In a recent train accident in Broward County, a 35 year old woman was killed by a Brightline train that was performing test runs. According to a report from the South Florida Business Journal, no other injuries were reported and there were not any passengers onboard the train according to a spokeswoman from Brightline. An investigation into the woman’s death is now underway by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
Brightline is a passenger railroad project being developed by Miami-based company All Aboard Florida. Brightline is scheduled to begin high-speed passenger rail service between Miami and West Palm Beach by the end of the year, with full service to Orlando International Airport planned in several years. The high-speed trains have been doing test runs along a stretch of Florida East Coast railway track in Palm Beach County since January 2017.
This is not the first Brightline fatality since test runs began in January of this year. In July, a woman was hit and killed by a Brightline train in Boca Raton. However, this July accident was believed by Boca Raton Police to be a suicide according to a police spokesperson quoted in a report from the Orlando Sun-Sentinel.
The Catastrophic Nature of Railroad Accidents
Railroad accidents are not common, but when they occur they often involve serious injuries or fatalities. Trains are extremely large, heavy vehicles that travel at high speeds and can cause catastrophic injuries or fatalities in a crash. This is particularly true when the crash involves a pedestrian or someone who is not in a vehicle, as was the case in the two recent Brightline train fatalities. However, even when a car is involved, which at least offers some protection against the destructive force of a train, victims of a railroad accident often suffer horrific injuries or death. When Florida railroad accidents occur, the devastating injuries can often result in life-altering conditions that radically change the victim and the victim’s family forever. In addition to the physical pain and emotional suffering, Florida railroad accidents victims and their families face enormous medical costs, physical therapy, property damage, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, funeral costs, and other economic losses.
Contact Lytal Reiter if You Have Been Injured in a Florida Railroad Accident
At Lytal Reiter, our experienced personal injury attorneys have over thirty years of experience representing individuals who have been injured in railroad accidents since our firm’s founding in 1985. Trains travel at high speeds and are therefore difficult to stop quickly. When an accident occurs, it is usually unavoidable and can cause serious injuries or death. The litigation team at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath is dedicated to investigating your case thoroughly and winning you the maximum compensation you deserve. Call our West Palm Beach offices at 561-655-1990 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation regarding your situation.
