Aliso Viejo Personal Injury & Employment Lawyer

Injured or treated unfairly at work in Aliso Viejo or South Orange County? From crashes on the 73 toll road and the I-5 to wrongful termination and retaliation at the area’s tech, medical device and finance employers, we represent people in serious personal injury and employment cases.

On this page: Our office · Where crashes happen · Injury cases · Employment cases · Courts · Fees · FAQ

Smith Trial Group represents injured people, families and employees in Aliso Viejo and throughout South Orange County, including Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, San Clemente and Laguna Beach. We are trial lawyers. We prepare every case as if it will be decided by a jury, because that is what moves insurance companies and employers to pay what a case is actually worth.

Our Aliso Viejo Office

Smith Trial Group – Aliso Viejo
33 Brookline
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Phone: 855-202-2232
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.

Our main office is in Newport Beach. Consultations are available by phone or video.

Where Serious Crashes Happen in South Orange County

• SR-73 (San Joaquin Hills Toll Road): high speeds through the hills between Newport Beach and San Juan Capistrano, with merges at Aliso Creek, La Paz and Greenfield.
• I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway / San Diego Freeway): heavy commuter and truck traffic through Lake Forest, Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano, including the El Toro “Y” and the I-5/SR-73 merge.
• SR-241 (Foothill Toll Road): fast, lightly lit stretches through Rancho Santa Margarita and Portola Hills.
• SR-74 (Ortega Highway): a winding two-lane mountain road from San Juan Capistrano into the Cleveland National Forest, known for head-on and motorcycle crashes.
• Pacific Coast Highway and Laguna Canyon Road (SR-133): pedestrian, cyclist and tourist traffic in Laguna Beach and Dana Point.
• Arterials: Alicia Parkway, Aliso Creek Road, La Paz Road, Crown Valley Parkway, El Toro Road and Moulton Parkway, where speeding and red-light running cause serious intersection crashes.

Personal Injury Cases We Handle

• Car accidents and truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents, including Ortega Highway crashes
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Uber and Lyft accidents
• Catastrophic injuries, including brain and spinal cord injuries
• Wrongful death
• Dangerous road conditions and claims against public agencies

Employment Cases for South Orange County Workers

Aliso Viejo’s business parks, the Irvine Spectrum and the Lake Forest and Mission Viejo corridors employ thousands of people in technology, medical devices, biotech, finance and healthcare. We represent employees and executives in:

• Wrongful termination
• Executives pushed out and offered severance and severance agreement review
• Whistleblower retaliation, including SOX and healthcare fraud cases
• Tech employees fired before equity vests
• Discrimination and harassment, including disability, pregnancy and age discrimination in layoffs
• Medical leave (CFRA and FMLA) violations

For executive matters, see our Irvine executive employment lawyer page.

Courts in Orange County

Most Orange County personal injury and employment lawsuits are filed in Orange County Superior Court, where civil filings are made at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. Cases involving federal claims or out-of-state companies may be heard in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana. Employment claims under the Fair Employment and Housing Act usually require a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department before a lawsuit is filed.

No Fee Unless We Win

Injury cases are handled on contingency: you pay nothing up front and no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our results include a $10 million verdict in an auto case, a $1.9 million settlement for a pedestrian struck by a bus, and a $1.5 million verdict for disability discrimination and wrongful termination. Results depend on the facts of each case. See Case Results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file an injury claim in Orange County?

Generally two years from the date of injury (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). If a city, the county, Caltrans or a toll road agency may be responsible, a government claim must usually be filed within six months (Government Code § 911.2). Evidence such as video and vehicle data can disappear within days, so it is best to call early.

Do you handle employment cases in Aliso Viejo and South Orange County?

Yes. Employment law is a core part of our practice. We represent employees and executives in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, whistleblower retaliation and severance matters throughout Orange County.

I was offered a severance agreement. Should I sign it?

Not before you understand what you would be giving up. Severance agreements usually include a release of legal claims. If you have a potential claim, the agreement may be worth negotiating. Under California law, many separation agreements must tell you that you have the right to consult a lawyer and give you at least five business days to do so.

Where are South Orange County injury cases filed?

Most are filed in Orange County Superior Court, where civil cases are filed at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. Some cases against out-of-state companies are heard in federal court in Santa Ana.

Do I need to meet in person?

No. Consultations are available by phone or by video.

How much does it cost?

Nothing up front. Injury cases are handled on contingency, so you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. We explain fees for employment cases in writing at the free consultation.