When you need a Villa Park Personal Injury Attorney who fights ruthlessly for full compensation and never backs down from insurance companies, you've found the right advocate. As a Villa Park Personal Injury Attorney with nearly three decades of courtroom victories throughout Illinois, I've earned a reputation for maximizing settlements that other lawyers thought were impossible. Whether you suffered injuries in a collision on St. Charles Road, got hurt at work in one of Villa Park's commercial districts, or experienced harm due to negligence anywhere in DuPage County, choosing the right Villa Park Personal Injury Attorney determines whether you receive fair compensation or get shortchanged.
There's a reason I practice personal injury law with the intensity I do, and it starts with what happened to my family when I was a child.
My father worked as a union truck driver—a Teamster who took pride in his work and provided for his family through honest labor. When I was nine years old, he sustained devastating injuries on the job. His neck, back, and spine were permanently damaged. The physical pain was excruciating, but what followed proved equally destructive.
My father hired a personal injury attorney who utterly failed him. This lawyer was dismissive, kept my father in the dark about case developments, and worst of all, failed to secure adequate compensation for our family's losses. The case dragged on for an unconscionable seventeen years. When it finally concluded, his own attorney sued him for additional fees.
The financial devastation was immediate and lasting. Without my father's income, my mother struggled to keep us afloat. I witnessed firsthand how a workplace injury combined with inadequate legal representation can destroy a working family's stability.
That experience forged my commitment to this profession. I worked throughout high school, put myself through college and law school, and built my practice on a simple principle: families dealing with injuries deserve an attorney who fights as hard as I wish someone had fought for mine.
Several months ago, a Villa Park resident contacted me after being rear-ended at the intersection of North Avenue and Ardmore Avenue. Two other attorneys had already declined his case, claiming the injuries weren't severe enough to justify litigation. He felt dismissed and discouraged.
We met at a local Villa Park restaurant to discuss his situation. After reviewing the medical records and accident details, I recognized what the other attorneys had missed—his soft tissue injuries were progressing toward chronic pain syndrome, and the other driver's insurance company was using delay tactics hoping he'd accept a lowball settlement.
Within nine months, we secured a settlement that fully compensated him for all medical expenses, lost wages, and ongoing treatment needs. More importantly, he never felt abandoned or confused about his case status throughout the process.
That's my approach with every client. I represent real people in Villa Park, Elmhurst, Lombard, and throughout DuPage County who need an attorney genuinely committed to their outcome.
You shouldn't face financial ruin just to afford legal representation when you're already struggling with medical bills and lost income. That's why I work exclusively on contingency—you pay nothing upfront, and I only collect fees if I secure compensation for you first. Plus, I'm accessible 24/7/365 because injuries happen at all hours.
Most people underestimate how much geographic familiarity matters in personal injury law. I don't parachute into Villa Park for individual cases and disappear afterward. I know this community intimately. I understand where accidents concentrate—the hazardous stretch of Roosevelt Road, the congested areas around Oakbrook Terrace, the railroad crossings on St. Charles Road.
Beyond local geography, I possess extensive experience with the DuPage County court system. I've appeared before these judges repeatedly. I understand the local procedural requirements. I know how cases progress through this specific courthouse. That institutional knowledge translates directly into strategic advantages for my clients.
I've practiced personal injury law since 1998—that represents more than twenty-seven years of experience. During that time, I've successfully represented over 3,000 clients in cases ranging from straightforward rear-end collisions to multimillion-dollar complex litigation.
Most injury attorneys lack insight into insurance company operations. I possess that insight because I worked for the other side early in my career. I represented insurance companies at a major defense firm and witnessed their internal strategies firsthand.
That inside knowledge fundamentally changed how I practice law. I can anticipate insurance company moves before they make them. I understand their settlement strategies, their delay tactics, and their methods for minimizing payouts. This allows me to counter their approaches effectively and prevent the tactics that derail cases handled by less experienced attorneys.
After observing the insurance industry's practices from within, I couldn't continue defending them. Their approach conflicted with my values. I made the deliberate choice to return to representing injured individuals—people who need advocates willing to stand up to powerful corporations. That decision has defined my career ever since.
As your Villa Park Personal Injury Attorney, I handle the full spectrum of injury claims:
Villa Park's location creates constant traffic hazards. St. Charles Road carries heavy commuter traffic. Roosevelt Road sees frequent accidents near commercial areas. The intersection at North Avenue and Ardmore Avenue has one of the highest accident rates in DuPage County.
I represent clients injured in:
Vehicle accident cases involve complex liability determinations. Insurance companies routinely dispute fault, minimize injuries, and employ delay tactics. Without experienced legal representation, injured parties typically accept settlements far below their cases' true value.
Truck accidents demand specialized legal expertise. These cases involve federal transportation regulations, corporate liability structures, and insurance policies that exceed those in standard vehicle accidents.
I've successfully litigated truck cases involving:
The fundamental difference in truck cases is understanding Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and knowing how to pursue claims against both individual drivers and their corporate employers. Most attorneys lack this specialized knowledge. I possess it through years of handling these complex cases.
Motorcyclists and cyclists face unwarranted prejudice in legal proceedings. Jurors sometimes harbor unfair assumptions like "they chose to ride without protection" or "they shouldn't have been on that road."
This bias is both unfair and legally irrelevant. Motorcyclists and cyclists possess identical road rights as other vehicle operators. When negligent drivers cause collisions, they bear full legal responsibility regardless of the victim's vehicle choice.
Motorcycle and bicycle accidents typically produce catastrophic injuries—severe fractures, traumatic brain damage, spinal cord trauma, extensive road rash. These cases require attorneys willing to aggressively counter victim-blaming defense strategies and secure full compensation for life-altering injuries.
Villa Park's commercial districts and residential neighborhoods see substantial pedestrian activity. Unfortunately, this pedestrian presence correlates with frequent pedestrian-vehicle accidents.
If a driver struck you while you were legally crossing a street or walking through a parking lot, you have a valid legal claim. Pedestrian accidents typically result in severe injuries due to the complete lack of physical protection. These cases deserve aggressive legal representation to secure adequate compensation.
Villa Park's diverse employment sectors—retail, office, light industrial, and service industries—all present workplace injury risks. Injuries occur daily across these sectors.
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act entitles you to specific benefits following workplace injuries. However, insurance companies systematically challenge these claims unless injured workers retain legal representation.
I handle:
For workers' compensation cases, state law sets my fee at 20%. I ensure clients receive all entitled benefits—treatment by their chosen physician, wage replacement during recovery, and fair permanent disability settlements.
Premises liability cases are deceptively complex. These claims require proving the property owner knew (or should have known) about the dangerous condition that caused your injury.
Villa Park property owners bear legal responsibility for maintaining 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 typically repair hazardous conditions immediately after accidents, then deny the hazard ever existed. Quick evidence preservation is absolutely critical.
Healthcare providers aren't infallible. When doctors, nurses, or hospitals make mistakes falling below accepted care standards, and those mistakes cause patient harm, valid malpractice claims exist.
I handle malpractice involving:
Medical malpractice litigation requires substantial resources—expert witness testimony, comprehensive medical record analysis, and often years of complex litigation. Many attorneys refuse these cases. I accept them when the evidence supports viable claims. My fee for medical malpractice is 33 1/3%, which is Illinois's standard rate.
Few situations are more heartbreaking than discovering your loved one suffered abuse or neglect in a facility meant to provide safety and care.
I've litigated cases involving severe pressure ulcers that developed because staff failed to reposition immobile residents. I've seen dehydration and malnutrition cases where nursing home staff simply didn't bother assisting residents with meals and fluids. I've handled physical abuse cases involving staff members who should never have had access to vulnerable seniors.
If your family member has been harmed in a Villa Park area nursing home, please contact me immediately. These cases require both legal expertise and genuine compassion. You'll receive both from my firm.
Losing a family member due to another party's negligence produces indescribable pain. The grief feels overwhelming, often accompanied by severe financial hardship.
Illinois wrongful death statutes allow certain family members to pursue compensation for their losses and hold negligent parties accountable. These claims can arise from:
I handle wrongful death cases with appropriate gravity and respect. You don't face this alone.
Certain injuries permanently alter life trajectories. Traumatic brain injuries affect memory, personality, and cognitive abilities. Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis. Amputations fundamentally change how individuals navigate daily existence.
These cases require attorneys understanding that compensation extends far beyond past medical expenses. We're discussing:
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 cases like these and secure maximum possible compensation for catastrophically injured clients.
Illinois 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.
Two years might sound substantial. It isn't. Evidence degrades rapidly. Witness memories fade. Insurance companies grow more aggressive as time passes.
Missing filing deadlines means permanent case loss. No extensions exist. No second opportunities. Don't allow this to happen.
Many people mistakenly believe they can only recover medical expenses. This is incorrect. Illinois law permits compensation for:
Insurance companies won't voluntarily inform you about these damage categories. That's precisely why experienced legal representation is essential.
Here's the predictable pattern: You sustain injuries. Within days, an insurance adjuster contacts you with friendly concern and a quick settlement offer.
This appears convenient. It's actually a trap.
Early settlement offers invariably fall far below cases' true values. Insurance companies bet that financial pressure from medical bills and lost wages will push you toward accepting inadequate offers out of desperation or ignorance.
Once you sign their release and accept payment, you permanently surrender rights to additional compensation—even if you later discover your injuries are more severe than initially apparent.
Don't sign anything. Don't accept any offers. Contact me first. Consultations are free, and I'll provide honest case value assessments.
Here's what happens when you contact me:
I don't employ high-pressure sales tactics. I don't chase or harass prospective clients. We'll have genuine conversations with straight answers, and you'll make fully informed decisions. That's my approach.
If you retain my services, I begin work immediately. Evidence preservation is time-critical:
My firm uses proprietary case management software I developed in-house. This system enables more efficient case progression than competitors, earlier critical information discovery, and superior client outcomes.
Your physical recovery always takes top priority. I'll help you access appropriate medical care.
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 value.
Once treatment concludes (or you reach maximum medical improvement), I calculate full case value and send comprehensive demands to insurance companies.
I've negotiated thousands of injury cases. I understand their true values and don't accept inadequate offers.
Approximately 90% of my cases settle during this phase. This doesn't mean I capitulate to pressure—it means I negotiate aggressively until reaching fair settlements that don't require subjecting clients to trial stress.
If insurance companies refuse reasonable offers, I file lawsuits. Unlike attorneys who avoid courtrooms, I'm fully prepared for trial litigation.
I've handled more than 30 jury trials, approximately 100 arbitrations, and hundreds of depositions. One judge described my courtroom presentation as among his career's best. I possess more trial experience than many attorneys with double my practice years because I don't fear fighting for clients.
Whether through settlement or trial verdict, my objective remains constant: secure every dollar you deserve.
When we win, I deduct my fee and advanced case costs. Remaining proceeds go directly to you.
If we lose—which is rare—you owe nothing. That's the contingency fee agreement.
Let me be completely transparent about fees because I know this concerns potential clients.
You pay absolutely nothing out of pocket. Zero. I advance all case expenses—filing fees, medical records, expert witness fees, everything.
I only receive payment if you receive compensation first.
For workers' compensation cases, my fee is 20% (state law mandate). For standard personal injury cases, it's 33 1/3%, or 40% if litigation becomes necessary. Medical malpractice cases are 33 1/3%.
These are Illinois's standard rates. If we lose your case, you owe me nothing. I absorb all advanced costs. That's our agreement.
Accidents don't respect business hours. You might need answers at 3 a.m. from an emergency room. An insurance adjuster might call Sunday morning before you know how to respond.
Call me. I'm genuinely available 24 hours daily, 7 days weekly, 365 days annually. When you call, you receive real assistance, not voicemail or answering services.
Most attorneys graduate law school, pass bar exams, and consider their education complete. Not me.
I've 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.
Fewer than one in 10,000 lawyers pursue this training level.
Why this investment? To provide clients with absolutely superior representation. When facing insurance companies with attorney teams, you need someone who knows what they're doing. That's me.
When my father sustained injuries, his attorney treated him terribly. I made a personal commitment never to treat anyone that way.
Everyone on my team understands that winning your case while treating you with dignity and respect is our primary objective. Calls get returned. You stay informed about case status. Questions get answered.
I don't operate a high-volume mill. I personally handle your case. When you retain me, you work directly with me—not paralegals or junior associates who don't know your name.
You know those lawyers who repeatedly call after accidents? Or appear uninvited at hospitals? That's not my practice.
I never chase potential clients. I never employ high-pressure sales tactics. If we work together, it's because you want to, not because I harassed you.
We'll talk like reasonable people. I'll provide honest answers. You'll make your own decision. Frankly, even if you don't retain me, I hope we end conversations as friends. That's my philosophy.
Even if you feel acceptable, see doctors immediately after accidents. Some injuries—whiplash, soft tissue damage, even traumatic brain injuries—don't manifest symptoms for days or weeks.
If you delay medical treatment, insurance companies will argue you weren't actually injured. They'll claim, "If they were really hurt, they would have sought immediate emergency treatment."
Don't provide them this weapon to use against you.
Insurance adjusters will contact you shortly after accidents, acting friendly and concerned. They'll request recorded statements about what happened.
Don't do it.
These adjusters are trained professionals who know how to elicit case-damaging answers. They'll get you to downplay injuries, accept partial fault, or make seemingly innocent statements that actually destroy claims.
Politely tell them you need attorney consultation first, then call me.
Insurance companies employ people whose job is monitoring your social media—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, all platforms. They're searching for anything they can weaponize against you.
That photo of you smiling at your child's birthday? They'll argue you can't be experiencing real pain.
That post about going to the gym? They'll claim your injuries aren't genuine.
The safest approach is complete social media silence until case resolution. If that's impossible, at minimum avoid posting anything about your accident, injuries, activities, or anything else they could twist against you.
I've mentioned this already, but it warrants repetition: insurance companies' first offers are always substantially below fair values.
They're counting on your financial desperation or ignorance about case worth. Don't fall for it.
Before accepting any settlement offer, call me. I'll tell you whether it's fair or whether they're attempting to exploit you.
At-fault parties' insurance companies are not your allies. They have no concern for your welfare. Their sole objective is paying you as little as possible—ideally nothing.
They might act pleasant. They might claim you don't need attorneys and promise to handle everything. They're lying.
Don't communicate with them. Allow me to handle all insurance company interactions. That's what I'm here for.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
My office is located at 1000 Jorie Blvd, Ste 204, Oak Brook, IL 60523.
Whether you live in Villa Park itself or nearby communities including:
I'm here to help you.
Here's something important: I understand that getting to a law office can be difficult when you're injured. If you can't come to me, I'll come to you. We can meet at your home, a local coffee shop, or even the hospital if necessary.
The goal is making this process as manageable as possible during an already difficult time.
If you've been injured in Villa Park or anywhere in DuPage County, you need to take action now. Evidence disappears. Witnesses' memories fade. Insurance companies become more aggressive.
Call me right now for your 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 by calling.
Don't allow insurance companies to exploit you during this vulnerable time. Get an experienced Villa Park injury lawyer who genuinely cares about you in your corner.
Your fight is my fight.
Call me now: (312) 500-4500
I look forward to hearing from you and learning how I can help.
If you've been hurt in Oak Brook or anywhere in DuPage County, you need to act now. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Insurance companies get more aggressive.
Call me right now for your free consultation. I'm available 24/7/365.
Here's what happens when you call:
Remember: no money out of pocket, no fee until we win.
You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by calling.
Don't let the insurance company take advantage of you during this vulnerable time. Get an experienced Oak Brook injury lawyer who actually cares about you on your side.
Your fight is my fight.
Call me now: (312) 500-4500
I look forward to hearing from you and learning how I can help.
For most personal injury cases, you have two years from the injury date. For workers' compensation, it's three years, though you must notify your employer within 45 days of the accident.
Exceptions exist to these rules, which is why immediate attorney consultation is critical. If you miss the deadline, your case is permanently over.
Nothing out of pocket. I work on contingency, meaning I only get paid if you receive compensation first.
For workers' compensation cases, my fee is 20% (state law). For personal injury cases, it's 33 1/3%, or 40% if we must litigate. Medical malpractice cases are 33 1/3%.
If we lose, you pay me nothing.
Not necessarily. Sometimes those statements don't harm cases. Other times they can be problematic.
The critical thing is contacting me now so I can review what you said and determine the best path forward. Don't provide any 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. Your award will be reduced by your fault percentage.
For example, if you're deemed 20% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you'd recover $80,000.
Don't let that prevent you from getting necessary medical care. Physicians exist who will treat you on a lien basis, meaning they agree to receive payment from your settlement at case conclusion.
I can help connect you with these healthcare providers if needed.
It varies. I've settled cases within a few months, and I've had others take two years or longer.
The timeline depends on factors including:
What I can guarantee is that I push every case as hard as possible because delays don't benefit you or me.
Possibly not. About 90% of my cases settle without trial.
If we do file a lawsuit, you might need to appear in court 2-3 times before trial for proceedings like depositions. If we go to trial, you'll need to be present for the entire trial.
Most cases never reach that point.
It's not a case-killer. The law permits claims for "exacerbation" of pre-existing conditions—meaning your recent injury worsened an existing problem.
The key is complete honesty about your prior injury history. Insurance companies will discover it anyway, and honesty is always the best approach.
No. Federal law prohibits employers from terminating or retaliating against employees for filing workers' compensation claims.
Proving you were fired for filing a claim (rather than some other stated reason) can be challenging. However, I handle these "retaliatory discharge" cases and know how to prove them.
You might still recover through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage if you have it. This is coverage you purchase on your own auto policy that protects you when at-fault drivers lack insurance.
Many people don't realize they have this coverage. I review every policy meticulously to identify all possible sources of recovery.
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
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