Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers
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 firm dedicated exclusively to representing injury victims and families affected by wrongful death. Alongside trial partners Nicholas Gerson and Edward Schwartz, Philip Gerson has helped build a litigation-focused practice known for courtroom strength, meticulous case preparation, and aggressive advocacy in high-stakes injury and maritime litigation. Clients frequently describe the firm among the best and most trusted personal injury law firms in Miami, reflecting decades of successful representation, outstanding client testimonials, and a reputation for unwavering plaintiff advocacy.
One of the areas where Philip M. Gerson and his firm have earned national recognition is cruise ship and maritime litigation. For decades, Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers has represented cruise passengers and crew members injured aboard vessels operated by major cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and Holland America Line. The firm handles claims involving slip and falls, gangway accidents, water slide injuries, excursion injuries, ship malfunctions, medical emergencies at sea, passenger and crew injury litigation, negligent shipboard security claims, rape and sexual assault cases, and other serious maritime incidents.
The firm is also recognized for its advocacy involving cruise passenger safety and federal maritime litigation. Philip M. Gerson has participated in efforts to strengthen protections for cruise passengers and crime victims, including testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation regarding cruise passenger safety and shipboard crime reporting. His advocacy contributed to broader public awareness surrounding passenger rights and maritime accountability, including issues connected to the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010. Philip Gerson has also been associated with advocacy efforts connected to organizations such as the International Cruise Victims Association and the National Crime Victim Bar Association. The firm’s maritime and cruise litigation practice reflects a long-standing commitment to protecting passengers, crew members, and crime victims harmed aboard cruise vessels.
In addition to maritime injury litigation, Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers is highly regarded for negligent security and crime victim advocacy. The firm represents individuals and families harmed by violent crimes resulting from inadequate security at hotels, apartment complexes, shopping centers, parking garages, and other commercial properties. Through these cases, the firm pursues accountability against businesses and property owners that fail to implement reasonable safety measures designed to protect guests, tenants, and visitors.
Founded in 1970, Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers has become one of the nation’s longest-standing plaintiff-only personal injury law firms. For more than five decades, the firm has represented victims in complex injury matters involving car accidents, truck crashes, construction accidents, negligent security claims, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, maritime injuries, and wrongful death litigation. With more than 100 years of combined legal experience devoted exclusively to plaintiffs’ cases, the firm has tried more than 350 jury trials and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients and grieving families throughout Florida and across the United States.
Unlike firms that focus primarily on quick settlements, Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers maintains a litigation-driven philosophy centered on comprehensive investigation, strategic trial preparation, and direct attorney involvement from the beginning of each case through verdict or resolution. The firm is widely recognized for handling serious and catastrophic injury claims involving negligent corporations, unsafe premises, dangerous products, and complex insurance disputes.
Philip M. Gerson’s legal career spans more than 50 years and has been defined by professionalism, courtroom advocacy, and dedication to injured plaintiffs. A cum laude graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, he served on the law review editorial board, earned moot court honors, and graduated near the top of his class. He is admitted to practice before all Florida state courts as well as numerous federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Today, Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers continues to maintain a national reputation for high-level plaintiff representation, trial advocacy, and exceptional client service. The firm and its attorneys have earned recognition from Super Lawyers, U.S. News – Best Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms – U.S. News & World Report, and Martindale-Hubbell. Philip M. Gerson holds an AV Preeminent rating and maintains a 10.0 rating on Justia. These honors, together with decades of successful verdicts, recoveries, and top-rated client testimonials, reflect the firm’s enduring commitment to justice, client advocacy, and outstanding legal representation.