Since it began running in 2018, Brightline has become the deadliest passenger railroad per mile in the United States — a distinction documented by the Associated Press. Investigations have counted nearly 200 people killed by Brightline trains, and the overwhelming majority of those deaths happened right here in South Florida: Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. A Brightline train struck and killed a pedestrian near the Aventura station — minutes from our North Miami Beach office — in 2025.
If your family has been touched by one of these tragedies, you are not alone, and you are not without rights.
Why These Crashes Keep Happening
Brightline trains run at high speeds through dense, pedestrian-heavy urban corridors that were never designed for them. Riders, walkers, and drivers who lived with slow freight trains for decades often misjudge how fast a Brightline train arrives. Questions that come up again and again in these cases include:
- Were the crossing gates, lights, and bells working and adequate?
- Was the train traveling at a safe speed for that corridor?
- Was there proper fencing, signage, and pedestrian protection?
- Did the crossing have a known history of prior incidents?
These are not questions a grieving family can answer alone. They require investigation, engineering analysis, and access to the railroad's own records — the kind of work a personal injury and wrongful death firm does.
Who May Be Held Responsible
Train-crossing cases are complex because responsibility can be shared among multiple parties:
- The railroad operator, for train speed, crew conduct, or maintenance;
- The entity responsible for the crossing, for inadequate gates, signals, or fencing;
- Government or contractor parties, for corridor design and safety upgrades.
Sorting this out — and preserving the evidence before it disappears — is why acting quickly is critical.
Wrongful Death Claims in Florida
When a crossing accident is fatal, Florida's Wrongful Death Act allows surviving family members to bring a claim. Depending on the circumstances, damages can include:
- Lost support and services the loved one provided,
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and protection,
- The survivors' mental pain and suffering,
- Medical and funeral expenses.
These claims have their own procedures and deadlines, and Florida's shortened two-year statute of limitations makes early action essential.
If You Were Injured — Not Only Fatal Cases
Not every crossing incident is fatal. Survivors often face catastrophic injuries — traumatic brain injuries, amputations, spinal damage — with a lifetime of medical needs. The same investigation that supports a wrongful death claim supports a serious-injury claim.
Talk to a Firm That Handles the Hard Cases
Cases against a well-funded railroad and its lawyers are not do-it-yourself matters. Gonzalez Munoz Law handles serious injury and wrongful death claims across Miami-Dade and Broward County, and has recovered over $100 million for injured clients and grieving families.
If you or someone you love was hurt or killed in a Brightline or railroad crossing incident, call 305-770-6666 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7. There is no fee unless we win, and there is no cost to learn where you stand.