Brais Law Firm is a premier maritime injury law firm helping injury and crime victims recover compensation in a wide range of maritime personal injury and wrongful death claims. Our maritime injury attorneys and cruise ship accident lawyers are board certified by the Florida Bar in maritime law and often represent cruise ship passengers who have suffered a personal injury or been a victim of sexual assault or rape, including molestation of children. We routinely represent crew members injured aboard cruise ships, cargo and tanker vessels, yachts, ferries, tugs, and barges. We are frequently called upon to represent those injured in boating accidents and jet ski & wave runner (aka "personal watercraft") collisions and accidents. Our Miami-based attorneys also have experience handling diving accidents (both snorkeling and scuba), including those run-over by powerboats, often referred to as prop-strike cases.
Keith Brais was the first of a limited number of attorneys to become board certified in maritime law by the Florida Bar in 1996.
The Miami-based maritime injury lawyers and cruise ship accident attorneys with Brais Law Firm are experts in the field of maritime law.
Only seven percent of Florida attorneys can represent that they are experts in a particular field of law under Florida Bar rules. Only after practicing a requisite number of years, providing proof of substantial relevant legal accomplishment and passing a board certification exam may an attorney ethically represent themselves as an "expert" in a certain practice area.
Keith Brais was the first of a limited number of attorneys to become board certified in maritime law by the Florida Bar in 1996.
Even today, there are very few board certified maritime attorneys and even fewer who represent plaintiffs. The firm's maritime injury attorneys and cruise ship accident lawyers work exclusively on behalf of injured individuals or loved ones left behind after wrongful death and are here to help and lend their expertise in support if your claim.
We've experienced first-hand the rigors of working in the marine field, and the dangers associated with offshore employment. We know maritime law and marine industry safety standards to obtain the compensation you deserve after a marine casualty.
There are all types of attorneys who practice law, but not all attorneys are best suited to handle your maritime injury or cruise ship accident case.
Certain cases require attorneys with particular expertise. If your claim involves navigable waters and a vessel of whatever type (e.g., cruise ship, tanker, cargo, ferry, tug and barge, yacht, pleasure boat, dive boat, jet ski, wave runner, etc.) or employment in the marine industry (e.g. crew member, Jones Act seaman, longshoreman, cruise ship employee, etc.), then your claim is governed by maritime law.
Maritime law is a unique end esoteric body of law. It is very different from auto cases or other "shore-side" types of claims and requires the expertise of a skilled and experienced maritime practitioner.
The maritime injury attorneys and cruise ship accident lawyers with Brais Law Firm represent only individuals, not insurance companies, cruise lines, corporations or marine employers.
All too often injuries are the result of negligence caused by careless, indifference, corporate "penny pinching" or outright greed. As a consequence, safety is compromised. The reality is that corporate "bean counters" accept the inevitability of accidents but all too often decide it is cheaper to pay a deductible and turn the defense of a claim over to attorneys hired by an insurance company, than to proactively implement safety measures to prevent an accident in the first place.
Sadly, corporations place profit ahead of people. In these circumstances, we fight on your behalf to hold the defendant individuals or corporation financially accountable for the injuries you have suffered.
The attorneys within and “of counsel” to our firm have more than 65 years of collective experience trying cases before judges and juries.
Keith Brais is among a select number of attorneys who have achieved board certification in maritime law by the Florida Bar.
Our mission statement is “Protecting Rights and Restoring Lives.” These are not merely words. We have the experience to protect your rights, the compassion to serve your needs and the skill to obtain the compensation you deserve.
The members of our legal team have received numerous awards and accolades throughout the course ion their careers, including being “AV Preeminent rated with Martindale Hubbell and named as members of both Super Lawyers and Legal Elite.
Keith Brais graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a B.S. degree in marine engineering. Over his seven plus years working aboard ships and offshore oil rigs, he acquired three U.S. Coast Guard Licenses (now inactive).
The attorneys at our firm represented maritime employers, cruise lines, insurance companies and other major players in the maritime industry for nearly 20 years. These “blue chip” marine employers and insurers can and do hire only the best available attorneys. The attorneys with Brais Law Firm now put their expertise and experience to fight for the rights of the individuals who have suffered serious personal injury or wrongful death of a loved one.
At Brais Law Firm we focus our efforts on helping individuals, not insurance companies, cruise lines, corporations or marine employers. Our firm is here to help you and your family.
Every maritime injury and cruise ship accident lawyer at our firm is focused on getting individuals the compensation they deserve. In the last several years alone, we have proudly secure more than 45 million dollars for our clients.
Partner Keith Brans is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members of this prestigious group of trial lawyers.
We've experienced first-hand the rigors of working in the marine field, and the dangers associated with offshore employment. We know maritime law and marine industry safety standards to obtain for you the compensation you deserve after a marine casualty.
A. Maritime law, also known as “admiralty law,” is a highly complex body of law that governs activities which take place on navigable waters (waters that have direct or indirect access to the ocean). If your injury or accident occurred on a cruise ship, barge, yacht, pleasure boat, or any other vessel, or you were hurt while working in the marine industry, then your case will be governed by maritime law. Because maritime law is so complex, it is always best to consult with a lawyer who has specific experience handling maritime claims.
A. At Brais Law Firm we handle maritime accidents, personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will not have to pay any legal fees unless we are successful in winning your case. If we recover financial compensation for you, we collect a percentage of the gross recovery before the deduction of costs. If there is no recovery, you will not pay any fees to the firm. Our firm also offers free, no-obligation consultations where you can learn more about our fee arrangements and how we can best assist you with your case.
A. Your case will be handled by experienced maritime attorneys who know what it takes to get the results that you deserve. The practitioners at our firm have over 65 years of collective trial experience. Our credentials and qualifications are extensive and include two partners with board certification in admiralty and maritime law, an attorney who over his years employed offshore acquired three U.S. Coast Guard Engineer licenses, and while practicing earned an “AV” Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell and membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. More importantly, we have a first-hand understanding of how the cruise lines, insurance carriers and large maritime employers operate because we represented these powerful companies for nearly 20 years before we made the choice to change sides so that we could help the people who need us most – individuals just like you.
A. Every cruise ship accident and maritime injury case is unique and the compensation that you are entitled to recover will depend upon the specific facts of your case, the injuries suffered and the governing law. For instance, if you are an injured crew member who qualifies as a “seaman” under the federal Jones Act, you may have three potential avenues available to collect compensation: (1) Filing a lawsuit against your employer for negligence under the Jones Act; (2) Suing the owner of the vessel for damages under the doctrine of unseaworthiness; and (3) Collecting maintenance (lodging and food) and cure (medical expenses) and sick wages against your employer and even the ship itself under an “in rem” claim. If you are a passenger injured on a cruise, a cruise ship accident lawyer at our firm will work to help you recover a wide range damages, including compensation for past and future medical care, lost past and future income, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering whether emotional, psychological or physical.
Maritime Injury Attorney | Miami Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer | Brais Law Firm