When you need a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney who understands the DuPage County legal system inside and out and refuses to let insurance companies steamroll injured families, you've found the right lawyer. As a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney who's spent over 27 years practicing law in and around the DuPage County courthouse, I know exactly how to navigate this jurisdiction and secure maximum compensation for clients who've been hurt through no fault of their own. Whether you were injured in a crash on Roosevelt Road, hurt at work at one of the corporate campuses near Naperville Road, or suffered harm anywhere in this historic community, hiring the right Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney means the difference between accepting whatever insurance companies offer and fighting for everything you actually deserve.
The Moment I Knew This Was My Calling
Let me tell you about Thomas.
He was a maintenance worker at one of Wheaton's older office buildings near the courthouse when a poorly maintained elevator malfunctioned. The sudden drop and violent stop sent him crashing into the elevator wall. Herniated discs in his neck and lower back. Torn rotator cuff. Months of excruciating pain.
The property owner's insurance company offered him $35,000.
Thirty-five thousand dollars for injuries requiring two surgeries, extensive physical therapy, and leaving him with permanent restrictions that meant he couldn't do his job anymore. He was 52 years old with a mortgage and a daughter about to start college.
Thomas was a proud man who'd worked his entire life. The thought of going on disability crushed him. The thought of fighting a major insurance company terrified him even more.
That's when his union rep—someone I'd helped in a different case years earlier—gave him my number.
I took one look at this case and saw exactly what was happening. The property owner had been cited multiple times for elevator violations. They'd ignored maintenance requirements for years. And now their insurance company was trying to exploit an injured worker who didn't know the system.
We rejected their offer. Filed suit in DuPage County Circuit Court—just blocks from where Thomas got hurt. Discovered the building owner's pattern of safety violations. Proved they knew the elevator was dangerous and used it anyway. Fourteen months later, we settled for $640,000.
Thomas called me from the parking lot of the courthouse when we finalized the settlement. He was crying. He told me this money meant he could retire with dignity, help his daughter with college, and not spend the rest of his life worrying about money while dealing with chronic pain.
That case crystallized why I became a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney. Because working people deserve lawyers who understand the local legal system and use that knowledge to win. Because corporations that cut corners on safety must be held accountable. Because justice happens in courtrooms—and I know the DuPage County courthouse better than most lawyers ever will.
This isn't just another suburb—Wheaton is the governmental center of DuPage County. The DuPage County courthouse is here. That creates unique opportunities and challenges for injury cases.
Wheaton presents specific injury risks and legal considerations:
When you hire a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney who actually practices regularly in DuPage County courts, you're getting someone with genuine home-court advantage. I know the judges personally. I understand local jury demographics. I've handled hundreds of cases in this exact courthouse. I know which insurance defense firms practice here and their typical strategies.
Downtown Chicago lawyers who occasionally show up in DuPage County don't have this advantage. A Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney with deep DuPage County roots understands the local legal culture and knows how to leverage it for clients.
Here's what most people don't realize: DuPage County courts function very differently than Cook County courts.
The judges are different. The local court rules vary. The procedural timelines differ. Even jury pools have different characteristics—DuPage County juries tend to be more suburban, more educated, more skeptical of certain claims but also more generous when cases are well-proven.
If your lawyer primarily practices in Cook County and treats DuPage County as an afterthought, you're at a significant disadvantage. They won't understand local judicial preferences. They'll make procedural errors. They won't know how to select juries effectively for this jurisdiction.
I've been practicing in DuPage County my entire career. My office is in Oak Brook—less than ten minutes from the Wheaton courthouse. I know this system intimately. That knowledge directly benefits you. When you need a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney who understands DuPage County courts, local experience is absolutely essential.
As your Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney, I handle every type of injury case:
Wheaton's roads create constant danger for motorists.
Roosevelt Road carries relentless traffic between Lombard and Wheaton—commuters racing to make it to work, delivery trucks making stops, distracted drivers checking phones. Main Street through downtown Wheaton sees collisions at poorly designed intersections. County Farm Road becomes a speedway despite being a residential area.
The Metra train crossings add another layer of danger. Cars getting stuck on tracks. Drivers trying to beat gates. Pedestrians crossing near stations getting hit by vehicles.
Traffic accident cases require thorough investigation and aggressive advocacy. Police reports often contain errors. Witnesses disappear. Physical evidence gets lost. Insurance companies hire their own investigators to find ways to blame you.
That's when you need a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney who knows how to build airtight cases through accident reconstruction, expert testimony, and skillful cross-examination of defense witnesses.
Wheaton College brings thousands of students, faculty, and visitors to the community. College campuses create unique injury scenarios.
Campus-related injuries include:
Cases involving colleges and universities can be complex. They often involve questions about governmental immunity, premises liability standards, and sometimes multiple defendants.
I understand how to handle these cases effectively. I know when immunity applies and when it doesn't. I know how to investigate institutional negligence. As your Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney, I'll navigate these complications to secure compensation.
Wheaton and surrounding areas host numerous corporate campuses and office parks. While offices seem safer than construction sites or factories, workplace injuries happen constantly.
Common office workplace injuries include:
Here's what happens after an office workplace injury. Your employer reports it to workers' comp insurance. The insurance company disputes whether the injury really happened at work. They send you to their doctor who minimizes everything. Your claim gets delayed or denied. You face pressure to return to work prematurely.
I fight insurance companies on these cases daily. As a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney specializing in workplace injuries, I ensure you receive proper medical care, full temporary disability benefits, and fair permanent disability settlements reflecting your actual limitations—not what insurance companies want to pay.
Downtown Wheaton's charm comes partly from its historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Unfortunately, older infrastructure creates safety hazards.
Common downtown premises liability cases include:
Property owners have legal duties to maintain safe conditions. When they fail—through negligent maintenance, inadequate snow removal, poor lighting, or failure to repair known hazards—they must be held accountable.
The challenge in premises liability cases is proving the property owner knew (or should have known) about the dangerous condition. That requires fast action to preserve evidence before it disappears. That's why you must contact a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney immediately after any slip and fall accident.
Specific intersections in Wheaton see disproportionate numbers of serious crashes.
I've handled multiple cases at dangerous intersections including:
These intersections combine heavy traffic volume, complex traffic patterns, and driver inattention. T-bone collisions. Left-turn accidents. Rear-end crashes from sudden stops. These accidents often cause severe injuries.
When you're injured at these known hazardous locations, documenting the intersection's dangerous characteristics becomes part of proving your case. I know how to use traffic studies, accident history data, and expert testimony to show these locations create unreasonable risks.
Wheaton area healthcare facilities provide mostly excellent care—but medical errors happen, and when they do, victims deserve justice.
I handle medical malpractice involving:
Medical malpractice cases are the most expensive and complex personal injury cases. They require expert witnesses, extensive medical record review, and lawyers who aren't intimidated by medical professionals and their powerful defense attorneys.
Most personal injury lawyers avoid medical malpractice cases. I don't—when cases have genuine merit. I've invested in the knowledge, resources, and expert relationships necessary to prove these cases. My fee is 33⅓%, which is standard.
Wheaton area nursing homes and assisted living facilities serve vulnerable elderly residents who deserve dignity and quality care.
Unfortunately, I've seen terrible cases of:
Nursing home cases break my heart. Families trust these facilities with their most vulnerable loved ones, and too often that trust is betrayed through understaffing, poor training, or outright negligence.
If your loved one has been harmed in a Wheaton area nursing home, call me immediately. These cases require urgent action to preserve evidence and protect residents. As your Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney, I'll investigate thoroughly and fight aggressively for accountability.
Losing a family member because of someone else's negligence creates pain that words cannot adequately express.
Illinois wrongful death law allows certain family members to recover compensation for:
Wrongful death cases arise from:
These cases demand both compassion and fierce advocacy. I handle wrongful death claims with appropriate dignity and respect while fighting aggressively to secure maximum compensation for grieving families.
Some injuries change everything about your life forever:
Catastrophic injury cases require lawyers who understand lifetime economic impact. We're calculating not just current medical bills but decades of future care, lost earning capacity, home modifications, assistive technology, and pain that never ends.
I've invested over $100,000 in elite trial training including graduation from Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College and completion of The Edge program. Fewer than one in 10,000 lawyers complete this advanced training. I pursued this training specifically to handle catastrophic cases at the highest level and secure maximum compensation for severely injured clients.
Insurance adjusters aren't your friends—they're trained professionals whose job is paying you as little as possible.
They sound sympathetic. They seem helpful. They're playing you.
Every dollar they avoid paying you increases their company's profit. They count on injured people not knowing case values, not understanding their rights, and being desperate enough financially to accept inadequate settlements.
I used to work for defense firms representing insurance companies early in my career. I saw the training manuals. I know the tactics. I understand the games. That's exactly why I switched to representing injured people exclusively—because working families deserve lawyers who actually fight for them.
Insurance companies make quick lowball offers for one reason: most people accept them.
They're betting you don't know your case's true value. They're betting you need money urgently. They're betting you won't hire a lawyer.
Here's the trap: once you accept their settlement and sign the release, it's final. You can't return later when you discover your injuries are worse than you thought. You can't renegotiate when you realize the settlement didn't cover your bills.
Never accept an insurance settlement without consulting a lawyer. My consultations are free. I'll tell you honestly whether their offer is fair or exploitative.
When adjusters call requesting recorded statements, they're not trying to help you.
They're trained to ask questions designed to elicit case-destroying answers:
Everything gets recorded, transcribed, and used against you. Politely decline. Tell them you need to speak with an attorney. Then call me immediately at (312) 500-4500.
Insurance companies know DuPage County juries have certain characteristics. They're often more educated, more conservative with damage awards, more skeptical of exaggerated claims.
Defense lawyers use this knowledge to their advantage. They offer settlements calculated to exploit jury tendencies.
But here's what they don't want you to know: DuPage County juries are also fair, intelligent, and generous with properly proven cases. When you present thorough evidence, credible testimony, and professional case preparation, DuPage County juries award appropriate compensation.
I know how to try cases effectively to DuPage County juries. I've done it dozens of times. As your Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney, that local trial experience directly benefits you.
Most injured people think compensation is limited to medical expenses. That's completely wrong. Illinois law allows recovery for:
Insurance companies won't voluntarily tell you about these categories. That's why you need a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney who will pursue every dollar you're entitled to receive.
I never settle cases for less than their worth. Roughly 90% of my cases settle without trial—but that reflects aggressive negotiation from strength, not weakness. It means I'm fully prepared to try every case in DuPage County Circuit Court if necessary.
Insurance companies recognize which lawyers fear courtrooms and which ones don't. I've tried more than 30 jury trials, plus about 100 arbitrations and hundreds of depositions. A DuPage County judge once described my trial presentation as among the finest he'd witnessed.
When you're represented by a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney insurance companies actually fear, you get significantly better settlement offers. My trial experience directly benefits your bottom line.
When you call me, here's what happens:
I never chase clients. I never use high-pressure sales tactics. We talk like normal people. I give you straight answers based on 27 years of experience. You make your own decision.
If a lawyer pressures you or acts unprofessionally, ask yourself: do you want that person representing you in court?
If you hire me, I begin working immediately:
Evidence degrades rapidly. Witnesses forget. Video gets deleted. Property owners fix hazards and claim they never existed. Speed matters, and I move fast.
My office uses proprietary case management technology I developed personally. This enables faster, more efficient case handling than typical firms. We discover crucial information earlier, which translates directly to better outcomes.
Your health is priority one. I'll help connect you with appropriate medical providers if needed.
If you have health insurance, use it. If you don't, I can refer you to quality doctors who treat on a lien basis—providing care now and receiving payment from your settlement later.
All treatment gets thoroughly documented to prove your case and maximize compensation. I ensure you're seeing proper specialists and receiving care you actually need.
Once treatment is complete (or you've reached maximum medical improvement), I calculate full case value and send a detailed demand to the insurance company.
I've negotiated thousands of these cases. I know their true value, I understand every insurance company tactic, and I absolutely don't back down. Most cases settle during this negotiation phase through aggressive advocacy.
If insurance companies won't be reasonable, I file suit without hesitation. Some lawyers fear DuPage County courthouses. I don't.
I've practiced in DuPage County Circuit Court throughout my career. I know the judges personally. I understand local procedures intimately. The courthouse is literally minutes from my office.
My office is at 1000 Jorie Blvd, Suite 204, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523. I handle Wheaton and DuPage County cases regularly.
My goal remains constant: secure every dollar you deserve as quickly as possible.
When we win:
If we lose—which is rare—you owe me absolutely nothing. I absorb all costs advanced. That's my guarantee.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
You pay nothing upfront. Nothing out of pocket. I advance every expense—filing fees, expert witnesses, medical records, all costs.
I only get paid when you get paid.
For workers' compensation, my fee is 20% (set by Illinois statute). For personal injury, it's 33⅓%, or 40% if lawsuit filing becomes necessary. Medical malpractice is 33⅓%.
These are standard Illinois rates. If we lose, you owe me zero. I eat all costs advanced. That's the deal.
Injuries don't respect business hours. You might be hospitalized at 3 a.m. with urgent questions. You might receive an adjuster's call Sunday morning and not know how to respond.
Call me anytime. I'm genuinely available 24 hours daily, 7 days weekly, 365 days yearly. When you call, you get real help—not voicemail, not answering services.
I don't run a volume mill. When you hire me, you work directly with me—not some paralegal or junior associate.
My team understands that winning your case while treating you respectfully and honestly is our absolute priority. You'll get returned calls. You'll know your case status. You'll have questions answered promptly.
When you hire me, you work with me. That's genuine client service.
I've invested over $100,000 traveling nationwide to study with America's premier trial lawyers:
Not one in 10,000 lawyers completes this elite training. I did it so you receive the absolute finest representation when facing insurance companies with unlimited resources.
This training provides tools and techniques most lawyers never learn. It's why I win cases other lawyers can't. As your Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney, you benefit directly.
I'm not a downtown Chicago lawyer who occasionally shows up in Wheaton. My practice focuses on DuPage County.
I know the judges. I know the court staff. I know the local defense attorneys. I know DuPage County juries. That familiarity creates genuine advantages for clients.
When you need a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney, local expertise matters. I provide that expertise.
Even if you feel okay, see a doctor immediately after accidents. Some injuries—whiplash, concussions, internal injuries—don't show immediate symptoms.
If you delay treatment, insurance companies argue you weren't really injured. They claim, "If they were actually hurt, they would have sought emergency care immediately."
Don't provide that argument. Get examined promptly even if you think you're fine.
Never give recorded statements without consulting a lawyer. Adjusters are trained professionals who know exactly how to elicit case-destroying statements.
Politely decline. Tell them you'll speak with an attorney first. Then call me at (312) 500-4500.
Insurance companies monitor your social media actively. They're searching for anything usable against you.
Best policy: avoid social media entirely until case resolution. If you must use it, don't post anything about accidents, injuries, activities, or anything potentially misinterpretable.
Insurance companies' first offers are always inadequate. They're counting on you not knowing true value and being financially desperate.
Once you accept and sign the release, it's final. You can't return later for additional money.
Before accepting anything, call me. Free consultation. I'll assess whether their offer is fair or exploitative.
The other party's insurance company is not your friend. Their job is minimizing payments to you.
They might seem friendly. They're playing you.
Don't talk to them without a lawyer. Let me handle all insurance communications.
In Illinois, you typically have two years from injury date to file personal injury suits. For workers' compensation, it's three years, but you must notify employers within 45 days.
Miss these deadlines and your case dies. Permanently. No second chances.
Don't risk it. Call me today.
Illinois law protects injured people through several legal theories:
You don't need legal expertise to pursue claims—that's my job. Understanding you have rights is crucial. As your Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney, I'll explain everything in clear, understandable language.
What if you were partially at fault?
Illinois uses "modified comparative negligence." Provided you're less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages. Your award simply reduces by your fault percentage.
Example: You're 30% at fault. Damages total $150,000. You recover $105,000.
Insurance companies love inflating your fault percentage. That's why you need a skilled Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney fighting for fair, accurate fault allocation.
Generally, you have two years from injury date to file personal injury suits. Workers' compensation provides three years, but employer notification must occur within 45 days.
Two years sounds lengthy—it's not. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Insurance companies grow more aggressive.
Don't miss this deadline. If you do, your case ends permanently.
Insurance policies have limits. Illinois law requires disclosure in specific situations.
I meticulously identify every available insurance policy—including umbrella policies and excess coverage. The goal is maximizing potential recovery by pursuing every compensation source.
A thorough Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney explores all possibilities.
My office is at 1000 Jorie Blvd, Suite 204, Oak Brook, IL 60523—convenient to Wheaton and surrounding communities including:
I handle cases throughout DuPage County, Cook County, and Will County.
Can't reach my office? No problem. I'll meet you at your home, hospital, or any convenient location. The point is making this manageable during difficult times.
Illinois typically allows two years from injury date for personal injury lawsuits. Workers compensation provides three years, but employer notification is required within 45 days.
Exceptions exist—don't assume you have the full period. The sooner you contact a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney, the better your prospects because evidence degrades over time.
Nothing upfront, nothing out of pocket. Pure contingency—I only get paid when you get paid.
My fee is 20% for workers compensation (statutory rate), 33⅓% for injury cases, or 40% if lawsuit filing becomes necessary. These are standard Illinois rates. I advance all costs. If we lose, you owe nothing.
Hiring a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney on contingency means everyone can afford quality representation.
Absolutely not. Never accept without consulting an attorney.
Initial offers are always inadequate. Insurance companies bet you don't know true value and that desperation will make you accept anything.
Once you sign the release and accept payment, you can't return later—even if injuries prove far worse.
Call me before accepting anything. Free consultation. I'll assess whether the offer is fair or exploitative.
Yes, provided you're less than 50% at fault. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence, reducing your award by your fault percentage.
Example: You're 25% at fault. Damages are $200,000. You recover $150,000.
Insurance companies love inflating your fault percentage. A skilled Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney fights for accurate, fair fault allocation.
I can connect you with medical providers treating on a lien basis. They provide care now and receive payment later from your settlement.
Don't let insurance absence prevent necessary medical care. Your health is paramount, and I'll ensure proper treatment access.
It depends on multiple variables:
Some cases settle within months. Others require a year or more. What I promise is aggressive case prosecution because you need money now.
An experienced Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney knows how to move cases efficiently while maximizing results.
Probably not. Roughly 90% of my cases settle without trial.
If we file suit, you might need courtroom appearances for depositions or hearings. If we actually try the case, you'll need to testify.
But most cases resolve through negotiation. When insurance companies know you have a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney prepared to try cases, they typically settle rather than risk jury verdicts.
It doesn't automatically destroy your case. Illinois law permits claims for "aggravation" or "exacerbation" of pre-existing conditions.
The key is complete honesty about medical history. Insurance companies will obtain previous records anyway. If you lie or conceal past injuries, it destroys credibility completely.
A Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney experienced with pre-existing condition cases knows how to prove this accident significantly worsened your prior condition.
No. Illinois law prohibits retaliation for filing workers compensation claims.
Of course, proving retaliation can be challenging. Employers rarely admit "we fired you for filing workers comp." They'll claim performance issues or other pretexts.
If you believe you were fired in retaliation, call me immediately. I handle retaliatory discharge cases and know how to prove them.
You might still recover through your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.
Many people don't realize their auto policies include this coverage. It protects you when hit by uninsured or underinsured drivers.
I examine every insurance policy thoroughly—yours, the at-fault driver's, any other potentially liable parties—to identify every possible recovery source.
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
>>Read More
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
