Florida’s Brightline rail system provides a fast, convenient mode of transportation for passengers. However, despite its modern design, accidents can and do still occur, leading to devastating injuries or death for victims.
You may be entitled to compensation if you suffered injuries in a Brightline accident in West Palm Beach, Florida. Contact Schuler, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. at (561) 689-8180 for a free consultation with one of our experienced train accident attorneys. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options for seeking compensation, and walk you through the personal injury lawsuit process.
Common Types of Train Accidents
Some of the most common types of train accidents that occur in Florida include:
- Derailments – These accidents happen when a train comes off the tracks, often leading to catastrophic injuries. Derailments can result from excessive speeds, poor track conditions, or mechanical malfunctions.
- Equipment Malfunctions – Modern trains are complex machines, and malfunctions can lead to dangerous situations. Equipment failures such as brake malfunctions, door failures, or signaling errors can cause severe accidents.
- Crossing Accidents – These accidents typically occur when a vehicle or pedestrian attempts to cross the tracks when a train is approaching. Crossing accidents may result from negligence or signaling equipment failures.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls – Passengers inside trains or stations may slip, trip, or fall due to slippery floors, uneven surfaces, or other hazards on the ground. Despite not making news headlines like other train accidents, victims of falls can still suffer life-changing injuries.
Common Causes of Brightline Accidents
Most Brightline and other train accidents have the same few causes, including:
- Speeding – Excessive speeds increase the risks of multiple types of accidents, such as derailments and collisions. Trains aren’t known for being able to stop quickly, and speeding only increases the distance they need to come to a stop.
- Operator Negligence – Operating a train while fatigued or distracted can increase the risk of accidents, as the conductor may not notice warning signs or signals before a crash.
- Poor Maintenance – Both trains and tracks require constant upkeep to keep them in safe working condition. Poor maintenance can lead to mechanical failures, derailments, or other dangerous situations.
- Obstructions on Tracks – Debris, stalled vehicles, and animals on the tracks pose a substantial risk to trains and passengers. Most fatal accidents involving trains are caused by vehicles stopped on the tracks.
Who Could Be Liable for Damages After a Train Accident?
After a train accident, multiple parties could be liable for your injuries. Some of the parties most commonly held liable for injuries caused by train accidents are:
- Train Engineers – Locomotive engineers are responsible for the safe operation of Brightline trains. If the conductor’s negligence contributed to an accident, they could be liable for the resulting injuries.
- Train Operators – The company behind Brightline trains could be liable for injuries caused by an accident, especially if its business practices contributed in some way. For example, if Brightline doesn’t properly train engineers, it may be liable for injuries caused by the engineer’s negligence.
- Maintenance Providers – If poor train or track maintenance contributed to the accident, the maintenance providers may be liable.
- Third Parties – In some cases, other parties may be liable for injuries suffered in train accidents, such as a motorist who parks their car on the tracks or a person who attempts to cause a train derailment.
Common Injuries Suffered in Train Accidents
Victims of train accidents can suffer a wide range of serious injuries, including:
- Whiplash – This injury occurs when the head violently shakes after a collision, straining the muscles in the neck and leading to chronic pain and headaches.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull after an impact or when shrapnel penetrates the brain and can result in permanent physical and cognitive disability.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Heavy impacts, such as those often experienced in train accidents, can damage the spinal cord and cause long-term or permanent disability.
- Broken Bones – Bone breaks and fractures may require surgery or extensive physical therapy to recover fully.
- Lacerations – Lacerations may require stitches and result in permanent scarring.
- Internal Injuries – These injuries can be life-threatening, and symptoms may not appear immediately, which is why seeking medical treatment after a train accident is crucial.
What Compensation Is Available to Brightline Accident Victims?
Brightline accident victims can seek compensation the following through a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party:
- Medical expenses for your surgeries, hospital stays, medical treatments, and prescription medications.
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity if your injuries impacted your ability to work while you recovered or if they will impact your ability to work in the future.
- Physical pain and emotional suffering experienced due to your injuries resulting from the accident.
- Property damage, especially if a Brightline train collided with your vehicle due to a crossing signal failure.
- Funeral and burial costs if your loved one died as a result of a Brightline accident. According to the most recent data from the Federal Railroad Administration, there were nine fatalities caused by Brightline trains in Florida in a five-month period.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Lawsuit After a Brightline Accident?
Under Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury caused by someone’s negligence, Brightline accident victims have two years from the accident date to file their lawsuits. Failure to file within this period may result in losing your ability to seek compensation for your injuries. For this reason, it’s vital that you speak to an experienced train accident attorney as soon as possible.
Contact a West Palm Beach, Florida, Brightline Rail Train Accident Lawyer
Were you injured in a Brightline train accident in West Palm Beach, Florida? You may be eligible for compensation for your injuries if someone else’s negligence caused the train accident.
Contact the train accident lawyers of Schuler, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. at (561) 689-8180 for a free consultation with one of our experienced train accident attorneys. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and answer any questions you have about seeking compensation for your Brightline accident injuries.
