Broward Injury Lawyer Blog
According to police, a bicycle accident in Fort Lauderdale left a local man dead. This bicycle accident was different than so many others. This bike accident didn’t involve a motor vehicle or another bicyclist, it involved a Tri-Rail train.
The accident happened as a northbound train crossed 62nd Street at roughly 7:00 a.m. At the time, the bicyclist crossed the railroad tracks and got to the median section of the roadway. That’s when a southbound train passed by and hit him. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the traffic control arms at that intersection were down and stopping vehicles from crossing the tracks when the accident happened. Detective Travis Mandell, a spokesman for the Fort Lauderdale police, says that the man was transported to North Broward Medical Center and was later pronounced dead. Officials are still investigating the accident.
Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers understand how dangerous these areas can be. Most times, accidents that involve trains produce deadly results. Sometimes, these accidents can be blamed on faulty railroad crossing equipment. When this equipment is working properly, it’s important for nearby travelers to be cautious and careful in these areas to reduce their risks of a potentially fatal train accident.
Railroad-Related Accident Statistics (2009), from the Federal Railroad Administration:
-There are more than 136,000 public railroad crossings in the U.S.
-At these crossings, about 42,300 have gates, more than 22,000 have flashing lights and more than 1,195 have wigwags, traffic signals and bells.
-At these crossings, there were nearly 2,000 accidents, resulting in more than 245 fatalities and more than 700 injuries.
To help to avoid a pedestrian or a bicycling accident at one of these crossings, the Federal Railroad Administration offers the following tips. Don’t take these tips lightly. They just may be able to save your life. Listen up!
Railroad Crossing Safety Tips:
-Always approach a track like there’s a train coming. Always stop and look both ways before attempting to cross.
-Never rely on a train’s whistle. These devices can be broken or may not be heard by the pedestrian, bicyclist or motorist. Always look with your eyes to see if a train is coming.
-Never cross the tracks if you’re not sure that you’ll have enough time to make it all the way across. Just wait until the train has gone by before attempting to cross.
-Always wait for a train to cross while standing at least 10 feet away from the tracks. Train cars are wider than the tracks themselves, meaning they overlap the tracks and will be closer than you may think. Stand back.
-Bicyclists should always get off of their bike and walk it across tracks. Avoid riding across.
-Try to avoid routes with railroad crossings. Plan your trip before. It’s best just to avoid crossings altogether.
-Look up and down the tracks, all of the tracks, before attempting to cross.
If you or someone in your family has been injured or killed in a pedestrian or bicycling accident in Fort Lauderdale, contact Broward County accident attorney Richard Ansara at 954 761-3641 or toll-free at 877-277-3780 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Additional Resources:
Bicyclist dies after being struck by Tri-Rail train in Fort Lauderdale, by Juan Ortega, Sun Sentinel
More Blog Entries:
Florida Residents at High Risks for Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Broward County and Elsewhere, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, January 15, 2012
