Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyers

We posted yesterday regarding a tragic accident that occurred between a Tri-Rail vehicle and a sedan at a track crossing.  The collision led to two deaths and at least one critical injury, and after a day of investigation, different theories and possibilities are beginning to come to light in terms of what could have been contributing factors to this disaster.  While driver fault is certainly one such theory, others that have been offered include insufficient safety steps that could have also been relevant to this terrible result.

According to the Sun-Sentinel:

“The crossing sits between two busy intersections, Powerline Road to the west and the southbound I-95 on- and off-ramps to the east.

When the traffic lights turn red, especially at rush hour, traffic often backs up onto the crossing in both directions.

At least two experiments to address the problem either haven’t worked or haven’t been carried out completely.

In 2000, the Florida Department of Transportation tested a new concept called a “European X” — a box about the size of a car with an X painted on the roadway just beyond the crossing in each traffic lane. If drivers could see the X as they approached the crossing they would have enough room to pull across safely without ending up on the tracks.

The pavement markings are no longer there, and nobody at the department Thursday could recall the results of the experiment.

The department also announced plans to install cameras at the crossing and at McNab, Cypress Creek, Powerline and Prospect roads.

The cameras were designed to send an instant signal to the train operator to slow down if a motorist stalled. But train operators balked over the liability.

So, the department turned the project over to Broward County Traffic Engineering to use as part of a state-of-the-art traffic light synchronization project. The camera is there, but that project is years behind schedule.”

It will certainly take more time to specifically identify the causes of the crash.  However, if you or someone you love has been injured in such an accident, you need the help of Fort Lauderdale accident lawyers who understand how to work through large bodies of evidence in order to hold those responsible for these types of tragedies accountable.  Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.