This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University Fowler School of Law and a B.A. in Global Studies & Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy. Widely recognized for his advocacy in personal injury law, he has secured multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlements in motorcycle accidents, hit-and-runs, and red-light collision cases. He maintains a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Cefali actively supports his community through the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributes to housing and meal programs for those in need, and enjoys fishing and spending time with his rescue dogs.
The date below reflects when this page was last reviewed for accuracy. Please see our Editorial Guidelines.
If you were hurt in Irvine because another driver, a property owner, a dog owner, or a company was careless, you can claim the cost of your treatment, the paychecks you missed, and compensation for pain and a diminished quality of life, and the at-fault party's insurer normally pays it. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, most people get two years to file an injury suit, but a claim involving the City of Irvine, Orange County, UC Irvine, or another public agency is due within six months. For accidents just south of the city, see our page for a personal injury lawyer in Lake Forest.
Irvine has a reputation as one of the safer large cities in California, but injuries still add up. California Office of Traffic Safety data shows 570 people were killed or injured in Irvine traffic collisions in 2023. Among the 15 California cities with more than 250,000 residents, Irvine ranked first for injured bicyclists under age 15, with 24 young riders hurt that year.
Cefali & Cefali is a husband and wife trial team, Michael J. Cefali and Courtney L.C. Cefali. From our San Juan Capistrano office we represent injured people all over Orange County, and we meet Irvine clients by phone, by video, or in person. Consultations cost nothing, and no attorney fee is charged unless we recover compensation. Reach us at (949) 325-7790 any time.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Irvine
Irvine mixes freeway commuters, a large university, business parks, shopping centers, and miles of bike lanes and trails, so the injuries we see here vary widely. Each case type below links to a page with more detail.
Car accidents. Rear-end, broadside, and lane-change crashes on the I-5, I-405, and SR-133, and at busy intersections along Jamboree Road, Culver Drive, and Alton Parkway, make up most of our Irvine caseload. Our Irvine car accident lawyer page covers insurance, fault, and what to do in the days after a crash.
Truck accidents. Delivery vans, box trucks, and tractor-trailers serve the Irvine Business Complex and the Spectrum area. Interstate freight carriers are generally required to hold no less than $750,000 of liability insurance under federal rule 49 CFR 387.9, and federal hours-of-service and maintenance rules apply on top of California law. See our Irvine truck accident attorney page.
Motorcycle accidents. OTS counted 23 motorcyclists killed or injured in Irvine in 2023. Lane splitting is legal in California under Vehicle Code section 21658.1, yet insurers often try to blame the rider. Our Irvine motorcycle accident lawyer page explains how we respond.
Bicycle accidents. Irvine had 61 bicyclist victims in 2023, and more than a third of them were children. Drivers must give cyclists at least three feet when passing (Vehicle Code section 21760), and right-hook turns, opened car doors, and driveway exits cause many of these crashes. Read our Irvine bicycle accident attorney page.
Pedestrian accidents.Vehicle Code section 21950 requires drivers to give way to anyone crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk. We handle crosswalk strikes, parking lot back-overs, and collisions near schools and campus. See our Irvine pedestrian accident lawyer page.
Uber and Lyft crashes. With John Wayne Airport next door and thousands of UCI students, rideshare trips are constant. Once a driver accepts a ride, the company's policy must provide $1,000,000 of coverage for injuries, as required by Public Utilities Code section 5433. Our rideshare accident attorney page explains each coverage period.
Dog bites. A dog's owner must pay for bite injuries suffered in a public place or while lawfully on private property, and a clean history is no defense, under Civil Code section 3342. See our Irvine dog bite lawyer page.
Slip and fall injuries. Spills in grocery aisles, broken pavement on office campuses, and dim parking structures cause many premises cases. Our Irvine slip and fall attorney page explains what the owner must have known.
Boating accidents. Irvine residents often boat in Newport Harbor and along the coast. Careless operation is covered by California's Harbors and Navigation Code, and some cases also fall under federal maritime law. See our boat accident attorney page.
Defective products. Makers and sellers of a product face strict liability in California when it has a design flaw, a manufacturing flaw, or an inadequate warning. Our product liability guide covers e-bike batteries, vehicle parts, and household products.
Wrongful death. When negligence takes a life, Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 allows a spouse, domestic partner, children, and certain other relatives to bring a claim. Our Irvine wrongful death lawyer page explains who can file and what the family can recover.
We do not handle workers' comp claims, medical malpractice, birth injuries, or criminal charges. If your matter is one of those, we will tell you right away.
Injured as a Passenger in Irvine? You Have Options.
A passenger rarely shares any blame for a crash, which usually makes liability simple. The harder question is which insurance pays. A passenger may claim against the driver they rode with, against another driver who caused the crash, or against both, and in an Uber or Lyft crash the rideshare policy may also apply. If those policies run short, the passenger's own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can add more. We track down every policy so nothing is left on the table.
Catastrophic and Traumatic Brain Injury Cases in Irvine
A brain injury or other catastrophic harm changes how a case must be built, because the losses continue for decades. Seriously injured adults from Irvine are often treated at UCI Medical Center, located in Orange and home to the county's only adult Level I trauma center, or at Hoag Hospital Irvine. From there, we work with the treating doctors and, when needed, a life care planner and an economist to show what future care, therapy, equipment, and lost earnings will cost.
Concussions and moderate brain injuries are easy for insurers to downplay because CT and MRI scans often look normal. Neuropsychological testing, statements from family and coworkers about changes in memory or mood, and consistent treatment records fill that gap. Our brain injury attorney page explains how we prove these claims, including for clients who search for help in Spanish.
Slip and Fall Cases in Irvine
Under Civil Code section 1714, anyone who controls property has to use ordinary care to keep visitors safe, and since Rowland v. Christian (1968) the focus is on how the owner acted, not on whether you were a customer or a guest. To win, you generally show that a hazard existed, that the owner created it or had enough time to discover it, and that the owner failed to repair it or warn you. Falls at Irvine Spectrum Center, The District at Tustin Legacy nearby, hotels near the airport, apartment communities, and office campuses are typical. Ask for an incident report, photograph the hazard and your shoes, and contact a lawyer quickly, since many stores record over security video within weeks.
Why Local Irvine Knowledge Matters for Your Case
Insurance adjusters may work from another state, but your case will be measured against Orange County roads, police reports, and juries.
Roads and freeways. The I-5 and I-405 meet near the Irvine Spectrum, and the SR-133, SR-241, SR-261, SR-73, and SR-55 all pass through or along the city. Heavy commuter traffic causes stop-and-go rear-end crashes on the freeways, while signal-controlled intersections on Jamboree Road, Culver Drive, Alton Parkway, Barranca Parkway, and Irvine Center Drive see turning and red-light collisions.
Who investigates. Officers from the Irvine Police Department investigate most crashes on surface streets, and CHP officers handle the freeways and toll roads. UC Irvine has its own police department on campus. Knowing which agency wrote the report tells us where to request it and what scene evidence may exist.
Public agencies. A dangerous road, a city vehicle, an OCTA bus, a school district, or the University of California can all be responsible for an injury. Claims against any of them start with a written notice, filed no later than six months after the injury, under Government Code section 911.2.
Court. Irvine injury lawsuits seeking more than the limited civil amount are usually filed at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, part of Orange County Superior Court.
Neighborhoods we serve. We represent clients throughout Irvine, including Woodbridge, Northwood, University Park, Turtle Rock, Quail Hill, Portola Springs, Great Park, Orchard Hills, the Irvine Business Complex, and the Spectrum area, in ZIP codes 92602, 92603, 92604, 92606, 92612, 92614, 92617, 92618, and 92620. Our Orange County personal injury attorney page covers the rest of the county.
How Negligence Is Proven in California Injury Cases
Under Civil Code section 1714, people are responsible for injuries their carelessness causes others. A negligence claim requires four things:
Duty. The other party had to act with reasonable care toward you, as every driver does toward others on the road.
Breach. They fell short, such as a driver who speeds or reads a text, or a store that leaves a spill on the floor.
Causation. That failure caused your injury.
Damages. The injury led to actual harm: bills, lost pay, pain, or limits on daily life.
Breaking a safety law, such as running a red light, can create a presumption of negligence under Evidence Code section 669. California has applied pure comparative fault since Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). Being partly responsible lowers your recovery but does not wipe it out. Our pure comparative fault guide walks through examples.
Damages Available in California Injury Cases
Type of damages
Examples
Economic
Medical treatment so far and still needed, missed paychecks, lower earning power going forward, car repairs, and other costs you paid yourself
Non-economic
Pain, emotional distress, scarring, loss of enjoyment of life, and a spouse's loss of consortium
Punitive
Only when clear and convincing evidence shows malice, oppression, or fraud (Civil Code section 3294), as in some drunk driving cases
Car crash and premises claims have no cap on non-economic damages. Two limits matter, though. Under Civil Code section 3333.4, a driver who was not insured when the collision occurred, or who is convicted of DUI arising from it, usually loses the right to non-economic damages. And under Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc. (2011), past medical damages are limited to what was actually paid or still owed. Our economic vs. non-economic damages guide explains both categories in more depth.
California Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases
What you are filing
Deadline
Rule
Lawsuit for your own injuries
2 years from the date you were hurt
Code Civ. Proc. 335.1
Lawsuit by family after a death
2 years after the death
Code Civ. Proc. 335.1
Vehicle or property damage claim with no injury
3 years
Code Civ. Proc. 338
Written claim to the City of Irvine, Orange County, UC, OCTA, or a school district
6 months
Gov. Code 911.2
Lawsuit for a child's injuries
2 years, usually counted from age 18
Code Civ. Proc. 352
Because a minor's two-year clock usually starts at 18, a child hurt in Irvine often has until age 20 to sue, although the six-month government claim deadline still applies. In rare cases the clock starts later because the injury could not reasonably have been discovered, but courts apply that rule narrowly. The safer approach is to act well before any deadline, while video, witnesses, and vehicle data still exist.
What to Do After a Personal Injury in Irvine
See a doctor right away. Gaps in treatment are a favorite insurer argument, and some injuries show up days later.
Report it. Call police after a crash, or ask the business for a written incident report after a fall.
Document the scene. Take photos of the vehicles, the hazard, and your injuries, and collect witness names and phone numbers. Our guide on getting a police report walks through the request.
File the DMV form. When a crash injures anyone or causes over $1,000 in property damage, the DMV needs an SR-1 from you within 10 days (Vehicle Code section 16000).
Be careful with the other insurer. Turning down a recorded interview is your right. Read the first week after a car accident before you talk to an adjuster.
Stay off social media. Posts and photos are often used to argue you are less hurt than you say.
Why Cefali & Cefali Is a Top Choice for Irvine Personal Injury Cases
Attorneys who handle your case. Michael and Courtney Cefali personally oversee every file, and Michael's career recoveries for injured people exceed $60 million.
Orange County focus. Our headquarters sits in San Juan Capistrano, about 20 minutes from Irvine, and we also have offices in Hemet and Pleasant Hill.
Built for trial. We prepare each claim as if it will go to a jury, which gives insurers a reason to pay fair value.
No fee unless we win. We advance case costs and are paid a percentage only if we recover money for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Cases in Irvine
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Irvine?
Nothing up front. We are paid only through a contingency fee, a set share of whatever we collect for you, spelled out in a written agreement. If nothing is recovered, no fee is owed, and your first meeting with us costs nothing.
What is the deadline to file an injury claim in California?
Usually two years counted from the day of the injury, per Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, or three years when only property was damaged. When the City of Irvine, Orange County, UC Irvine, or another government body may share the blame, a written claim is due in six months.
Do you have an office in Irvine?
No. We are headquartered at 27136 Paseo Espada, Suite 1123, San Juan Capistrano, about 20 minutes south of Irvine. We meet Irvine clients there, by phone, or by video, and we can visit you if your injuries make travel hard.
What is my Irvine injury case worth?
Value turns on how badly you were hurt, what treatment and missed work cost, how clear fault is, and how much insurance exists. No honest lawyer can give a number before reviewing your records. Our guide to car accident settlements explains the factors.
Does sharing some of the blame end my claim?
No. Your recovery shrinks by your percentage of fault, but it does not disappear. For example, a person with $100,000 in losses who is found 25 percent responsible would still receive $75,000.
Who pays when the at-fault driver is uninsured?
Look to the uninsured motorist (UM) part of your own auto policy. Insurance Code section 11580.2 makes insurers include it unless you signed a written waiver, and it often covers hit-and-run collisions too. For falls or dog bites, a homeowner's or business liability policy usually applies.
Where are Irvine personal injury lawsuits filed?
In Orange County Superior Court. Most are heard at the Central Justice Center (700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana), and our attorneys take care of filing and court appearances.
How long does an Irvine personal injury case take?
A straightforward claim often resolves within a few months to a year once you finish treatment. Disputed fault, serious injuries, or a lawsuit can stretch that out. Settling before you finish treatment can leave future costs uncovered.
Should I take the first settlement offer?
Usually not without advice. Early offers usually arrive while your future medical needs are still unclear, and once you sign a release you cannot reopen the claim. Have a lawyer review any offer first.
Talk to an Irvine Personal Injury Lawyer Today
An injury claim can feel overwhelming when you are also trying to heal. Cefali & Cefali will review what happened at no cost, explain your options, and handle the insurers so you can focus on recovery.
Michael Cefali is a dedicated accident attorney based in San Juan Capistrano, California, committed to securing justice and fair compensation for accident victims.
A graduate of Newport Harbor High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy, followed by his Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law.
Deeply invested in his community, Michael is an active member of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributing to efforts that provide meals, housing, and support to those in need. Outside of his legal work and volunteer service, he enjoys fishing in Dana Point and spending time with his three rescue dogs—a Chihuahua, a Spaniel mix, and a Shepherd mix.
Driven by his strong belief in justice and fairness, Michael remains steadfast in advocating for individuals harmed by the negligence or inaction of others.
