that's not what happened with jay traylor. >> had the guardrails done their job, i probably would've walked away just going, "damn, i'm an idiot." >> reporter: traylor and a growing number of accident victims across the country are suing the company that makes the guardrails, trinity industries of texas. among the allegations that the company tried to save a few dollars by quietly making some slight changes in the design of what's called the trinity et-plus. >> this is the original five inch et-plus. and this is the modified four-inch et plus. >> and that makes a significant difference? >> it makes all the difference in the world. >> reporter: this animation shows what lawyers suing trinity say happens with the original, gliding along the rail and diverting it to the side. and what they say can happen with the modified version. the thinner terminal jams up, breaks off and the rail drives through the vehicle. >> the impact is the guardrail does not have the room to expand like it needs to, to save your life. >> reporter: 31-year old rebecca dryer, a single mom from pennsylvania, says s