Miami Maritime Attorney
Boat accident injuries, defective vessel claims, maritime liens, and vessel arrests serving Miami, Miami Beach, and Miami-Dade County. Ludwin Law Group has focused on maritime and admiralty law for over a decade, representing boat owners, marinas, and marine businesses throughout South Florida in both state and federal court.
Miami Is a Global Boating Hub. When Something Goes Wrong on the Water, the Stakes Are High.
Quick Answer: A maritime attorney in Miami handles legal disputes involving recreational vessels, commercial boats, and marine businesses on Biscayne Bay, the Miami River, and offshore waters. This includes boat accident injuries, defective vessel and engine claims, maritime liens for marinas and boatyards, vessel arrests, poor workmanship disputes, and boat warranty cases. Maritime law operates under its own federal jurisdiction and procedural rules. Most Florida attorneys have never filed a vessel arrest or enforced a maritime lien. Ludwin Law Group has practiced maritime and admiralty law for over a decade, and it is a core part of this firm, not a side practice.
Miami and Miami-Dade County are home to one of the densest concentrations of recreational and commercial vessels in the United States. Biscayne Bay connects to the Atlantic through Government Cut and Card Sound. The Miami River runs through the urban core. Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, and Dinner Key Marina anchor a marine culture that draws boat owners, yacht brokers, marinas, and marine service businesses from around the world. With that concentration of watercraft comes a high volume of maritime disputes: boat accidents caused by negligent operators, defective vessels sold by dealerships, boatyards that take your money and do poor work, marinas with unpaid bills, and vessel owners defending improper lien claims.
Ludwin Law Group has handled maritime and admiralty matters for over ten years. Maritime law is not a side practice that we handle when one walks in the door. It is a core part of this civil litigation firm. Maritime law is a completely separate legal system from standard Florida civil courts, with its own jurisdiction, its own procedural rules, and remedies including vessel arrest that most Florida attorneys have never used. The Southern District of Florida, based in Miami, is the federal court where vessel arrests and maritime lien enforcement cases are filed. We practice in that courthouse. That specific experience matters when your boat, your money, or your marine business is at stake.
- → Boat owners injured in recreational boating accidents on Biscayne Bay and Miami waterways
- → Boat buyers with defective vessels, engines, or denied manufacturer warranty claims
- → Miami marinas and boatyards pursuing unpaid maritime liens
- → Vessel owners defending against improper or inflated lien claims
- → Marine service providers in payment and contract disputes
- → Buyers in vessel purchase disputes involving undisclosed defects
- → Boat owners with electrocution injuries near marina electrical systems
- → Marina operators in slip, storage, and vessel damage disputes
Maritime Legal Services in Miami & Miami-Dade County
From recreational boat accident injuries on Biscayne Bay to defective vessel claims, unpaid marina bills, poor boatyard workmanship, and federal vessel arrests filed in the Southern District of Florida in Miami, we handle the full range of maritime and admiralty disputes in the Miami area.
Boat Accident Injuries
Personal injury claims for recreational boat accidents caused by negligent operators, impaired boaters (BUI), vessel collisions on Biscayne Bay, capsizing events, and unsafe marina or vessel conditions throughout Miami-Dade County.
State & Federal Court
Boat Manufacturer Defects
Product liability claims for defective vessels, engines, hydraulic systems, electrical systems, and hull construction. Strict liability applies under federal maritime law: you do not need to prove the manufacturer was negligent.
Strict Liability
Maritime Liens for Marinas & Boatyards
Enforcement of maritime liens for unpaid dockage, storage, fuel, repairs, and supplies. A federal maritime lien attaches automatically when you provide necessaries to a vessel. Enforceable through vessel arrest in the Southern District of Florida, whose courthouse is in Miami.
No Filing Required
Vessel Arrests
Federal in rem proceedings to seize a vessel as security for a maritime claim, filed in the Southern District of Florida. The federal courthouse is located in downtown Miami. Once arrested, the owner cannot move, sell, or operate the boat, which frequently forces rapid settlement.
Federal Court, Miami
Poor Workmanship & Boatyard Claims
Claims against Miami-area boatyards, repair shops, and installers for defective repairs, shoddy work, and work that damaged or made your vessel unsafe. Maritime negligence and breach of contract both apply.
Maritime Negligence
Boat Warranty & Purchase Disputes
Express and implied warranty enforcement under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and Florida’s UCC when manufacturers or dealers refuse to honor warranty repairs. Prevailing boat owners may recover attorney fees from the manufacturer.
Fee Recovery Available
Maritime Case Types in Miami & Miami-Dade County
Every maritime matter has unique procedural requirements. Below is a closer look at the most common case types handled in Miami, and the details you should understand before contacting an attorney.
Recreational Boat Accident Injuries
Miami is one of the most active boating markets in the country. Biscayne Bay sees heavy recreational traffic year-round. Miami Beach waterways, the Government Cut shipping channel, Coconut Grove marinas, and the Intracoastal Waterway from Aventura to Homestead all generate serious accident exposure.
- Negligent or reckless boat operation and boating under the influence (BUI)
- Collisions on Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach waterways, and offshore
- Capsize accidents from overloading, operator error, or excessive wake
- Marina and dock accidents at Coconut Grove, Dinner Key Marina, and Miami Beach Marina
- Electrocution and electric shock drowning from faulty marina electrical systems
- Injuries from defective or improperly maintained charter boat or rental vessel components
Boat Manufacturer Defect & Product Liability
Miami’s yacht and boat dealership market is one of the largest in the United States. When a manufacturer defect causes injury or makes a vessel unsafe, federal and Florida product liability law holds manufacturers strictly liable. Common defects include engine overheating, hydraulic steering failures, defective electrical systems, and hull construction defects that allow water intrusion.
Poor Workmanship & Boatyard Claims
Miami-Dade County is home to dozens of boatyards and marine repair facilities. When a yard does substandard work, the vessel owner has legal remedies under both maritime negligence and breach of contract. If the yard has asserted a maritime lien against your vessel in connection with disputed work, you need an attorney immediately.
Maritime Liens: For Marinas & Boatyards
If a boat owner has not paid for services provided, you likely hold a federal maritime lien against the vessel itself. No filing or recording is required. The lien attaches automatically when services are provided and follows the vessel through any ownership change.
Maritime Liens: Defending Vessel Owners
Not every claim against a vessel qualifies as a maritime lien, and not every lien asserted is valid. We defend Miami-area vessel owners against inflated or improperly asserted lien claims, procedural defects, and claims for disputed or defective work. We also negotiate release of your vessel while the dispute is pending.
Vessel Arrests & Federal In Rem Proceedings
A vessel arrest seizes a boat as security for a maritime claim. The Southern District of Florida federal courthouse is located in Miami, making Miami one of the most active admiralty jurisdictions in the country. Once arrested, the owner cannot move, sell, or operate the vessel until the dispute is resolved or substitute security is posted.
Why Miami Clients Choose Us for Maritime Cases
Adam Ludwin has practiced maritime and admiralty law for over ten years. Most Florida attorneys have never filed a vessel arrest or enforced a maritime lien in the Southern District of Florida. We have. The Southern District courthouse is in Miami, making it the federal court where maritime disputes in Miami-Dade County are resolved.
Vessel arrests, maritime lien enforcement, and federal admiralty cases are filed in the Southern District of Florida. We practice in that court. We know the admiralty procedures, the U.S. Marshal’s Office process for vessel seizure, and the Supplemental Rules that govern in rem proceedings.
Adam Ludwin has focused on maritime and admiralty matters for over ten years. Boat accident injuries, manufacturer defect claims, maritime lien enforcement, and vessel arrests are not overflow cases. They are what this firm does.
Maritime lien rights disappear when a vessel is sold to a good-faith buyer before you act. Boat accident evidence deteriorates within days. We identify which deadlines apply and act before they become a problem.
Your matter is handled with close attorney oversight and personalized attention from the first call through final resolution in a boutique litigation firm.
Not every maritime dispute needs to go to federal court. We evaluate your situation and pursue the strategy that produces the best outcome.
Ludwin Law Group handles maritime and admiralty matters as a core part of our civil litigation practice, serving Miami, Miami-Dade County, and all of South Florida.
What Happens When You Call Us
Free Case Review
Tell us what happened. We listen, evaluate your claim, and give you an honest assessment of your legal options.
Identify Claims & Deadlines
We determine the correct legal theories and the right forum: Miami-Dade Circuit Court, the Southern District of Florida in Miami, or both.
We Act Fast
Maritime disputes move quickly. We preserve your rights and gather evidence before deadlines expire or vessel transfers cut off your options.
Fight for Recovery
Through negotiation, mediation, or federal court, we pursue every available remedy: vessel arrest, lien enforcement, product liability claims, and full damages.
Ready to Discuss Your Miami Maritime Case?
Free, confidential consultation. No obligation. We evaluate your claim and give you an honest assessment of your options.
Frequently Asked Questions: Maritime Law in Miami
Common questions from Miami and Miami-Dade County clients before contacting a maritime attorney.
Maritime law is a completely separate legal system from standard Florida civil law. A general litigator does not know how to arrest a vessel, enforce a maritime lien, or navigate the Supplemental Admiralty Rules used in the Southern District of Florida, which is located in Miami.
If your injury was caused by negligence, such as a reckless operator, a vessel with a known defect, or an unsafe marina condition, you likely have a viable personal injury claim. Act quickly: Florida requires serious boating accidents be reported to the FWC within 10 days.
A maritime lien is a claim against a vessel itself that attaches automatically the moment services are provided, including repairs, fuel, dockage, storage, and supplies. No filing or recording is required. The Southern District of Florida, whose courthouse is in Miami, is the federal court where these cases are filed.
A vessel arrest is a federal in rem proceeding. The lienholder files a complaint in the Southern District of Florida. The court issues an arrest warrant executed by the U.S. Marshal. The owner cannot move, sell, or operate the boat until the dispute is resolved or substitute security is posted.
If you provided necessaries to the vessel, you likely hold a federal maritime lien that required no filing to attach and follows the vessel through any ownership change. You can enforce that lien in the Southern District of Florida in Miami, including arresting the vessel if the owner refuses to pay.
No. Florida Statute Chapter 681 covers motor vehicles only and explicitly excludes watercraft. Boat buyers must rely on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, federal maritime product liability law, and Florida’s UCC. Read our full breakdown of what actually protects Florida boat owners.
Yes. You have claims under maritime negligence and breach of contract. Document everything: photographs, invoices, work orders, and assessments from an independent marine surveyor. If the yard has asserted a maritime lien against your vessel, contact us immediately.
The Jones Act protects commercial maritime workers injured on the job. It applies to tugboat crews, commercial fishermen, and offshore platform workers, not recreational boaters or marina visitors. Your claim is a standard negligence or product liability matter.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act requires manufacturers to honor written warranties. If you prevail, the manufacturer must pay your attorney fees. Federal maritime product liability holds manufacturers strictly liable for defects. Document the defect thoroughly and do not accept any settlement without a maritime attorney reviewing it first.
Florida product liability claims carry a four-year limitation. Personal injury claims from boat accidents are two years under HB 837 (2023). Federal maritime tort claims are three years. Maritime lien claims are generally one year, but liens are extinguished by a good-faith sale before you act. Many purchase contracts have arbitration notice deadlines as short as 30 days. Consult an attorney immediately.
Adam Ludwin
Maritime Attorney, Miami & Miami-Dade County, Florida
Adam M. Ludwin, Esq.
Founder, Ludwin Law Group
Adam Ludwin is a maritime attorney with over ten years of experience representing boat owners, marinas, and marine businesses throughout South Florida. He founded Ludwin Law Group with maritime and admiralty law as a core focus. Unlike most Florida attorneys who have never filed a vessel arrest or enforced a maritime lien in the Southern District of Florida, Adam has spent over a decade handling exactly these matters in Miami and throughout the region.
- J.D., Nova Southeastern University
- B.S. Finance, Penn State
- Florida Bar
- Federal Bar Association — SDFL
- American Bar Association
- 5.0 Martindale-Hubbell