Introduction

With over $16.5 million recovered for clients across California, Cefali & Cefali Personal Injury Lawyers has built a practice around one principle: injured people should not bear the financial burden of someone else’s negligence. The firm operates from its headquarters at 27136 Paseo Espada, Suite 1123, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675, and maintains additional office locations throughout Southern California, including Pleasant Hill, Anaheim, Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Fullerton, Hemet, Irvine, Lake Forest, Laguna Woods, Laguna Niguel, Moreno Valley, Mission Viejo, Riverside, Orange, Santa Ana, and San Clemente. Partners Michael J. Cefali and Courtney L.C. Cefali lead a team that handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless the firm recovers compensation on their behalf.

Practice Areas

Cefali & Cefali handles a broad range of personal injury matters across Southern California, with deep experience in several categories of accident and injury litigation.

Vehicle Accidents. The firm represents victims of car accidents, motorcycle crashes, truck collisions, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian strikes throughout Orange County, Riverside County, and Los Angeles County. Their attorneys investigate accident causes ranging from distracted driving and speeding to DUI and aggressive driving. In car accident cases, they address injuries including whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and internal organ damage. For motorcycle cases specifically, they understand the heightened vulnerability riders face and the particular dangers of lane splitting, road debris, and intersection collisions in areas like Irvine, San Clemente, and Mission Viejo. Their truck accident practice involves cases against drivers, trucking companies, cargo loaders, and manufacturers, drawing on evidence from electronic logging devices and maintenance records to establish liability.

Premises Liability and Slip and Fall. Cefali & Cefali’s slip and fall practice extends across commercial properties, retail stores, hotels, apartment buildings, and restaurants. The attorneys handle cases involving wet surfaces, uneven flooring, poor lighting, torn carpeting, and inadequate maintenance. One notable result includes an $850,000 settlement for a client who suffered serious injuries due to property owner negligence. The firm understands California’s comparative negligence laws, which allow injured parties to recover damages as long as their own fault does not exceed 50%.

Dog Bites. Under California’s strict liability laws codified in Civil Code Section 3342, dog owners are automatically liable when their pets bite someone, regardless of the animal’s history. Cefali & Cefali represents victims, particularly children, who suffer puncture wounds, broken bones, nerve damage, scarring, infections, and psychological trauma from dog attacks. The firm has over 10 years of experience representing dog attack victims throughout the state.

Boating Accidents. California ranks second in the nation for watercraft incidents, with 478 accidents accounting for 6.5% of national boating deaths. The firm handles marina and dock accidents, collisions, flooding, falls overboard, capsizing, and incidents caused by operator error, equipment failure, and alcohol impairment.

Traumatic Brain Injuries. The attorneys represent victims of concussions, hemorrhages, hematomas, skull fractures, and other serious brain trauma resulting from vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, and workplace incidents. They consult with neurological experts and gather essential medical evidence to build these complex cases.

Wrongful Death. Cefali & Cefali represents families who have lost loved ones in fatal car, bicycle, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents, as well as deaths caused by medical malpractice, defective products, and premises liability.

Attorney Profiles

Michael J. Cefali, Partner. Michael Cefali serves as a founding partner of the firm, bringing experience across the full range of personal injury litigation. He leads the firm’s operations across multiple Southern California offices and maintains direct involvement in case strategy and client communication.

Courtney L.C. Cefali, Partner. Courtney Cefali serves as the firm’s co-founding partner, contributing to the firm’s representation of accident victims throughout California. Together with Michael Cefali, she oversees the firm’s contingency-based practice and its coordination with medical specialists to ensure clients receive proper treatment.

The firm provides both English and Spanish language services and offers 24/7 availability, including same-day virtual consultations. Clients can reach the firm at 877-423-3254 or at the alternate number (949) 755-0652.

Location and Service Area

Cefali & Cefali’s main office is located at 27136 Paseo Espada, Suite 1123, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. The firm serves clients throughout California with office locations in Pleasant Hill, Anaheim, Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Fullerton, Hemet, Irvine, Lake Forest, Laguna Woods, Laguna Niguel, Moreno Valley, Mission Viejo, Riverside, Orange, Santa Ana, and San Clemente.

Their geographic reach covers Orange County, Riverside County, and Los Angeles County, with cases spanning communities from Garden Grove and Westminster to San Juan Capistrano and beyond. The firm’s Irvine office is located at 4361 Main St., Irvine, CA, handling motorcycle accident and personal injury cases in the area.

The firm represents clients regardless of citizenship status and serves the community in both English and Spanish. More information is available at callcefali.com

Client Focus

Cefali & Cefali operates entirely on a contingency fee basis, with no out-of-pocket costs for clients. The firm provides free consultations and coordinates treatment with leading doctors and specialists in the area, requiring no upfront payment for medical care. This approach removes the financial barrier that often prevents injured people from seeking legal representation.

The firm’s results reflect its approach. Notable recoveries include a $1 million motorcycle accident settlement, two separate $500,000 settlements for an open policy case and a jail injury case, a $360,000 hit-and-run accident settlement, and various other settlements ranging from $100,000 to $290,000 for car accidents, rear-end collisions, lane change accidents, slip and fall injuries, and property damage claims. In one San Clemente case, the firm secured nearly $50,000 for a client named Albert who suffered contusions, a torn knee ligament, and a torn meniscus when a negligent driver ran a stop sign, obtaining maximum policy limits plus underinsured motorist coverage.

Client testimonials emphasize the firm’s willingness to take on challenging cases that other firms reject, and its emphasis on personalized attention over a high-volume approach. The attorneys maintain open lines of communication throughout the duration of each case and are available around the clock at 877-423-3254.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of personal injury cases does Cefali & Cefali handle?
The firm handles car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck collisions, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall cases, dog bites, boating accidents, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death claims, defective product cases, and medical malpractice matters throughout Southern California.

How does the contingency fee arrangement work?
Clients pay nothing upfront and owe no fees unless the firm recovers compensation on their behalf. This means the firm absorbs the cost of pursuing the case and only collects a fee from the settlement or verdict amount.

Does Cefali & Cefali offer services in Spanish?
Yes. The firm provides both English and Spanish language services and has Spanish-speaking attorneys on staff to serve clients throughout California.

What should I do immediately after an accident?
The firm advises seeking immediate medical attention, even for injuries that seem minor at first, because some conditions like traumatic brain injuries may not present obvious symptoms immediately. Document the scene with photographs, collect witness information, obtain a police report, and consult with a personal injury attorney before speaking with insurance representatives or providing recorded statements.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
California’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline typically bars recovery. The firm advises contacting an attorney as soon as possible to preserve evidence and protect your rights.

What compensation can I recover in a personal injury case?
Recoverable damages may include medical expenses (past, current, and future), lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, property damage, rehabilitation costs, and loss of companionship or care of a loved one.

Closing

Cefali & Cefali has recovered more than $16.5 million for clients across Southern California, with settlement results that range from six figures in individual accident cases to substantial recoveries for families who have lost loved ones. The firm’s presence in over a dozen Southern California communities, its bilingual services, and its no-fee-unless-you-win structure make legal representation accessible to accident victims throughout the region. For a free consultation, contact the firm at 877-423-3254 or visit callcefali.com