Alberto J. Castaner

Castañer & Cía PSC has represented clients from all over the world in personal injury and wrongful death cases in Puerto Rico. We have obtained millions of dollars in compensations to those injured or the families of wrongful death victims. We hire the best experts to take your case and get the maximum compensation possible. We are known for fiercely defending our client's right and not to be the type of lawyers who will look for early settlements instead of working hard to hold those who by negligence cause damage to our clients.

We have represented clients involved in:
- Premises liability cases (accidents in hotels, airports, tourist attractions, etc.)
- Zipline excursions
- Parasailing
- Fishing excursion
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Fire safety cases
- Workplace injuries
- Jones Act claims
- Maritime injuries
- And more...

Castañer & Cía PSC ha representado a clientes de todo el mundo en casos de lesiones y muerte por accidentes en Puerto Rico. Hemos obtenido millones de dólares en compensaciones para los perjudicados o las familias de las víctimas de aquellos que han muerto a causa de un accidente. Contratamos a los mejores expertos para llevar su caso y obtener la máxima compensación posible. Somos conocidos por defender ferozmente el derecho de nuestros clientes y no ser el tipo de abogados que buscarán acuerdos de transacción rápidos en lugar de trabajar duro para responsabilizar a aquellos que por negligencia causan daños a nuestros clientes.

Hemos representado a persona envueltas en:

- Casos de responsabilidad de facilidades (accidentes en hoteles, aeropuertos, atracciones turísticas, etc.)
- Excursiones en tirolina
- Parasailing
- Excursión de pesca
- Accidentes automovilísticos
- Casos de seguridad contra incendios
- Lesiones en el lugar de trabajo.
- La Ley Jones
- Lesiones marítimas
- Y más...

• Free Consultation
• Contingent Fees
  Contingent fees are accepted on personal injury, products liability, collections, etc.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Hourly fee

Puerto Rico

1st Circuit

Federal Circuit

U.S. Court of International Trade

Research Assistant

Puerto Rico Court of Appeals, Hato Rey, P.R./ Hon. Judge Migdalia Fraticelli

Current

Adjunct Professor of Admiralty and Maritime Law

Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law

2013 - Current

Maritime and Admiralty Law

Managing Partner

Castaner & Cía PSC

2008 - Current

- Representing clients injured in airports, retail stores, boating accidents, work related accidents, on commercial vessels and cruise ships, among others. - Providing legal advice to stevedores, port operators, custom brokers, third party logistics providers, and the Puerto Rico Shipping Association. Working on maritime related cases dealing with ship arrests, salvage claims, and other in rem proceedings. - Participating as co-counsel for Clavesbert Law Offices, PSC on transportation related cases.

Territory Partner (Puerto Rico)

Trupanion Pet Insurance

2008 - 2013

Associate

Cintron Law Offices

2004 - 2006

- Concentrated on civil cases in Corporate Law, Employment Law, Torts, Debt Collection, and Real Estate Law. - Managed all aspects of cases from inception through completion. - Participated in State Court case litigation including legal investigation, draft of legal documents and appearance in court. - Prepared legal documents as memoranda, motions, complaints and discovery documents. - Maintained close relationships with clients, including Office of the Superintendent of the Capitol, Estate of Francisco Mendoza, Shareholders of Mendoza Enterprises, Doral Bank Center Professional Condominium, and Maderas 3C, Inc.

Tulane University School of Law

LL.M. | Admiralty and Maritime Law

Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law

J.D. | Law

Honors: Cum Laude

Activities: Member of Faculty Senate

University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez

B.A. | Psychology

Honors: Cum Laude

Universita Ca' Foscari, Venice, Italy

Certificate | International Commerce in the European Union

Best Lawyer for Personal Injury Litigation and Maritime Law

BestLawyers

2025

Alberto Castañer was recently included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation and Maritime Law.

Appreciation for service to crew memebers who worked for bankrupt shipowners

Seaman's Church

2010

Represented 45 crew members left stranded for three months on two ships while owners underwent bankruptcy proceedings. Was able to accomplish repatriation of all of them in less than 30 days and collected 100% of their unpaid wages plus one month wages worth for severance pay before any other creditor in the bankruptcy collected.

U.S. Court of International Trade

Member

Current

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico

Member

Current

Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association (Transportation Committee)

Member

Current

American Association for Justice  # 360175

Member

2018 - Current

U.S. Maritime Law Association

Member

2008 - Current

Proctor in Admiralty

U.S. Maritime Law Association

Q. I fell in Puerto Rico broke my toe. I live in the state of New York Joe do I four a lawsuit for my injuries and pain

September 9, 2024

A: Thanks for your question. The answer is: it depends. If you fell and broke your toe because of someone else's negligent acts or omissions (e.g. a restaurant who left a wet floor unattended without "Caution" signs or a store who had a step that does not meet construction codes) then you may be entitled to compensation. However, if you fell because you tripped on your own feet, then you would not. Feel free to give us a call so we can get more details about your accident and see if it is something we can help you with.

Best Regards,

Alberto Casañer

Q. Es legal que el DRNA requiera las plantillas de impuesto para poder sacar el sello anual de una embarcación

June 1, 2024

A: La Ley 430 llamada Ley de Navegación y Seguridad Acuática de Puerto Rico y el Reglamento tienen los requisitos de inscripción. El Artículo 8 (4) del Reglamento requiere que se presente "evidencia de haber rendido su planilla de contribución sobre ingresos, mediante

certificación del Departamento de Hacienda a esos efectos o mediante copia certificada de la

planilla, si tenía la obligación de rendir la misma, para el año contributivo inmediatamente

anterior a la fecha de dicha solicitud".

Esta información no crea una relación abogado cliente ni puede ser interpretada como asesoría legal. Debe consultar un abogado, las leyes y reglamentos applicablea.

Q. Which is the name of the law that determines the percentage of honorary (and the %)the lawyer receive in cases of injury

July 5, 2023

A: The law is Act No. 9 known as Practice of Law Act and provides:

No attorney shall charge fees of a contingent nature in actions to recover damages in an amount that exceeds, for any reason, twenty-five percent (25%) of the final proceeds of the judgment, compromise or agreement if the client is a minor or mentally disabled, or thirty-three percent (33%) of the final proceeds of the judgment, compromise or agreement if it is any other client.

4 L.P.R.A. § 742

Kress Stores of Puerto Rico, Inc. v. Wal-Mart Puerto Rico, Inc.

US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

TOTAL TERMINALS INTERNATIONAL, LLC V. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKER'S COMPENSATION PROGRAMS

US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

USA V. KOROTKIY

US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Santana de la Rosa v. Santana de la Rosa

US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit