John F. McCarthy, Esq.

I was born and raised on California’s Central Coast, and today, I’m fortunate to live here with my family and call it home. My journey to becoming a personal injury attorney wasn’t straightforward. In high school, I worked at a transactional law firm and quickly decided that law wasn’t for me. I wanted to help people but thought I’d do it as a doctor. That all changed during college.

While studying neurobiology at UC Davis, I lost my student housing and needed a summer job. Out of desperation, I took a position with a family friend who was a trial lawyer, thinking it would be temporary. But, as fate would have it, I fell in love with trial work. I realized that through law, I could help people, especially those who were injured and in need of an advocate.

I switched gears, decided to pursue law full-time, and met my wife at UC Davis along the way. During law school I spent countless hours talking to my roommate Clay about how we’d fight for people, try cases, and drink whiskey.

After law school, I landed at a respected employment defense firm representing big employers. But defending corporations wasn’t for me—I was driven to help the people wronged by them — the underdogs. So, I took a leap of faith, moved to San Diego, and started my own firm, focusing on workers’ rights and personal injury cases.

While in San Diego, I developed a national reputation for my compassionate counsel and relentless advocacy, gaining recognition for my ability to take on the biggest, baddest defense firms in the country—and win. I started getting recognized by SuperLawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and Avvo. I became obsessed with kicking ass against corporate giants and getting justice for my clients.

After my wife and I had our daughter, the pandemic reminded us how important “home” is. We moved back to the Central Coast to be closer to family, where I continue to fight for those who’ve been injured or wronged.

Whether I’m representing a pedestrian, scooter rider, bicyclist, or motorcyclist against a big corporation, I feel like I’m fulfilling my calling by representing the most vulnerable against the most powerful. I’ve always been passionate about helping the underdogs, and that’s what drives me every day. If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one, I’m here to help you fight for the justice you deserve.