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.
When another person's or company's carelessness hurts you in Pleasant Hill, you can hold them financially responsible for your treatment, missed work, and the pain the injury causes, with payment usually coming from their insurer. A lawsuit must generally be filed within two years, and a claim against a public agency, such as the city or the county, has a much shorter six-month deadline.
Cefali & Cefali represents injured people from a local office on Pleasant Hill Road (2800 Pleasant Hill Rd, Suite 100). Traffic alone left 114 people dead or hurt in Pleasant Hill during 2023, based on state Office of Traffic Safety figures, and falls, dog attacks, and other preventable incidents injure many more. The first conversation is free and available 24/7, and our fee comes only from a recovery. Phone (925) 289-7997.
Serving Pleasant Hill and Contra Costa County
Our Pleasant Hill office sits on Pleasant Hill Road, close to Downtown Pleasant Hill and the Contra Costa Centre transit hub. Clients come to us from across the county: Pleasant Hill and Concord, Walnut Creek and Lafayette, Martinez, Orinda, Pittsburg, and Antioch.
Local knowledge matters in these cases. Pleasant Hill Police investigate collisions on local roads like Contra Costa Boulevard, Monument Boulevard, Gregory Lane, Geary Road, and Taylor Boulevard; collisions on I-680 and Highway 4 are handled by the California Highway Patrol; and incidents in unincorporated areas fall to the Contra Costa County Sheriff. We request those reports, track down video, and interview witnesses early. The most serious injuries go to John Muir's Walnut Creek campus, Contra Costa County's only trauma center, and lawsuits from here are heard by the county's superior court in Martinez.
What Sets Cefali & Cefali Apart in Pleasant Hill
Poor communication is one of the most common complaints people have about injury firms. We give every client a direct line to their lawyer, including Mr. Cefali's personal cell phone number, and licensed attorneys handle your case from start to finish rather than handing it off to non-lawyers.
Over his career, Michael J. Cefali, the firm's founding partner, has won more than $60 million for injured clients. The method is consistent: lock down evidence on day one, build each file as though a jury will see it, and negotiate from that strength. You can read examples on our case results page and meet the rest of our team.
We work on a contingency fee, so there is nothing to pay upfront. Business and Professions Code section 6147 says a contingency arrangement must be put in writing, and we go over ours line by line before starting.
Rear-end, intersection, and freeway crashes on I-680, Contra Costa Boulevard, and other busy Pleasant Hill roads, including claims against at-fault drivers and their insurers.
Under Civil Code section 3342, an owner pays for a bite in a public place or on private property the victim lawfully entered, whether or not the dog had a history.
Determining Liability in Personal Injury Cases Pleasant Hill, CA
Liability in most injury cases depends on negligence: whether someone failed to use reasonable care and caused your injuries. Civil Code section 1714(a) makes everyone responsible for harm caused by their lack of ordinary care. To win, you generally prove four things:
Duty. The defendant was required to act carefully toward you; a motorist has to follow the rules of the road, and anyone in charge of property has to keep it in safe condition.
Breach. They failed to meet that duty, for example by speeding, texting, or ignoring a broken stair.
Causation. Their conduct was a substantial factor in causing your injuries.
Damages. Real harm followed, whether bills, missed paychecks, or physical and emotional pain.
A few California rules shape how liability works in practice. Breaking a safety law, such as a Vehicle Code rule, creates a presumption of negligence under Evidence Code section 669. Dog owners are strictly liable for bites under Civil Code section 3342. An employer is usually responsible for an employee's carelessness on the job. And where more than one defendant is to blame, Civil Code section 1431.2 holds each fully responsible for economic damages but only for its own share of non-economic damages.
Your own mistakes do not end the case. Since Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal.3d 804 (1975), California has applied pure comparative fault, which trims an award by the injured person's share of blame without wiping it out. Our guide to pure comparative fault explains how insurers use this rule.
What are some of the challenges that you may face in your personal injury cases in Pleasant Hill, CA?
Most injury claims run into the same handful of obstacles. Knowing them early helps you avoid mistakes that cost money:
Disappearing evidence. Surveillance systems overwrite footage quickly, damaged cars get fixed, and witnesses become hard to reach.
Blame shifting. Insurers routinely argue that the injured person was partly at fault to reduce what they pay.
Low policy limits. California's minimum auto coverage is $30,000 per person for injuries, which a serious injury can exceed quickly. Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, umbrella policies, and employer policies may need to be found.
Quick, low offers. Adjusters often make an early offer before the full extent of the injury is known, and accepting it ends the claim.
Medical bills and liens. Health insurers and medical providers may claim repayment from a settlement, and California generally ties past medical damages to what was paid or remains owed (Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc., 52 Cal.4th 541 (2011)).
Deadlines. When a County Connection bus, BART, the City of Pleasant Hill, or Contra Costa County is involved, the written claim is due in six months under Government Code section 911.2.
How To Find The Best Personal Injury Lawyers In Pleasant Hill, CA
The right lawyer is the one who will actually work your case, communicate with you, and be ready for trial. A few practical checks:
How The Statute Of Limitations Could Affect Your Injury Lawsuit
A late filing can sink even an excellent case. These are the California time limits that come up most:
Type of claim
Deadline
Law
Personal injury lawsuit
2 years from the injury
Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
Wrongful death lawsuit
2 years from the death
Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
Property damage only
3 years
Code of Civil Procedure section 338
Claim against a public agency
6 months to present a written claim
Government Code section 911.2
Injured child
Generally paused until age 18
Code of Civil Procedure section 352
In some cases the clock starts later. Under the discovery rule recognized in Jolly v. Eli Lilly & Co. (1988) 44 Cal.3d 1103, the limitations period can begin when a person discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the injury and its cause. If you think a deadline may have passed, talk to a lawyer before assuming the claim is lost.
Compensation Available for a Personal Injury Case in Pleasant Hill
If someone else's negligence caused your injuries, you can seek compensation for both financial and personal losses:
Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, therapy, and medication.
Lost wages and reduced earning ability if the injury limits your work.
Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other damaged property.
Physical suffering, anxiety, and the hobbies and routines the injury took away.
Punitive damages, reserved for rare cases involving malice or conscious disregard of safety, under Civil Code section 3294.
No statute limits non-economic awards in crash, premises, and most other injury cases. Many Pleasant Hill clients get care at John Muir's Walnut Creek hospital or the Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center, and we work with local providers to make sure every bill, surgery, and therapy session is documented. Each category is broken down in economic vs. non-economic damages.
Our Top Personal Injury Lawyer Answers Your Questions
These answers cover the questions Pleasant Hill clients ask most often. Your own facts may change the answer, so the free consultation is where to get specifics.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Pleasant Hill, California?
Two years from the injury is the usual limit for a lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). Claims involving the City of Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa County, BART, or County Connection require a written government claim within six months (Government Code section 911.2). Miss either deadline and the claim is usually gone.
What should I do after an accident in Pleasant Hill?
Call 911 if anyone is hurt; Pleasant Hill Police or the CHP will respond and write a report. Get examined promptly even without obvious pain, since symptoms can appear hours or days later; John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek is Contra Costa County's only trauma center. Photograph the scene, the vehicles, and your injuries, collect insurance and witness information, and call our Pleasant Hill office at (925) 289-7997 before giving a statement to any insurance adjuster.
How much does it cost to hire a Pleasant Hill personal injury lawyer?
There is no upfront cost. Our fee is a contingency percentage, spelled out in a written agreement and taken only from a settlement or verdict; if nothing is recovered, nothing is owed. The first meeting is free and carries no obligation.
What kinds of personal injury cases do you handle in Pleasant Hill?
Across Contra Costa County we take car crashes on I-680 and Highway 4, motorcycle, truck, and Uber or Lyft collisions, injuries to cyclists and pedestrians, falls on unsafe property, dog attacks, brain injuries, and claims for families who have lost someone.
How much is my Pleasant Hill personal injury case worth?
It comes down to injury severity, what treatment costs now and later, missed income, pain, how clear the other side's fault is, and how much insurance exists. Surgery, permanent harm, and fatal cases sit at the top of the range. We give an honest evaluation at your free consultation.
Contact Us Today
Injured because someone else was careless in Pleasant Hill or elsewhere in Contra Costa County? Cefali & Cefali, APC can investigate, take every insurer call, and press for everything the injury has cost you, while you concentrate on healing.
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.
