Attorneys Jeffrey E. Estes and Alton J. Smith have been litigating personal injury cases on behalf of California residents for almost 30 years. Over the years, Estes and Smith have developed a reputation for tough litigation and a strategy for winning substantial settlements and verdicts for their clients. The firm serves all residents across the Great State of California and strives to deliver exemplary, client-focused legal advice and representation.

Mr. Friedberg is an Accident & Injury and Maritime Law attorney. He has been licensed by the California State Bar to practice law since 1983.

Firm founder William L. Banning has more than 30 years of experience in personal injury and maritime law. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America* in admiralty law numerous times. Before representing injured clients, Mr. Banning worked for one of the biggest maritime insurance defense law firms in California, where he represented all types of ship owners, banks, oil companies, insurance companies, and the United States government in maritime matters. Today, attorney Banning uses the knowledge he gained defending ship owners and insurance companies to help his injured clients obtain all of the benefits they deserve. William Banning is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California. He has been admitted pro hac vice to practice in the High Court of American Samoa, the District Court of Guam, and the Western District of Washington. He is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, Consumer Attorneys of California, and the American Association of Justice. He is a proctor member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States. He has been honored by being named one of the Best Lawyers in America* and one of America's Leading Lawyers.

Steve Benedetto's legal career began with the promise and expectations of someone who had done "all the right things" educationally. He went to a prestigious private university, double-majoring in Political Science and English while building his resume with internships in government. He graduated cum laude from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, serving as a staff writer on the Law Journal and a member of the Moot Court honor society. He secured a competitive judicial clerkship with an Arizona Supreme Court Justice. And, as judicial clerks do, he received a litany of opportunities to work for prestigious national law firms at the expiration of that one-year term. For five years, Steve followed the obvious path carved out for him. He worked at three of the largest corporate law firms in Arizona, learning the ins and outs of litigation from senior lawyers who were charged with defending large companies in 7, 8, and 9-figure lawsuits. He defended railroads from debilitating injury claims brought by injured employees; healthcare companies from medical malpractice actions brought by injured patients; white-collar executives against fraud and embezzlement allegations; and multinational corporations against just about every type of wrongdoing one can imagine. In little time, he developed trust in the partners he worked for as a top-notch writer and legal analyst who could win difficult arguments. And he was paid very well for what he did. But the money wasn't enough. In 2009, Steve left corporate practice to create a new kind of law firm. One that would represent real people against the powerful interests whose playbook he'd spent a half-decade learning. So he spent the next five years representing people against criminal charges, and prosecuting civil claims on behalf of people injured by others’ recklessness. Though he had more passion than business acumen, he worked tirelessly to help build a five lawyer, seven-figure law firm from scratch.​ By 2014, though, it became clear that something was missing. The news cycle was being dominated by police officers shooting civilians. Social media birthed hashtags that spurred movements. Everyone was talking about police violence. But few lawyers were actually doing anything about it, including his own law partners. After a series of difficult conversations, Steve decided to start fresh: He left the law firm he had founded to construct an entirely new practice -- one that would be focused on representing people at ground zero of the new civil rights struggle. Over the past 6 years, The People's Law Firm has provided substantial legal muscle to the movements for systemic change. The Firm has fought for accountability on behalf of countless survivors of police violence, and has stood in solidarity with the movements to reform our unjust and inequitable systems, with specific focus on the Movement for Black Lives. We continue to do so today.

Brett C. Drouet, Esq., is a sixth generation Southern Californian, who has served Southern, Central and Northern California clients for over two decades as a member of the California State Bar. Mr. Drouet is recognized as a litigator’s litigator, who is uniquely experienced in catastrophic personal injury and death actions for trauma victims in auto accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bus accidents, bicycle accidents, worksite accidents, DUI victim/plaintiff, construction defect, product liability and medical malpractice. Having represented Fortune 500 companies and major insurance companies’ insureds in thousands of catastrophic personal injury and death actions for over a decade, Mr. Drouet is a seasoned litigation veteran representing trauma victims, who have suffered life-changing injuries for over a decade. Traumatic, catastrophic personal injuries require an attorney with extensive, broad-based knowledge of evidence based medicine, treatment, and medical causation to best serve trauma victims, which is why Mr. Drouet is called upon to co-counsel and consult with other attorneys and law firms representing California trauma victims. Mr. Drouet has significant experience and expertise in product liability in catastrophic personal injury and death actions involving consumer products, chemical products, toxic substances, industrial products, industrial machinery, construction equipment, vehicles, tires, wheels, housing components, construction materials, and finished products. Mr. Drouet has substantial experience and practice in brain injury, loss of brain function, burn injury and Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome injuries.

No one is ever prepared for an accident. They are, by technical definition, an unplanned event and there is never a "right time" for such an occasion. It's even worse when that accident has caused a serious or catastrophic injury and occurred due to the negligence or carelessness of another. Whether it's a car accident on your way to work, a fall at the local supermarket, your child was bitten by a stray dog, or a truck spill on the interstate that caused a multiple car pile-up, we know how devastating an injury and the unexpected costs of an accident can be. Especially when the injured and their families are often left to manage the cost of repairs, pay medical bills, and possibly even missing time at work. Craig F. Castle has spent over 34 years fighting for the good people of southern California in situations like yours. You will always speak directly with an attorney and receive the attention your accident case deserves to ensure your claim is properly handled and all your needs are met. We approach every case with sensitivity, strategically and aggressively. We will act quickly to identify all potential sources of compensation and aggressively pursue the retribution you deserve. If we cannot settle your claim out of court, we will bring it before a judge as a personal injury lawsuit. If you have experienced a personal injury due to an accident, please call today to schedule a free initial case evaluation. We can help explain what your injury case will involve and what you can expect as we move forward.