Philip M. Gerson - Miami, FL
Attorney at Gerson & Schwartz P.A.
Auto, Truck and Motor Vehicle Accidents Lawyers in Miami, FL
1980 Coral Wy Miami, FL 33145
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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56
Years
Experience
Miami Auto, Truck and Motor Vehicle Accidents Lawyer
Updated: 05/20/2026
Areas of Practice
- Auto, Truck and Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Personal Injury
- Brain Injuries
- Cruise Ship Accidents
- Security Negligence
- Night Club Security
- Jones Act / Seaman Claims
- Premises Liability
- Medical Malpractice
- Physician Errors and Hospital Malpractice
- Wrongful Death
- Crime Victims
- Rape, Molestation, & Sexual Assaults
- Products Liability
- Tobacco
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
Philip M. Gerson is a top-rated Miami, Florida personal injury lawyer and the founder of Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers, a nationally recognized plaintiff-only law firm established in 1970 alongside partners Nicholas Gerson and Edward Schwartz. For more than five decades, the firm has represented injury victims, cruise passengers, crime victims, and families pursuing wrongful death claims throughout Florida and nationwide. Based in Miami, Florida, Philip M. Gerson has built a reputation for handling catastrophic injury, maritime injury, cruise ship litigation, negligent security, and complex wrongful death cases against major corporations, cruise lines, insurers, and negligent property owners. Clients frequently describe him as one of the best Miami personal injury lawyers because of his courtroom experience, litigation results, and long-standing commitment to plaintiff advocacy.
For more than 50 years, Philip M. Gerson has devoted his legal career exclusively to representing plaintiffs in high-stakes litigation involving medical malpractice, defective products, cruise ship accidents, traumatic injuries, negligent security claims, and wrongful death matters. Under his leadership, Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers has become one of Florida’s most respected and top-rated personal injury and maritime litigation firms, known for aggressive trial advocacy, sophisticated case preparation, and hands-on representation in complex injury cases.
A defining focus of Philip M. Gerson’s practice is cruise ship and maritime injury litigation. Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers is widely recognized as one of the premier cruise ship injury law firms in the United States, representing passengers and crew members injured aboard Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Virgin Voyages. The firm handles cruise ship slip and falls, gangway accidents, shore excursion injuries, onboard assaults, water slide injuries, negligent shipboard security claims, sexual assault and rape cases, crew member injury claims, and other serious maritime injury matters arising both at sea and in ports throughout the world.
Philip M. Gerson has also played an important role in advancing cruise passenger safety and maritime accountability. He testified before the United States Senate Commerce Committee regarding cruise ship safety, crime victim protections, and negligent shipboard security issues, contributing to broader public discussions surrounding passenger rights and the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010. His advocacy on behalf of victims has extended beyond litigation into broader efforts involving maritime safety reform, crime victim rights, and cruise passenger protection initiatives. He has also been associated with organizations and advocacy efforts connected to the International Cruise Victims Association and the National Crime Victim Bar Association. His work in this area has helped establish the firm as a nationally recognized advocate for injured cruise passengers and victims of shipboard crime.
Under Philip M. Gerson’s leadership, Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers has tried more than 350 jury trials to verdict and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients and grieving families. The firm remains highly selective in the cases it accepts, allowing senior trial attorneys to remain directly involved in investigation, litigation strategy, negotiations, and courtroom advocacy. That litigation-focused approach has helped the firm maintain its reputation as one of the best and most respected personal injury and maritime law firms in Miami, Florida.
The firm consistently receives recognition from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms – U.S. News & World Report, and Martindale-Hubbell, where Philip M. Gerson holds an AV Preeminent rating for professional excellence and ethics. Clients regularly praise the firm’s responsiveness, professionalism, compassion, and relentless representation, with many testimonials recognizing Philip M. Gerson and his legal team as among the best Miami, Florida personal injury lawyers for catastrophic injury, wrongful death, negligent security, and cruise ship litigation matters.
A cum laude graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Philip M. Gerson served on the editorial board of the law review, won moot court competitions, and graduated near the top of his class. He is admitted to practice before all Florida courts, 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 Nicholas Gerson and Edward Schwartz, representing plaintiffs in personal injury, maritime, cruise ship, negligent security, medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death litigation throughout Miami, Florida and across the country.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- South Florida Legal Elite Super Lawyers, Member Since 2000
Other Sources of Feedback About Philip M. Gerson
Included on the 2017 Florida Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2016 Florida Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Florida Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Florida Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Florida Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Florida Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Florida Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Florida Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Florida Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Florida Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
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University of Miami School of Law,
Coral Gables,
Florida, 1970
J.D.
Honors: Moot Court Winner
Honors: Wig and Robe Society
Honors: Graduated in top 5% of Class
Law Review: Law Review, Member of the Editorial Board
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University of Miami School of Law,
Coral Gables,
Florida, 1970
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Non Legal Education
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University of Miami,
Coral Gables,
Florida, 1967
B.B.A.
Honors: 4 Year debate scholarship
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University of Miami,
Coral Gables,
Florida, 1967
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Founder, Senior Partner
Languages
-
English
-
Spanish
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 1970
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1981
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1971
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
Specialties and Certifications
- Florida Bar, Board Certified Trial Lawyer
Other Affiliations
- Florida Bar (Member Since 1970)
- Florida Bar, Board of Directors Trauma Resolution Center
- Florida Bar, Consultant, International Cruise Victims
- Dade County Bar Association
- American Association for Justice (Eagle patron)
- St. Thomas University Board of Advisors
- Florida Bar Association (Continuing Legal Education Committee)
- Florida Bar Association (Professionalism Committee)
- National Crime Victim Bar Association (Past President)
- Treasurer Executive Committee National Center for Victims of Crime (Past President)
Photo
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