Brightline Train Intersections Remain Danger Zones — What Pedestrians and Families Should Know

On the early morning of October 22, 2025, a tragic accident claimed the life of a 63-year-old man, Brian Baker, who was struck and killed by a Brightline train at the intersection of Northeast 48th Street and North Dixie Highway in Pompano Beach. The incident occurred around 2 a.m., outside of Brightline’s regular service hours. The train, traveling at high speed and without passengers, was preparing for its morning schedule.

A Worrying Trend

According to an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN, Brightline is currently the deadliest passenger railroad in the United States. Since 2017, at least 180 people have been killed by Brightline trains, 160 of them in South Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Pompano Beach alone has seen 16 fatalities, most involving pedestrians.

Are These Intersections Truly Safe?

Despite the implementation of various safety measures — including crossing arms, warning lights, and public awareness campaigns — the high-speed nature of Brightline trains (up to 79 mph through neighborhoods) and the location of crossings in densely populated areas create a lethal combination.

The reality is clear: these intersections remain dangerous, especially for pedestrians. Many fatalities, like the one involving Mr. Baker, occur in the early morning or late at night, when visibility is low and those in the area do not suspect that a train may approach.

A Legal Perspective: When Safety Systems Fail

As a serious personal injury law firm based in South Florida, we’ve worked with families who have faced the aftermath of tragedies like this. When a pedestrian is killed or injured by a train, it raises important questions:

Were safety protocols at the crossing adequate?
Were proper signage and lighting in place?
Could the accident have been prevented through better infrastructure, earlier warnings, or slower train speed?

In many cases, victims and their families are left to deal with overwhelming grief, unexpected medical or funeral expenses, and the long-term emotional and financial fallout — often without knowing their legal rights.

How We Help

At Mase Seitz Briggs, we are trial lawyers who specialize in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, including those involving pedestrian-train collisions. These are not simple cases. They require a firm with the resources, experience, and commitment to thoroughly investigate the facts, identify liable parties (including train operators, municipalities, or contractors), and build a case to present at trial.

If you or someone you love has been impacted by a Brightline or other train-related incident, you don’t have to face it alone. Our legal team is here to offer guidance, answer your questions, and fight for justice.

Why Choose Mase Seitz Briggs?

We’ve handled complex personal injury and wrongful death cases across South Florida, including incidents involving trains and pedestrian fatalities. Our firm knows how to investigate these cases, uncover safety failures, and hold operators, municipalities, and other responsible parties accountable.

Contact Us Today

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a train-related accident in Florida, don’t wait to seek legal help. Contact the personal injury trial attorneys at Mase Seitz Briggs for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand your rights and options, and we will fight to hold the parties responsible. Call us today at 305-377-3770.

What You Should Know About Theme Park Accidents Following Tragic Epic Universe Death

Tragic Universal Orlando Death Raises Serious Safety Questions

Universal Orlando is facing major scrutiny after the tragic death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala on September 17^th, a wheelchair user who died on the new Stardust Racers rollercoaster. Just 17 days later, the ride reopened, but with a curious new restriction: guests in wheelchairs must now be able to walk on their own to ride.

This heartbreaking case is sparking debate about theme park safety, especially for guests with disabilities. As trial attorneys representing serious injury victims, we believe it is important to understand what this case means for others and what steps to take if you or a loved one is hurt at a theme park.

What Happened at Universal Orlando?

Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, a 32-year-old from Kissimmee, had a spinal condition that confined him to a wheelchair. On September 17, 2025, he rode Stardust Racers, a new high-speed rollercoaster in Universal’s Epic Universe. At some point during the ride, Zavala lost consciousness, as his head was seen hitting the ride’s headrest more than once. He was found unresponsive and later died from multiple blunt-force injuries.

The death was ruled accidental by the medical examiner, but Universal’s negligence may have played a role.

New Restrictions for Wheelchair Users

After the death of Mr. Zavala, Universal quietly revised its Safety and Accessibility Guidelines. The updated policy requires that Stardust Racers who use wheelchairs must be able to walk independently to board the attraction, as is their policy on other thrill rides such as Dragon Racers Rally and Monsters Unchained. While Universal maintains that the ride was functioning properly and all safety protocols were followed, the timing of this change raises questions. Why was the policy only updated after the incident? And what prompted the shift if the ride was already deemed safe?

By reopening Stardust Racers with this new restriction, Universal is signaling confidence in the ride’s safety, at least under the revised guidelines. However, the change casts doubt on how much the company truly understood about the ride’s risks prior to Zavala’s death. For many, the move appears less like a proactive safety measure and more like a reactive attempt to manage liability, fueling continued skepticism about the reopened ride’s inherent dangers.

Theme Park Accidents: What You Should Know

Theme park accidents are more common than most people realize. While parks like Universal and Disney have strong safety records overall, accidents still happen, and when they do, they can result in lifelong injuries or death. Some common causes of theme park injuries include:

Improper ride restraints
Unsafe ride designs or speeds
Lack of proper warning signs
Inadequately marked tripping hazards
Transient substances creating slippery floors
Poor emergency response
Failure to consider guests with disabilities
Inadequate training of employees

In some cases, the park may be at fault for what happened, either fully or partially. That is where an experienced theme park trial attorney, like those at Mase Seitz Briggs, can help.

What To Do If You’re Injured at a Theme Park

Get Medical Attention Immediately

Your health is the top priority. Even if your injuries seem minor, get checked out. Some injuries (like brain trauma) may not show symptoms right away.

Document Everything

Take photos of the ride, your injuries, and anything that seems unsafe or dangerous. Get names and contact information for witnesses and employees who helped.

Report the Incident

Let the park officials know what happened. Ask for a copy of the incident report and don’t sign anything until you speak with an attorney.

Talk to a Theme Park Trial Lawyer

You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. A lawyer can help you protect your rights and deal with the park, as well as the insurance company.

Why You Need a Trial Lawyer After a Theme Park Injury

Not all lawyers are trial lawyers—and that matters. When theme parks refuse to take responsibility, you need an attorney who’s prepared to take your case all the way, not just handle paperwork in the early stages.

Trial lawyers know how to build a strong case from the start, present it in court, and hold powerful companies accountable. Trial lawyers are experienced in handling complex litigation, preserving crucial evidence, and standing up to corporate defense teams.

Theme park companies have teams of attorneys and insurance adjusters working to protect their bottom line. If you try to handle your case on your own, they will try to pressure you into a low settlement or even blame you for the accident.

An experienced trial attorney who understands theme park negligence can:

Investigate what really happened
- Preserve important evidence (including ride logs and video footage)
- Work with engineers or safety experts
- File a claim or lawsuit on your behalf
- Negotiate for the compensation you deserve

Injured at a Theme Park? We’re Here to Help

If you or a loved one has been injured at a theme park, whether at Universal, Disney, or any smaller park, you don’t have to face it alone. Our team of trial lawyers is experienced in handling theme park accidents, wrongful death claims, and serious personal injury cases involving disability discrimination or negligence. We recently obtained a mid-six-figure settlement for a theme park guest who was injured at a park.

Contact Mase Seitz Briggs to speak with a lawyer today. We offer free consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Boat Explosions on the Rise in Florida: What You Need to Know About Safety, Liability, and Legal Representation

Boating in Florida is a way of life, especially in places like Fort Lauderdale, where blue waters and sunny weekends draw thousands of recreational boaters each year. But as relaxing as a day on the water may seem, recent incidents highlight the very real dangers that can come with it. Among the most dangerous are boat explosions.

South Florida has seen a troubling rise in boat explosions in recent months, highlighting the urgent need for improved boating safety and experienced legal support in the aftermath.

Another Boat Explosion Rocks Fort Lauderdale

In a harrowing event that recently occurred on October 11, 2025, a boat caught fire shortly after departing from the dock behind Kaluz restaurant off Commercial Boulevard. Owner Ivan Sayles and a friend were aboard when the explosion erupted. Fortunately, both managed to jump overboard in time and were not injured.

“I’m grateful to be alive,” Sayles told reporters. “It’s crazy — the boat just exploded.”

Firefighters from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded quickly to extinguish the flames, and the vessel was towed away. The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

Not an Isolated Incident: Tragedy on Memorial Day

This recent explosion echoes a deadly accident over Memorial Day weekend, where a 39-foot Sea Ray boat exploded near a Fort Lauderdale sandbar, resulting in the death of a father of four and injuring several others. The vessel had 15 people on board at the time of the explosion.

While investigations are ongoing in both cases, these incidents highlight a worrying pattern: boat explosions are not as rare as many assume. Whether caused by mechanical failure, fuel vapor accumulation, improper refueling, or maintenance errors, these accidents can lead to catastrophic injury or death in seconds.

The Legal Side: Why You Need a Trial Lawyer After a Boat Explosion

Boat explosion cases are legally complex, often involving multiple parties and overlapping laws—from state boating regulations to federal maritime law. Determining liability requires more than just identifying the cause—it demands a deep investigation involving accident reconstruction, expert analysis, and sometimes, litigation against large manufacturers or negligent maintenance providers.

Depending on the facts, any of the following parties may bear liability:

The boat owner or operator
Fuel dock attendants
Repair technicians or maintenance companies
The manufacturer of the vessel or its parts
Other boaters or third parties on the water

In some cases, especially fatal ones, criminal charges may even be filed under laws like the Seaman’s Manslaughter Statute (18 U.S.C. § 1115), which imposes felony liability on individuals whose negligence causes maritime deaths.

Whether it’s a wrongful death claim or serious personal injury, boating explosion cases demand an attorney with trial experience and knowledge of both maritime and state law—someone who can anticipate defenses, build a compelling case, and present it in court.

Boating Safety is Key—But When It Fails, Know Your Rights

Most boat explosions can be traced back to a failure in safety protocols—like not ventilating the engine compartment before ignition, ignoring signs of fuel leaks, or using non-marine-grade equipment. Education, regular maintenance, and proper handling of fuel are critical to preventing these tragic incidents.

But even the most safety-conscious boater can’t control the negligence of others. That’s why, if you or someone you love has been affected by a boat explosion, legal support is not just important, it’s essential.

Why Choose Mase Seitz Briggs?

At Mase Seitz Briggs, we’ve handled some of the most complex boating injury and explosion cases in South Florida. We understand the intricate interplay between maritime law, insurance coverage disputes, product liability, and negligence. We know how to investigate these incidents, fight for your rights, and hold all responsible parties accountable.

Contact Us Today

If you or a loved one has been injured or impacted by a boating explosion in Florida, don’t wait. Contact the experienced maritime and personal injury attorneys at Mase Seitz Briggs for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand your rights and options, and we will fight to hold the responsible parties accountable. Call us today at 305-602-4927.

Fatal Biscayne Bay Barge Collision: A Preventable Tragedy and the Fight for Accountability

On the morning of July 28, 2025, a devastating and preventable collision unfolded in Biscayne Bay near Hibiscus Island. A commercial barge—a massive steel vessel with limited visibility and maneuverability—plowed into a small sailboat carrying five children and an adult counselor. The sailboat, part of a summer sailing camp operated by the Miami Yacht Club, stood no chance. A witness described the scene: “all the kids went flying off.” Some of the kids and the sailboat itself were crushed underneath the barge.

First responders acted immediately, diving into the bay to recover the sailboat’s passengers. All six passengers were pulled from the water within the hour. Tragically, two children, a 7-year-old and a 13-year-old, were killed. Two other children are clinging to life in critical condition. The camp counselor and one child survived with no reported physical injuries.

This was not a freak accident. This was a failure to uphold the most basic standards of care on our waterways.

A Collision of Negligence

As the investigation unfolds, one thing is already clear: this tragedy could and should have been prevented. The question now is who is responsible and how they will be held accountable.

Sailboat Operator and Sailing Club

The Miami Yacht Club’s summer sailing camp placed an adult counselor in charge of five children in a busy commercial waterway. And based on preliminary reports, the sailboat may have been outside its permitted sailing zone. That raises questions:

Why was the sailboat in harm’s way?
Did the sailboat have the right of way?
Did the camp counselor have proper training and certification? and
Were there effective safety protocols in place to prevent this type of catastrophe?

If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” then the Miami Yacht Club may be responsible for these children’s deaths.

Depending on the outcome of the Coast Guard’s investigation, the sailing club could face liability under several legal theories:

Negligent Supervision: failure by the counselor to maintain awareness and respond to obvious danger.
Negligent Training & Failure to Warn: Claims may be brought for failure to properly train counselors or warn about the potential dangers associated with sailing in high-traffic areas.
Vicarious Liability: The club could also be vicariously liable for the camp counselor’s reckless or negligent actions.
Wrongful Death: Families of the deceased children may pursue claims based on the club’s role in causing this catastrophe.

The Barge

Commercial barge and tugboat operators are trained, licensed professionals. They have a duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances to avoid collisions with other vessels. If visibility and maneuverability were limited, they may have had a duty to have a lookout. Yet despite this the massive barge crushed a sailboat carrying children. Questions that must be answered:

Was a proper lookout maintained from the barge and tug?
Was the vessel traveling at a safe speed, given the location, maneuverability and visibility?
Were warnings issued, or was this a silent, blind collision?

If the barge crew or tugboat operators failed in even one of these duties, the potential claims include:

Negligence: Failing to keep a proper lookout and travel at an appropriate speed, given its limited maneuverability and visibility, may constitute negligence.
Failure to Warn: If the vessel did not issue appropriate sound signals or radio warnings before the crash, this could support a negligence claim of failure to warn.
Wrongful Death: As with the sailing club, if the barge operator’s actions are found to have contributed to the children’s deaths, the families may have grounds to bring wrongful death claims.

Who Had the Right of Way?

Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer. Some may argue that the barge had the right of way. Rule 3 of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Rules does grant exceptions to vessels restricted in maneuverability, but also requires they keep a proper lookout including posting someone where they can see the surroundings if visibility is restricted.

Even vessels engaged in towing have a duty to proceed with vigilance and caution, especially in waters known to host children’s sailboats.

Though the facts are still developing, additional considerations such as the position of the sailboat and barge in the bay, how fast each vessel was moving, and whether either vessel was operating in an area where they shouldn’t have been will be key in determining which vessel was at fault. Ultimately, this devastating accident serves as a reminder of the dangers that can arise on the water, especially in Florida’s busy waterways. This is not just a case about maritime law. It is a case about the ultimate price paid by innocent children. These families deserve justice. The community deserves answers. And the responsible parties, whether it’s the camp, the tug, the barge operator, or all three, must be held accountable.

Maritime Law Demands Aggressive Representation

If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating accident, timing is critical. The experienced maritime attorneys at Mase Seitz Briggs have decades of experience handling serious boating injury and wrongful death cases. We understand the complexity of maritime law. We know how to take on powerful shipping companies and well-funded clubs. And we don’t back down.