Brightline, the privately owned, high-speed rail system, is a recent addition to the South Florida transportation network. Offering trains from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and further north to West Palm Beach, Brightline is a convenient option for many commuters looking to avoid interstate and highway traffic.
But the rail system has not been without its fair share of troubles. In their first two years of operation, for example, Brightline trains have been responsible for more than 40 deaths. That equates to more than one person per month. These numbers are significantly above average—enough to make Brightline the deadliest commuter train in the nation on a per-mile basis.
Investigations have been conducted related to the Brightline deaths, and legislatures are considering passing laws and making regulatory changes to mitigate the problem. While the exact cause of each train-related accident varies, there are some Brightline deaths or injuries that may be the result of negligence or faulty equipment. If you or someone you know was injured or killed in a Brightline train accident, you should speak with the experienced personal injury attorneys at Neufeld & Kleinberg, PA at your earliest convenience.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BRIGHTLINE TRAINS
The Brightline project is a large private initiative that has stimulated the local economies of West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Costing over $2 billion, Brightline represents a serious long-term investment that seems primed to change the face of South Florida. Luxurious high-speed travel is an attractive new option for many commuters in South Florida, and the Brightline now gives those in West Palm Beach the option to easily commute to Fort Lauderdale or Miami—and vice versa. There are many positive things about the Brightline trains, but, as a private company (currently in the process of rebranding to “Virgin Trains USA” after Richard Branson’s Virgin Group purchased the line), there is still potential for negligence, liability, and personal injury lawsuits.
While it does a great deal for the South Florida community, the Brightline rail system is a for-profit business powered by the need to generate money. Unfortunately, the continued quest to increase efficiency can sometimes result in businesses cutting corners and making decisions that put pedestrians, employees, and passengers at risk. If you or someone you know was injured or killed as a pedestrian, employee, or Brightline passenger, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. Contact the experienced personal injury attorneys of Neufeld & Kleinberg, PA to discuss your potential Brightline lawsuit.
BRIGHTLINE TRAIN DEVELOPMENT
Brightline has two phases. The first, which is already operational, travels from south to north, starting in Miami and going to Fort Lauderdale, then up to West Palm Beach. The line also goes from north to south, with trains starting in West Palm Beach and making stops in Fort Lauderdale and then Miami.
There is also a phase two, which is projected to start development in 2020. This phase will go even further north, traveling from West Palm Beach up to Orlando. While all of this development is largely welcomed by the South Florida community, what isn’t welcome is the significant number of deaths and accidents that have already occurred along the Brightline tracks and in stations in recent years.
Over 100+ Combined Years
Of Personal Injury Law Experience.
Choose A Team Of Lawyers That Know How To WIN
WHY DO PEOPLE RIDE BRIGHTLINE?
The Brightline train is popular among South Florida commuters for several reasons. Perhaps the most relevant is that it offers a better option than traveling on the highway. Many commuters grow to hate the long drives back and forth to work that eat up hours of the day. Working, using your phone, or reading is possible on the train.
Here are some of the main reasons commuters may find themselves opting for Brightline:
- Comfort: Brightline trains offer a comfortable way to travel to and from work. Passengers get a seat that reclines, along with a small table. Whether you chose to nap or work, it’s
clear that you can do a lot more while traveling aboard a Brightline than you ever could while driving. - Convenience: For many commuters, Brightline trains are highly convenient. With this transportation option available, more people in West Palm Beach can legitimately consider working in either Fort Lauderdale or Miami, and vice versa—without being deterred by the many hours spent stuck in traffic while commuting.
- Price: Although Brightline ticket prices aren’t cheap, they may be more affordable than what you would otherwise have to pay in gas and parking when driving back and forth to work every day.
- Speed: One of the main benefits of riding the Brightline train is speed. You can get from Miami to West Palm Beach in about an hour, whereas doing it by car can take anywhere from 75 to 120 minutes. Depending on rush hour, commutes can be even longer. Regardless of how much car traffic is on the highways or interstates, a Brightline train is a dependable way to get you where you need to go on time.
BRIGHTLINE TRAIN ACCIDENTS
Investigators and others interested in stopping Brightline-related deaths are not entirely sure why these accidents continue to occur. Some suggest it has to do with the speed of the trains. This is a reasonable assumption, considering that rail lines and systems in themselves aren’t new. They have, in fact, been used for over a century. Until recently, the lines have not been known to be especially dangerous. Why? Possibly because the trains traveling along them were generally slower-moving freight trains.
This, however, does not explain everything, and there are still questions around proper warning signs and employee training which need to be resolved before the true cause (or causes) of most Brightline train accidents can be isolated and remedied.
All railroad providers must comply with the Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration regulations. Concerning personal injuries, all rail companies are obliged to provide care for their passengers and the public. According to the law, everyone must be kept safe while traveling by train. If a rail company fails to provide this care due to its actions or negligence, and that causes a personal injury, then the company can be held liable for those injuries. And, like in any other injury case, that company will have to pay for any expenses associated with Brightline train accident injuries.
It is important to note that even though duty of care is a common notion in the United States, train companies, bus companies, and other transportation providers are liable even in cases in which they are only partially responsible for an injury. To better understand how duty of care comes into play, your best bet is to consult a Brightline train accident lawyer. After hearing the details of your situation, the experienced attorneys at Neufeld & Kleinberg, PA can advise you on your legal options.
WHO USUALLY GETS HURT IN BRIGHTLINE TRAIN ACCIDENTS
When fast-moving trains are involved in an accident, anyone who is close to the location of the accident can be a victim. Injured parties usually include:
- Drivers: Drivers in cars and trucks can and have been injured by Brightline trains. Brightline trains have an unusually high incidence of injuring and killing drivers along the railway.
- Passengers: Emergency stops or trains coming off the track can result in passenger injury.
- Pedestrians: People crossing the train tracks can potentially get stuck and either killed or seriously injured by Brightline trains.
- Employees: Brightline (Virgin Trains) employees are constantly around the trains and train tracks. This may translate into a greater risk of injury. If you are a current or former Brightline employee and were injured on the job, reach out to the personal injury lawyers of Neufeld & Kleinberg, PA.
TYPES OF TRAIN ACCIDENTS
Here are some types of different train accidents. It’s important to understand the risks to which travelers are exposed on Brightline and other train systems.
- Any injury-causing human errors committed by Brightline or other train company employees.
- Train collisions. Trains sometimes hit other trains due to the negligence of drivers or faulty equipment.
- Derailments of Brightline train cars.
- Food poisoning and foreign objects in the food served on trains or at train stations.
- Lack of adequate warnings at railroad crossings, resulting in Brightline trains hitting vehicles or people.
- Mechanical or electrical failures on a Brightline train that results in serious injuries or death.
- Slip and fall accidents at train stations due to slippery floors.
- Slip and fall accidents on Brightline trains. Whether the floor is slippery due to floor cleaning by company employees or due to liquids spilled by passengers, the train company can be held liable.
- Accidents or injuries that occur as passengers board or get off the train. Sometimes, accidents happen because train employees don’t follow proper boarding procedures.
- Trip and fall accidents at train stations due to garbage, debris, and other objects.
- Trip and fall accidents on Brightline trains. Rail companies are obligated to keep train floors clean of any garbage and debris that could cause someone to fall and get injured.
- Unprotected high voltage cables at train stations. People get hurt and sometimes die when they come in contact with electricity from these dangerous cables.
DAMAGES FROM BRIGHTLINE TRAIN ACCIDENTS
Severe injuries can be devastating and cause victims a great deal of financial and emotional stress. When a company like Brightline is legally responsible for these injuries, you can and should seek to recover damages.
You may be able to receive monetary awards for:
- Death
- Funeral costs
- Loss of future earning potential
- Loss of wages
- Medical expenses
- Mental suffering
- Other expenses caused by the train accident
- Partial and permanent disabilities
- Physical pain
- Rehabilitation
- Scarring and disfigurement