Railroad cases are unlike any other injury claim: federal law dominates, the defendants are experienced litigants, and the evidence — event recorders, signal data, crossing maintenance records — is in the railroad’s hands. Whether you were hurt at a Fort Lauderdale grade crossing, on board a train, or working the rails, Silva & Silva knows the federal and Florida frameworks these cases turn on. I-95, I-595, US-1, and A1A converge with airport and Port Everglades traffic in Fort Lauderdale — a city that averaged roughly 13,500 crashes a year in 2023 and 2024. The consultation is free, and there are no fees unless we recover.

Railroad Accident Lawyers

in Ft Lauderdale, FL

Railroad Accident Attorneys
Serving Ft Lauderdale, FL

FELA — the Federal Employers’ Liability Act — provides injured railroad workers with a negligence remedy directly against their employing railroad, using a far more favorable causation standard than state workers’ compensation law. Under FELA, the railroad’s negligence need only have played the slightest role in causing the injury, and contributory negligence only reduces — never eliminates — the injured worker’s recovery. Silva & Silva’s railroad accident attorneys represent injured railroad employees throughout Broward County and South Florida who deserve to know their rights under federal law. Call today for a free consultation. Whether a Brightline train accident, Tri-Rail incident, or freight railroad crossing collision in Fort Lauderdale caused harm to you or a family member, Silva & Silva is ready to help.

FELA railroad worker injury claims
Train derailment & collision accidents
Grade crossing & car-train collision claims
Amtrak & commuter rail passenger injuries
Conductor, engineer & crew negligence
Defective railroad equipment & track failures
Railroad chemical spill & toxic exposure claims
Pedestrian & bicyclist railroad accident injuries

Immediate Case Evaluation

Railroads may begin investigating quickly after a Fort Lauderdale crossing accident. An attorney can send preservation demands for event recorder data, signal logs, and crossing maintenance records before key data is lost, overwritten, or becomes harder to obtain.

Which Laws Govern a Railroad Accident Case in Fort Lauderdale?

It depends on who was hurt. Covered railroad EMPLOYEES of interstate carriers sue under FELA (45 U.S.C. § 51 and following) — not workers’ compensation — and need only prove the railroad’s negligence played some part, however small, in the injury; under FELA’s comparative-negligence rule the worker’s own fault reduces damages but does not bar the claim. Crossing and pedestrian cases confront federal preemption under the Federal Railroad Safety Act: where federally funded warning devices were installed, some state-law claims are preempted, so these cases demand forensic work on crossing funding history and maintenance failures. Passenger claims vary by operator — a common carrier owes its passengers the highest degree of care under Florida law, but claims against public commuter agencies face sovereign-immunity caps and presuit notice under section 768.28, Florida Statutes. Rail claims arising in Fort Lauderdale are generally filed in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit when properly venued in Broward County — or in federal court when there is an independent basis for federal jurisdiction. Injury lawsuits over $50,000 with Broward County venue are heard at the Broward County Central Courthouse, 201 S.E. 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale; claims that qualify for federal jurisdiction may proceed in the Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division.

How Long Do You Have to File a Railroad Injury Claim?

FELA claims carry a three-year federal statute of limitations (45 U.S.C. § 56). Florida negligence claims from crossing and pedestrian accidents generally run two years for causes accruing after March 24, 2023 (section 95.11(5)(a), Florida Statutes). Claims against public rail agencies add strict presuit notice requirements. Three different clocks, all shorter than they feel — and important railroad evidence can be time-sensitive, so prompt preservation demands matter.

What Should You Do After a Train Accident in Fort Lauderdale?

Get medical care first. Many of the most serious injuries in Fort Lauderdale are treated at Broward Health Medical Center, the city’s Level I trauma center. Preserve what you can: photos of the crossing, signals, gates, sight lines, and vehicle damage; names of witnesses; and any video from nearby businesses or dashcams. Railroad workers should report the injury per company procedure but avoid recorded claims-department interviews before speaking with counsel — FELA rights are easy to compromise early. Silva & Silva offers free consultations in English and Spanish, and an early preservation demand to the railroad can help protect event recorder and signal data.

Railroad cases depend on prompt investigation and preserved evidence. If a train accident injured you or a loved one in Fort Lauderdale, call Silva & Silva now at 305-445-0011 — free consultation, no fees unless we recover.

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