Are South Florida Guardrails Safe?

March 1, 2015 / 10:17 am

While guardrails often serve to protect motorists, if involved in a wreck, guardrails can prove to be just as harmful to automobiles and their occupants as they are helpful. Guardrails are especially dangerous for certain types of vehicles and specific kinds of accidents, namely those involving motorcycles, cars, light trucks and side-impact accidents.

In fact, on average, 46 percent of fatal vehicle-guardrail accidents involve car and light truck side-impact wrecks or motorcycle crashes, according to Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data. Recently, an investigation of South Florida area guardrails by WTVJ-TV raised the question of whether fatal vehicle-guardrail accidents are the result of unfortunate circumstances or defective guardrails.

As a result of an investigation it conducted recently, WTVJ-TV discovered that in 2005, Trinity Highway Products, one of the world’s biggest guardrail makers, changed its guardrail design to save money. Reportedly, the guardrail model that was changed, known as the ET-Plus, had its dimensions reduced at the end from 5 inches to 4 inches. According to a student from the University of Alabama, this change made it three times as likely to cause a fatality in a vehicle-guardrail collision when compared to the old version.

In addition to allegedly endangering motorists by making the cost-cutting changes to the ET-Plus, Trinity is reported to have failed to let the federal government know about the change, which the company was required to do. Currently, Trinity is facing lawsuits from over a dozen families who lost loved ones in vehicle-guardrail accidents involving the ET-Plus.

Should I Talk to a Lawyer Before I Accept the Insurance Company’s Offer? 

In the video below, injury lawyer Deborah J. Gander explains why it is so important to talk with an attorney before accepting an insurance company’s offer following an accident.

Colson Hicks Eidson – Injury Attorneys

Source: http://www.nbcmiami.com/investigations/NBC-6-Investigation-Safety-of-South-Florida-Guardrails-Questioned-283783561.html

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Colson Hicks Eidson has once again earned a Band 1 ranking in the Chambers USA 2026 Guide for Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs in Florida – one of only four law firms in the state to receive this highest ranking. We are especially honored that five of our attorneys were individually recognized for their leadership, legal excellence, and commitment to client service.

Congratulations to Stephanie A. Casey, Julie Braman Kane, and Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson for being recognized in Florida Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs, and to Roberto Martínez and Curtis Miner, who were each recognized in both Florida Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs and Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations.

The rankings reflect the firm’s exceptional track record of securing multimillion-dollar judgments and settlements for clients in matters involving commercial litigation, medical malpractice, products liability, class actions, multidistrict litigation, and aviation and automobile accidents.

We’re grateful to our clients and peers for their continued trust and recognition.


About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of nearly 60 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8–1 in favor of Havana Docks Corporation, reviving $440 million in judgments against major cruise lines under the Helms-Burton Act for trafficking in confiscated Cuban port facilities.

Colson Hicks Eidson served as lead trial counsel. The case was led by Roberto Martínez alongside Stephanie A. Casey, Zachary A. Lipshultz, Aziza F. Elayan, Thomas Kroeger, and Sabrina S. Saieh, reflecting the firm’s long-standing leadership in Cuba-related international property litigation.

Bob’s work in this area spans decades, beginning with Cuban American Bar Association v. Warren Christopher, a class action on behalf of more than 40,000 Cuban refugees detained at Guantanamo Naval Base, which earned the Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award from the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

That work extended into the Brothers to the Rescue litigation, where Bob represented the families of the four victims killed when Cuban fighter jets shot down two unarmed civilian aircraft—cases that helped shape the broader legal and political context for the Helms-Burton Act, including a landmark civil judgment against the Cuban government and recovery through frozen Cuban assets.

Bob and the firm also represented the family of Thomas Willard “Pete” Ray, a member of the Alabama Air National Guard, who was killed by Cuban militiamen on April 19, 1961, after surviving the crash of his B-26 bomber on a beach near Cuba’s Bay of Pigs, and the family of Robert Otis Fuller, an ex-U.S. Marine, who was killed by firing squad in October 1960 after he was tortured by having his blood drained from his body.

The firm’s legal work in these three civil cases resulted in judgments against the Cuban government in each case and the recovery of substantial assets for the families.

Today, that history is again in the national spotlight amid renewed attention to the 1996 shootdown and recent federal developments, including a Department of Justice indictment, involving the same acts of murder.

Against that backdrop, the Supreme Court’s ruling reinforces the continuing force of long-standing Cuba-related claims involving confiscated property and accountability.

Colson Hicks Eidson continues to lead in complex international property disputes, securing landmark results that underscore a consistent principle: true justice has no expiration date.

Media coverage includes:

The New York Times – Supreme Court Permits Lawsuit Over U.S. Assets Seized by Cuba in 1960

Miami Herald – U.S. indicts Raúl Castro for Cuba’s 1996 shoot-down of two civilian planes from Miami

Law360 – Justices Adopt Broad Reading Of Cuba Expropriation Law

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of nearly 60 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

We are proud to announce that nine of our partners have once again been named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers guide. Congratulations to Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson, Dean C. Colson, Curtis Miner, Julie Braman Kane, Joseph J. Kalbac Jr., Susan Carlson, Roberto Martínez, Stephanie Casey, and Thomas Kroeger.

Lawdragon recognizes outstanding trial lawyers who stand with clients through life’s toughest challenges—ensuring access to medical care, fighting for rightful compensation, and championing justice that leaves a lasting impact. 

This guide is based on a record number of submissions, combined with journalistic research and vetting by the nation’s leading plaintiff consumer lawyers.

Click here to read the full guide.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of nearly 60 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

Colson Hicks Eidson is pleased to announce that Zachary Lipshultz has become a partner with the firm.

Dean Colson, managing partner of the firm, commented: “Zach is a valued member of the firm and a respected figure in the South Florida legal community. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and products liability matters, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes disputes across a wide range of industries. He is known for his strategic judgment, rigorous advocacy, and ability to manage cases involving significant financial exposure and novel legal issues.”

During his six years at Colson Hicks Eidson, Zach has worked with Bob Martinez, Curtis Miner, and other firm partners to secure four nine-figure judgments against Fortune 500 companies, obtain dismissals with prejudice on behalf of multiple Fortune 500 defendants, and successfully represent clients before arbitral, state, and federal forums, at trial and on appeal.

According to Senior Partner Bob Martinez: “Zach has been the indispensable force behind our victories in several high-stakes matters over the past seven years, combining unique legal talent with exceptional dedication and service to our clients.”

“Having spent multiple weeks shoulder-to-shoulder with Zach in trial, I am eager to have him as a teammate on any type of trial we need to suit up for,” added partner Curtis Miner.

Zach joined the firm following a federal judicial clerkship with the Honorable Robert N. Scola, Jr., former United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida. Zach is a 2016 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law. He completed his undergraduate studies at Oberlin College in 2011 and earned a master’s degree in marine affairs and policy from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in 2012.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of nearly 60 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

Colson Hicks Eidson, a leading trial law firm, is proud to announce its relocation to the Penthouse of the South Tower at Douglas Entrance in Coral Gables. This move marks an important milestone for the firm, which has represented clients in local, national, and international matters for more than 55 years. The new office is located within Douglas Entrance, home to the historic gateway La Puerta del Sol (“The Gate of the Sun”), and is surrounded by Mediterranean-style architecture, lush landscaping, and expansive courtyards. With its picturesque, Spanish-walled-city appearance, Douglas Entrance provides a distinctive office environment in Coral Gables, and the firm’s name will soon adorn the top of the South Tower.

The space holds personal significance for Managing Partner Dean Colson, who explains: “For those of us who grew up in the Gables in the ‘50s and ‘60s, the original Douglas Entrance was very much a part of our lives – it was the working home for many of the doctors, lawyers, architects, and other professionals who lived south of downtown Miami. Our move reflects not only our firm’s growth, but our ongoing dedication to our clients and the Coral Gables community. It is reminiscent of our decision 25 years ago to restore the building that is now Books & Books and secure its historic designation—a choice that helped preserve the character of Coral Gables. The firm remains committed to doing the right thing for our community.”

Colson Hicks Eidson moved into its new space in December 2025 with the assistance of Will Morrison of CBRE. According to Dean, “Will’s expertise, vision, and patience made this deal possible. G. Alvarez Studio ensured that the design of our floor was executed perfectly.”

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of nearly 60 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

We are pleased to announce that three of our partners have been named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America guide. Congratulations to Curtis Miner, Julie Braman Kane, and Joseph J. Kalbac Jr.

They were recognized for excellence in Litigation and White Collar (Curtis Miner), Plaintiff Class Action Litigation (Julie Braman Kane), and Plaintiff Personal Injury (Joseph J. Kalbac, Jr.).

Lawdragon recognizes this exceptional group for leading the way for clients, communities, and their firms, while shaping the law for decades to come.

This guide is based on a record number of submissions, combined with journalistic research and vetting with the nation’s leading lawyers.

Click here to read the full guide.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of nearly 60 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.