Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers

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Philip M. Gerson is a top-rated Miami personal injury lawyer and the founder and senior partner of Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers, a nationally recognized Florida law firm that has represented injury victims and families for more than five decades. Since launching the firm in 1970, he has helped develop one of the nation’s longest-standing plaintiff-only personal injury practices, known for handling complex catastrophic injury, wrongful death, maritime, and cruise ship accident litigation. Clients frequently describe him as the “best” Miami personal injury lawyer, pointing to his courtroom experience, long-standing leadership, and dedication to pursuing justice for people harmed by negligence and misconduct.

Over more than 50 years of legal practice in Miami, Gerson has devoted his career to representing individuals and families affected by negligence, dangerous conditions, and corporate wrongdoing. His work spans a wide range of serious injury and death cases, including medical malpractice, catastrophic injuries, defective products, negligent security claims, and complex litigation involving cruise ship and maritime accidents. Through decades of practice, he has remained committed to holding corporations, property owners, and other responsible parties accountable when their actions or failures lead to devastating harm.

Under Gerson’s leadership, Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers has built a reputation for taking on high-stakes cases that require meticulous preparation and strong trial advocacy. The firm exclusively represents plaintiffs in matters involving car accidents, truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, construction accidents, premises liability, drunk driving incidents, medical malpractice, maritime injuries, and wrongful death lawsuits. Rather than relying solely on settlement models, the firm has maintained a litigation-focused approach rooted in investigation, strategy, and trial readiness. Over the course of its history, the firm has tried more than 350 jury trials and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients.

One of the areas where Gerson and his firm are particularly well known is cruise ship and maritime injury litigation. Gerson & Schwartz is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading cruise ship injury law firms, representing passengers and crew members in cases involving slip and fall accidents, gangway injuries, shore excursion incidents, shipboard crimes, vessel malfunctions, and other serious onboard hazards. The firm has litigated against major cruise lines in federal courts and has represented injured clients from across the United States and around the world in complex maritime claims.

Gerson’s work also extends beyond the courtroom into advocacy for victims’ rights and public safety. He has testified before the United States Senate Commerce Committee regarding cruise passenger safety and crime victim protections, contributing to broader efforts to improve accountability and safety standards within the cruise industry. His professional involvement has also included leadership roles connected to organizations dedicated to supporting victims of violent crime and strengthening legal protections for those harmed by preventable acts.

A cum laude graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Gerson served on the editorial board of the law review, earned moot court honors, and graduated near the top of his class. He is admitted to practice in all Florida courts as well as several federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Claims, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida.

Today, Philip M. Gerson continues to lead Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers alongside trial partners Nicholas Gerson and Edward Schwartz. The firm remains consistently top-rated, earning recognition from organizations such as Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms, and Martindale-Hubbell, where Gerson holds an AV Preeminent peer rating. Built on decades of plaintiff advocacy and serious courtroom experience, the firm remains committed to representing victims in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases while pursuing justice for those harmed on land, at sea, and in communities throughout Florida and beyond.