About 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 law firm based in Miami, Florida. For more than five decades, he has dedicated his career to representing individuals and families harmed by negligence, reckless conduct, and intentional wrongdoing. Clients frequently describe him as the “best” Miami personal injury lawyer, recognizing his long record of advocacy, courtroom experience, and commitment to injured victims.
Since establishing the firm in 1970, Gerson has helped build one of the nation’s longest-standing plaintiff-only personal injury practices. The firm focuses exclusively on representing injury victims and their families in complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, cruise ship accidents, maritime injuries, medical malpractice, defective products, negligent security, and other serious negligence claims. Over the years, the firm has developed a reputation for handling high-stakes litigation both on land and at sea.
Gerson graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where he served on the law review editorial board and won a moot court competition while graduating near the top of his class. He is admitted to practice before all Florida courts as well as numerous federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Claims, the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida.
Under his leadership, Gerson & Schwartz Accident & Injury Lawyers has grown into a respected litigation firm with more than a century of combined experience devoted exclusively to plaintiff advocacy. The firm handles a broad spectrum of personal injury matters, including car accidents, truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, construction accidents, drunk driving incidents, premises liability claims, marine accidents, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death lawsuits. The practice is known for its trial-driven approach, having taken more than 350 jury trials to verdict and recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients.
One area where Philip M. Gerson and his firm have developed national recognition is cruise ship and maritime injury litigation. The firm represents passengers and crew members injured on cruise vessels and has handled cases involving slip and falls, gangway accidents, water slide injuries, shore excursion incidents, vessel malfunctions, and violent crimes such as assault and sexual misconduct aboard ships. Their work has involved litigation against major cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Virgin Voyages, MSC Cruises, and Holland America Line.
Gerson’s advocacy also extends beyond the courtroom. He has testified before the United States Senate Commerce Committee regarding cruise passenger safety and crime victim protections, reflecting his commitment to improving legal accountability and protections for victims of violence and negligence. His work has also included leadership roles connected to organizations supporting victims’ rights, including involvement with initiatives tied to the National Center for Victims of Crime.
Throughout his career, Philip M. Gerson has remained focused on helping victims pursue justice in complex injury and wrongful death cases. Today, alongside partners Nicholas Gerson and Edward Schwartz, he continues to lead one of Florida’s most respected trial practices for catastrophic injury, maritime litigation, and serious negligence claims, representing clients from across the United States and internationally.