal systems with 4-inch-wide feeder shoots installed on county-owned and -maintained roadways. The settlement includes the independent city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri’s transportation authority. The Missouri Census Data Center will determine eligible counties.
The ET-Plus guardrail end terminal was designed to absorb the impact of crashes. However, these devices have been associated with defects and injuries. ET-Plus devices have been linked to fatal car accidents, including a Nov. 1 accident that claimed the life of a driver in Ohio, according to News 5 Cleveland.
According to a class action lawsuit against Trinity Industries, the manufacturer made changes to the ET-Plus guardrails’ design in 2005 without announcing the redesign or seeking approval.
However, these changes allegedly caused the Trinity Industries ET-Plus guardrails to be unsafe. The new design allegedly causes the ET-Plus devices to lock up during a crash. As a result, the guardrail does not ribbon away from the vehicle and instead can puncture the vehicle, the class action lawsuit contends.
“As a result of Trinity’s design changes to the original ET-Plus, the modified ETPlus is defective, unsafe, and unreasonably dangerous when put to its reasonably anticipated use,” the ET-Plus class action lawsuit contends. “Malfunctions of the modified ET-Plus have caused serious injury and death on numerous occasions across the country, including within the State of Missouri.”
Trinity Industries has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $6 million class action settlement.
Under the terms of the Trinity Industries guardrails class action lawsuit settlement, class members can be reimbursed for prior replacements of ET-Plus devices.
A total of $3.5 million from the settlement fund will be used for ET-Plus replacement reimbursements. Class members can also be reimbursed for the cost of ET-Plus location and identification; $2.5 million of the settlement total will be used to reimburse ET-Plus location and identification.
For the next six years, class members can have ET-Plus devices replaced by the settlement fund. According to the guardrail lawsuit settlement agreement, class members can receive $1,700 for each identified ET-Plus device to pay for removal and replacement.
Because the court previously certified this class action lawsuit, class members can no longer exclude themselves.
The court granted the Trinity guardrails settlement final approval on Aug. 30, 2022.
There are several claim deadlines depending on the type of benefits being sought.
For claims for the cost of locating ET-Plus devices, class members must submit a claim form by Jan. 9, 2023.
For claims for previous ET-Plus replacements, class members must submit a valid claim form by Oct. 10, 2023.
Class members have until Oct. 9, 2028, to submit claims for replacement ET-Plus devices.
Trinity Industries created the ET-Plus guardrail system as a safety element to protect motorists in the case of a collision. Through the process of absorbing and redirecting impact energy, the system is designed to reduce the amount of damage and injuries that occur. On the other hand, first questions about the efficacy and safety of the guardrails started to surface.
Overview of Trinity Industries ET-Plus Guardrails $6M Class Action Settlement
| Article Title | Trinity Industries ET-Plus guardrails $6M class action settlement |
| Amount | $6M |
| Post type | Finance |
A Fight in the Courts
When it was claimed that the design of the guardrails was flawed and that Trinity Industries had neglected to disclose these flaws, the legal difficulties that were associated with the ET-Plus guardrails came to the forefront of the discussion.
In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs claimed that the guardrails did not function as intended when they were struck, which resulted in serious injuries and deaths. The case against Trinity Industries was characterized by allegations of carelessness and misleading advertising, which ultimately led to a class action lawsuit being filed against the company.
A Settlement of Six Million Dollars
In response to the legal issues, Trinity Industries has reached a settlement agreement that is worth six million dollars. The claims that have been made against them are going to be resolved by this settlement, and people who have been harmed as a result of the claimed faults in the ET-Plus guardrails will get compensation.
The settlement does not imply an admission of wrongdoing on Trinity Industries’ part; nonetheless, it does reflect a major financial commitment on the part of Trinity Industries to address the issues that the respondents presented.
Who is Eligible
Missouri counties with populations of 10,000 or more as of 07/01/2014 that have or had ET-Plus guardrail end terminal systems with 4-inch-wide feeder shoots installed on county-owned and -maintained roadways
Guidance for Those Who Are Affected; Let’s know the details
Attorneys Should Be Consulted: If you have been affected by the ET-Plus guardrails, it is of the utmost importance to speak with a legal specialist who specializes in product liability and class action litigation. They can provide advice on how to submit a claim and how to conduct oneself during the legal procedure.
Keep a Record of Your Case: Please collect all of the papers that are pertinent to the occurrence, such as medical records, accident reports, and correspondence relating to the incident. To establish your case and obtain adequate compensation, these documents will be important.
Maintain Your Knowledge: Ensure that you are always up to speed on any new developments concerning the settlement. The schedule for the filing of claims, as well as any deadlines that may apply, should be well understood by you.
The Upcoming Updates
The settlement reached between ET-Plus and the guardrail constitutes a significant turning point in the continuing debate about the duty of corporations and the safety of roadways. Possible changes in the future include:
Modifications to laws: To forestall the occurrence of problems of a similar kind in the future, it may be possible to apply enhanced safety laws and standards for road safety items.
more Legal Actions: There is a possibility that more legal actions or settlements may be taken about other safety issues or faults in goods that are comparable.
The consequences of this event may result in increased public awareness as well as lobbying for reforms within the realm of road safety.
Final Thoughts
An important step forward in the fight for justice and safety on the roads is the settlement of the class action lawsuit against Trinity Industries ET-Plus guardrails, which was worth $6 million. The settlement not only offers monetary consolation to people who were impacted by the incident, but it also highlights the significance of rigorous product testing and openness within the safety sector.
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As a result of the fact that this instance brings to light the possible dangers that are connected with safety equipment, it serves as a reminder of the need to maintain a state of constant vigilance and improvement to guarantee that road safety goods accomplish their intended purpose efficiently and securely.
Calista Embry is a finance journalist who graduated from Johns Hopkins University. She has a passion for writing and researching the impact of finance on social life.