When you need a Schaumburg Personal Injury Attorney who understands that insurance companies only respect strength and never backs down from tough negotiations, you've found the right advocate. As a Schaumburg Personal Injury Attorney with nearly three decades winning cases throughout Illinois, I've built my reputation on one simple truth: injured people deserve lawyers who fight harder than the insurance companies fight against them. Whether you sustained injuries in an accident on Golf Road, were hurt at work in one of Schaumburg's corporate headquarters, or experienced harm due to negligence anywhere in Cook County, selecting the right Schaumburg Personal Injury Attorney determines whether you receive fair compensation or become another insurance company victory statistic.
The Delivery Driver Who Changed How I See Every Case
About three years ago, I got a call that still stays with me—a case that reminds me why I refuse to give up on anyone.
David was a delivery driver for one of the major shipping companies operating out of Schaumburg. Forty-one years old, married, two kids in middle school. One winter morning, making deliveries along Meacham Road, another driver ran a stop sign and T-boned his delivery van. The impact was severe—David sustained a traumatic brain injury, fractured pelvis, and severe internal injuries.
The at-fault driver's insurance company offered David $52,000 within two weeks of the accident.
Fifty-two thousand dollars for injuries that left him with permanent cognitive deficits, chronic pain, and inability to continue the physically demanding delivery job that had supported his family for fifteen years. The adjuster told him repeatedly, "This is a generous offer. Take it before we reduce it."
David's wife found my name through a friend who works at Woodfield Mall. She called me from the Northwestern Medicine emergency room parking lot, crying, not knowing what to do.
I met them the next day at a Schaumburg restaurant. After reviewing David's medical records and listening to doctors' preliminary assessments, I knew that $52,000 was criminal—an insulting lowball offer preying on a scared family's desperation.
We rejected their offer completely. I retained neuropsychologists who documented David's permanent cognitive impairments. I worked with vocational experts who proved his delivery career was over. I consulted economists who calculated decades of lost earning capacity. I documented every aspect of how this injury destroyed not just David's body, but his ability to provide for his family.
Twenty-two months later, we settled for $2.3 million.
David broke down crying when I called him. That settlement allowed him to retrain for office work his limitations could accommodate, ensured his kids could still attend college, and provided long-term financial security despite devastating injuries that permanently changed his life.
That's what I do as a Schaumburg Personal Injury Attorney. I don't accept what insurance companies offer. I don't settle cheap. I fight until my clients receive every dollar they deserve under Illinois law, no matter how long it takes or how difficult the insurance company makes it.
Schaumburg is Cook County's second-largest suburb with characteristics creating distinct personal injury case patterns. This community features massive corporate headquarters like Motorola Solutions and Zurich Insurance, extensive commercial districts along Golf Road and Woodfield Road, Woodfield Mall generating enormous retail traffic, and major transportation corridors including I-90, I-290, and Route 53.
These factors create specific injury types and complications. Corporate headquarters mean complex workers' compensation cases involving large corporations with sophisticated legal departments. Woodfield Mall generates substantial premises liability claims. Heavy commuter and commercial traffic creates serious vehicle accidents daily. Understanding these local patterns strengthens case strategy significantly.
A Schaumburg Personal Injury Attorney who genuinely knows this community understands these dynamics. I know where accidents concentrate—the dangerous stretches of Golf Road, the congested intersections near Woodfield Mall, the hazardous areas along I-90. I understand Cook County court procedures and what arguments persuade local juries.
Cook County operates the largest unified court system in the United States with specific procedures differing substantially from surrounding counties. Cook County has unique local rules, particular motion practice requirements, and judges with varied approaches to case management and settlement.
I've practiced extensively in Cook County courts since 1998—twenty-seven years of experience in this specific, complex legal environment. I know these judges' backgrounds and tendencies. I understand Cook County's procedural requirements thoroughly. I'm familiar with defense attorneys who regularly practice here and their standard tactics. This institutional knowledge creates advantages that attorneys unfamiliar with Cook County simply cannot match.
Most personal injury attorneys have never seen insurance company operations from the inside. I have, because I worked for them early in my career at a major defense firm.
I sat in their strategy meetings where they discussed how to minimize payments. I watched them calculate "reserve" amounts—the maximum they'd pay cases—often far below actual values. I learned their delay tactics, their pressure techniques, and exactly which arguments they use to avoid paying legitimate claims.
That insider knowledge transformed how I practice law representing injured people. I anticipate insurance company strategies before they implement them. I understand their pressure points and vulnerabilities. I know which arguments and evidence force them to substantially increase settlement offers.
After witnessing insurance industry practices from within, I couldn't continue that career path. It conflicted fundamentally with my values and sense of justice. I deliberately chose to return to representing injured individuals—regular people who need aggressive advocates willing to fight powerful corporations. That decision defines every case I handle.
As your Schaumburg Personal Injury Attorney, I handle all injury claim types:
Schaumburg's location creates constant traffic dangers and collision risks. Golf Road carries massive daily traffic volumes. Woodfield Road sees frequent accidents near shopping areas. I-90 and I-290 bring interstate traffic with associated serious collision risks. Route 53 creates additional hazards.
I represent clients injured in:
Vehicle accident cases require thorough accident reconstruction, complete medical documentation, and aggressive negotiation with insurance adjusters specifically trained to minimize payments. Without experienced representation, injured parties typically accept settlements representing small fractions of their cases' actual values.
Commercial truck accidents present exponentially greater complexity than standard vehicle collisions. These cases involve federal transportation regulations, corporate liability issues, and insurance policies worth millions of dollars.
I've successfully litigated truck cases involving:
The critical distinction in trucking cases is understanding Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and pursuing claims against trucking companies and their corporate structures, not merely individual drivers. Most attorneys lack this specialized expertise. I've developed it through years handling complex truck accident cases.
Motorcyclists and cyclists face unjust prejudice in legal proceedings despite possessing identical road rights as any other vehicle operator. Jurors sometimes harbor biased assumptions about victims who chose two-wheeled transportation.
These biases are both unfair and legally irrelevant under Illinois law. When negligent drivers cause collisions, they bear complete legal responsibility regardless of victim's vehicle choice.
Motorcycle and bicycle accidents typically produce catastrophic injuries—severe fractures, traumatic brain damage, spinal trauma, extensive road rash requiring multiple skin grafts, permanent scarring. These cases demand attorneys willing to aggressively counter defense strategies attempting to blame victims and who will fight relentlessly for full compensation.
Schaumburg's walkable areas, Woodfield Mall, and active commercial districts generate substantial pedestrian activity creating unfortunately frequent pedestrian-vehicle accidents.
If a driver struck you while you were legally using a crosswalk or sidewalk, you possess a valid legal claim. Pedestrian accidents typically result in severe injuries due to complete lack of physical protection. These cases deserve aggressive representation securing adequate compensation.
Schaumburg's diverse employment sectors—major corporate headquarters, retail establishments, healthcare facilities, manufacturing, distribution centers, and service industries—all present significant workplace injury risks. Workplace injuries occur daily across all these sectors.
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act provides specific benefits following workplace injuries. However, insurance companies systematically challenge these claims unless injured workers retain experienced legal representation.
I handle:
For workers' compensation cases, Illinois law mandates my fee at 20%. I ensure clients receive all entitled benefits—treatment by their chosen physician, wage replacement during recovery, and fair permanent disability compensation.
Premises liability cases require proving property owners knew (or should have known) about dangerous conditions causing injuries. These are legally complex matters requiring immediate evidence preservation.
Schaumburg property owners—whether massive commercial establishments like Woodfield Mall, corporate campuses, smaller businesses, or private property owners—bear legal responsibility for maintaining reasonably safe conditions. When they fail and you sustain injuries from wet floors, defective stairs, inadequate lighting, or un-cleared ice, they should face liability.
Winning premises liability cases demands immediate action. Property owners repair hazardous conditions immediately after accidents, then later deny hazards existed. Rapid evidence preservation is absolutely critical.
Healthcare providers aren't infallible, and when their mistakes fall below accepted care standards, patients suffer preventable harm. Schaumburg and surrounding areas have numerous medical facilities where malpractice unfortunately occurs.
I handle malpractice claims involving:
Medical malpractice litigation requires substantial resources—expert physician testimony, comprehensive medical record analysis, and often years of complex litigation. Many attorneys refuse these cases. I accept them when evidence supports viable claims. My fee for medical malpractice is 33 1/3%, Illinois's standard rate.
Few situations cause more anguish and rage than discovering your loved one suffered abuse or neglect in a facility meant to provide care and dignity.
I've litigated cases involving severe pressure ulcers developing because staff chronically neglected repositioning immobile residents. I've handled dehydration and malnutrition cases where nursing home staff simply ignored residents' basic needs. I've pursued physical abuse cases involving staff members who never should have been employed in elder care.
If your family member has been harmed in a Schaumburg area nursing home, contact me immediately. These cases require both sophisticated legal expertise and genuine compassion. My firm provides both.
Losing a family member due to another party's preventable negligence produces indescribable pain, grief, and often severe financial hardship. Nothing truly compensates for that loss, but Illinois law provides wrongful death claims to help families seek justice.
Illinois wrongful death statutes allow certain family members to pursue compensation and hold negligent parties accountable. These claims arise from:
I handle wrongful death cases with appropriate gravity, respect, and compassion for grieving families. You don't face this alone.
Certain injuries permanently and fundamentally alter life trajectories in ways most people cannot comprehend until experiencing them personally. Traumatic brain injuries affect memory, personality, and cognitive abilities permanently. Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis. Amputations change how individuals navigate every aspect of daily existence. Severe burns require years of painful reconstructive surgeries and therapy.
These cases require attorneys understanding that proper compensation extends far beyond immediate visible losses. We're calculating:
I've completed elite trial advocacy training at the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer's College and The Edge program. Fewer than one in 10,000 attorneys complete this advanced training level. I pursued it specifically to handle complex, high-stakes catastrophic injury cases and secure maximum compensation for clients facing permanent life changes.
Illinois law typically allows two years from injury date to file personal injury lawsuits. Workers' compensation claims permit three years, but require employer notification within 45 days of injury occurrence.
Two years sounds substantial but isn't. Physical evidence degrades or vanishes rapidly. Witness memories fade dramatically. Insurance companies grow increasingly aggressive and intransigent as time passes.
Missing filing deadlines means permanent case loss with zero recovery possibility regardless of injury severity or case merit. No extensions exist. No second opportunities. No exceptions for legitimate excuses.
Many injured people mistakenly believe they can only recover medical expenses. This fundamental misunderstanding costs them thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in valid compensation. Illinois law permits comprehensive compensation including:
Insurance companies won't voluntarily inform you about these comprehensive damage categories. That's precisely why experienced legal representation is essential.
Here's the predictable scenario: You sustain injuries. Within days or sometimes hours, an insurance adjuster contacts you seeming sympathetic and concerned, eager to "help you resolve this quickly" with an immediate settlement offer.
This appears convenient and helpful. It's actually a carefully designed trap exploiting your vulnerability and desperation.
Early settlement offers invariably fall dramatically—often shockingly—below cases' true values. Insurance companies understand injured people face immediate financial pressure from medical bills and lost wages. They're betting you'll accept grossly inadequate offers out of desperation or ignorance.
Once you sign their release and accept payment, you permanently and irrevocably surrender all rights to additional compensation—even if you later discover your injuries are exponentially more severe than initially apparent or require extensive future treatment.
Don't sign anything. Don't verbally accept offers. Don't agree to recorded statements. Contact me first for completely free consultation and honest case value assessment.
Here's exactly what happens when you contact my firm:
I don't employ high-pressure sales tactics. I don't chase or harass prospective clients. We'll have genuine, respectful conversations with straight answers.
If you retain my services, I begin aggressive work immediately because evidence preservation is time-critical:
My firm uses proprietary case management software I personally developed. This system enables more efficient case progression than competitors' systems, earlier critical information discovery, and ultimately superior client outcomes.
Your physical recovery always takes absolute priority. I'll help you access appropriate medical care and ensure comprehensive treatment documentation.
If you have health insurance, use it. If not, I can connect you with healthcare providers treating on lien bases—they defer payment until case settlement.
Equally important, I ensure thorough documentation of all treatment to maximize claim values and prove complete injury extent.
Once treatment concludes (or you reach maximum medical improvement), I calculate full case value and send comprehensive demands to insurance companies backed by extensive documentation.
I've negotiated thousands of injury cases over twenty-seven years. I understand their true values and don't accept inadequate offers. I don't back down from protracted, difficult negotiations.
Approximately 90% of my cases settle during negotiation. This doesn't mean I capitulate—it means I negotiate strategically and aggressively until reaching truly fair settlements.
If insurance companies refuse reasonable offers, I file lawsuits without hesitation. Unlike many attorneys who avoid courtrooms, I'm fully prepared for litigation and genuinely enjoy trying cases.
I've handled more than 30 jury trials, approximately 100 arbitrations, and hundreds of depositions. One judge stated my courtroom presentation ranked among the finest he'd witnessed. I possess more trial experience than many attorneys with twice my years in practice.
Whether through settlement or verdict, my objective remains constant: secure every dollar you legally deserve under Illinois law.
When we win, I deduct my contingency fee and advanced case costs. Remaining proceeds—typically the vast majority—go directly to you.
If we lose—which happens rarely—you owe me absolutely nothing. That's the contingency fee agreement.
Let me be completely transparent about legal fees.
You pay absolutely nothing out of pocket. Zero. I advance all case expenses—filing fees, medical records, expert witness fees, investigation costs, everything.
I only receive payment if and when you receive compensation first.
For workers' compensation cases, state law mandates my fee at 20%. For standard personal injury cases, it's 33 1/3%, or 40% if litigation becomes necessary. Medical malpractice cases are 33 1/3%.
These represent Illinois's standard contingency rates. If we lose, you owe me nothing. I absorb all advanced costs.
Accidents and injuries don't respect business hours. You might need answers at 3 a.m. from an emergency room. An insurance adjuster might contact you Sunday morning.
Call me anytime. I'm genuinely available 24 hours daily, 7 days weekly, 365 days annually. When you call, you receive actual assistance, not voicemail.
Most attorneys graduate law school, pass bar examinations, and consider their education complete. I took a different path.
I've personally invested over $100,000 traveling nationally to train with America's premier trial lawyers. I'm a Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer's College graduate. I've completed The Edge program, one of the nation's most prestigious trial advocacy training programs.
Statistically, fewer than one in 10,000 attorneys pursue this training level.
Why this investment? To provide clients with absolutely superior representation when facing insurance companies with entire legal departments.
When my father sustained serious workplace injuries, his attorney treated him terribly. I made a personal commitment never to treat any client that way.
Everyone on my team understands that winning your case while treating you with dignity, respect, and honest communication is our primary objective. Calls get returned promptly. You stay informed. Questions get answered thoroughly.
I don't operate a high-volume case mill. I personally handle your case and maintain direct client relationships.
You know those lawyers who repeatedly call after accidents or appear uninvited at hospitals? That's not my practice or character.
I never chase potential clients. I never employ high-pressure tactics. If we work together, it's because you want representation, not because I harassed you.
We'll talk like reasonable adults. I'll provide honest answers. You'll make informed decisions. Even if you don't retain me, I hope we end as friends.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
Even if you feel acceptable immediately after accidents, see physicians right away. Many serious injuries don't manifest obvious symptoms for days or weeks.
If you delay treatment, insurance companies will argue you weren't actually injured. Don't provide them this weapon.
Insurance adjusters will contact you shortly after accidents requesting recorded statements.
Don't provide them.
These adjusters are trained professionals who know how to elicit case-damaging answers. Politely tell them you need attorney consultation first, then call me.
Insurance companies employ investigators monitoring injured claimants' social media—all platforms. They're searching for content they can weaponize against you.
The safest approach is complete social media silence until case resolution. At minimum, avoid posting anything about your accident, injuries, medical treatment, or activities.
Insurance companies' initial settlement offers are always substantially below fair values.
Before accepting any offer, call me for free consultation. I'll tell you honestly whether it's fair or exploitative.
At-fault parties' insurance companies are not your allies. Their sole objective is paying you as little as possible.
Don't communicate with them directly. Allow me to handle all insurance company interactions.
My office is conveniently located at 1000 Jorie Blvd, Ste 204, Oak Brook, IL 60523.
Whether you live in Schaumburg itself or nearby communities including:
I'm here to help you.
I understand that traveling to a law office can be difficult when you're seriously injured. If you can't come to my office, I'll come to you. We can meet at your home, a convenient location, or even the hospital.
The goal is making this process manageable during an already difficult time.
If you've been injured in Schaumburg or anywhere in Cook County, take action now before critical evidence disappears.
Call me right now for your completely free consultation. I'm available 24/7/365.
Here's what happens when you call:
Remember: no money out of pocket, no fee unless we win.
You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Don't allow insurance companies to exploit you during vulnerability. Get an experienced Schaumburg injury lawyer who genuinely cares about your outcome fighting for you.
Your fight becomes my fight.
Call me now: (312) 500-4500
I look forward to hearing from you and learning how I can help achieve justice.
For most personal injury cases, Illinois law provides two years from injury date. Workers' compensation claims allow three years, though you must notify your employer within 45 days.
Exceptions can modify these rules, which is why immediate attorney consultation is critical. Missing deadlines means permanent case loss.
Nothing out of pocket. I work exclusively on contingency, meaning I only receive payment if you receive compensation first.
For workers' compensation, my fee is 20% (state law). For personal injury, it's 33 1/3%, or 40% if litigation becomes necessary. Medical malpractice is 33 1/3%.
If we lose, you pay nothing.
Not necessarily. Sometimes statements don't significantly harm cases. Other times they create substantial problems.
Contact me immediately so I can review what you said and determine the best path forward. Don't provide additional statements without speaking with me first.
Yes. Illinois follows "modified comparative negligence." As long as you're less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages reduced by your fault percentage.
For example, if you're 25% at fault and damages are $200,000, you'd recover $150,000.
Don't let lack of insurance prevent necessary medical care. Healthcare providers exist who treat on lien bases, receiving payment from eventual settlement.
I can help connect you with appropriate providers.
It varies based on numerous factors. I've settled straightforward cases within months, while complex cases have taken two years or longer.
Timeline depends on:
I push every case as aggressively as possible.
Possibly not. Approximately 90% of my cases settle without trial.
If we file a lawsuit, you might need to appear 2-3 times for proceedings like depositions. If we proceed to trial, you'll need to be present for the entire trial.
However, most cases resolve through settlement.
Prior injuries don't automatically destroy cases. The law recognizes claims for "exacerbation" of pre-existing conditions.
Complete honesty about prior injury history is essential. Insurance companies will discover this information regardless.
No. Federal and Illinois state law explicitly prohibit employers from terminating or retaliating against employees for filing legitimate workers' compensation claims.
Proving illegal retaliation can be challenging. However, I regularly handle these cases and understand how to prove them.
You might still recover through your own uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage if you purchased it. This is optional coverage on your policy protecting you when at-fault drivers lack adequate insurance.
Many people don't realize they have this coverage. I review every applicable policy meticulously to identify all recovery sources.
Scott DeSalvo founded DeSalvo Law to help injured people throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1998, IARDC #6244452, Scott has represented over 3,000 clients in personal injury, workers compensation, and accident cases.
No Fee Unless You Win | Free Consultation | 24/7 Availability Call or Text: (312) 500-4500
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Main Office:
1000 Jorie Blvd Ste 204
Oak Brook, IL 60523
New Cases: 312-500-4500
Office: 312-895-0545
Fax: 866-629-1817
service@desalvolaw.com
Chicago and Other Suburban Offices
By Appointment Only
