Three AM. My phone rings. It's a guy working night shift at an Amazon warehouse in Joliet. Forklift backed into him while he was loading a truck. Driver never saw him, just kept going in reverse.
Now this guy's got a fractured pelvis. He's 31 years old. Got two kids. And you know what the warehouse manager told him? "You shouldn't have been standing there."
That's the game they play. You get hurt because they push impossible quotas, don't train people properly, and run forklifts all over the place in tight spaces. Then they blame YOU.
I'm Scott DeSalvo. For over 20 years, I've represented warehouse workers all over Chicago who got hurt on the job. Amazon fulfillment centers in Joliet. UPS distribution hubs near O'Hare. Target warehouses in Bedford Park. FedEx Ground facilities in Elgin.
These companies push workers so hard that safety becomes an afterthought. Then when you get hurt, they minimize it, drag their feet on your claim, and try to get you back to work before you're ready.
Here's what you need to know: You have rights. And I know how to fight for them.
Look, I handle all kinds of injury cases. But warehouse injuries? They're a specific beast. Here's why:
Amazon wants 300-400 items picked per hour. UPS needs trucks loaded in minutes, not hours. Target's distribution centers track every second you take.
That pressure leads to:
I've had clients tell me their managers actually coached them on how to avoid "time off task" penalties. Translation: keep working even when it's unsafe.
Here's something most warehouse workers don't know: Just because you work at an Amazon warehouse doesn't mean Amazon is your only employer.
You might be employed by:
When you get hurt, I can go after ALL of them if they contributed to your injury. That means more insurance coverage available. That means more money for you.
Warehouse work isn't sitting at a desk. We're talking about:
These aren't "take a week off and you're fine" injuries. These are life-changing.
Forklifts are everywhere in warehouses. And they're dangerous as hell when operators aren't properly trained.
I represented Marcus, who worked at a UPS distribution center near Midway. Temp worker operating a forklift had been "trained" with a 20-minute video and zero hands-on practice. Hit Marcus from behind, pinned him against a wall.
We sued both UPS and the staffing agency. The staffing agency had completely falsified training records. Just made them up. Marcus got $2.3 million. But he's got permanent back problems and can't do the physical work he used to do.
Common forklift accident causes:
Standard loading docks are 48 inches high. That's four feet. Falling from that height onto concrete? You can break bones, crack your skull, destroy your spine.
Jennifer worked at a Target distribution center in Bedford Park. Stepped backward off a loading dock because there was no guardrail and no warning system. Fell four feet, landed on her hip. Fractured pelvis, months of recovery, permanent limp.
The guardrails that OSHA requires? Never installed. Target's contractor said they were "temporary docks" so the rules didn't apply. We proved that was BS. Jennifer got $875,000.
Loading dock hazards:
This is the slow-motion disaster. Your back doesn't blow out in one day. It's years of bending, twisting, lifting heavy boxes, working at a pace your body can't sustain.
Amazon workers pick hundreds of items per hour. Every item means bending, reaching, lifting, placing. Do that 10 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. Your body breaks down.
Roberto worked at an Amazon fulfillment center in Joliet for four years. Started having back pain in year two. Kept working through it because he needed the paycheck. By year four, he could barely walk. Three herniated discs. Needed surgery.
Workers' comp tried to say it wasn't work-related. Claimed he must have hurt himself somewhere else. We brought in medical experts who explained exactly how repetitive warehouse work causes disc injuries. Roberto got his surgery covered and $425,000 for permanent disability.
Repetitive injury warning signs:
Modern warehouses have miles of conveyor belts moving packages. When clothing gets caught, when you reach too far, when emergency stops don't work—bad things happen.
Carlos reached across a moving conveyor to grab a package that was about to fall. His sleeve got caught. Pulled his arm into the rollers. Crushed his hand, broke his wrist, tore ligaments in his elbow.
We discovered the emergency stop button had been broken for weeks. Warehouse knew about it. Did nothing. OSHA violation, clear as day. Carlos got $1.2 million from the warehouse and the equipment maintenance company that failed to fix the emergency stop.
This is where it gets interesting—and why you need a lawyer who knows warehouse cases inside and out.
If you're a full-time employee of Amazon, UPS, Target, whoever—workers' comp is your main remedy against them. That covers your medical bills and about two-thirds of your wages.
But that's not the end of the story.
Huge numbers of warehouse workers are actually employed by temp agencies. Adecco, Randstad, Kelly Services, hundreds of smaller ones.
These agencies can be sued when they:
I've sued staffing agencies dozens of times. They're easier targets than the big warehouse companies because they often have sloppy practices and terrible documentation.
Forklifts, conveyor systems, dock equipment, pallet jacks—when this stuff is defective or poorly designed, I go after the manufacturers.
Defective equipment cases can be worth the most money because:
Separate companies often maintain warehouse equipment. When they:
They're liable. And they have insurance.
If the warehouse is owned by someone other than your employer, or if a general contractor oversees the facility, they can be liable for unsafe conditions they created or knew about.
Insurance companies will lowball you. They'll offer quick settlements before you even know how badly you're hurt. Don't take them.
Here's what I fight to get for warehouse workers:
Medical Expenses - Every Penny Not just what you've already spent. What you'll need for the rest of your life. Surgery, physical therapy, medications, future procedures, medical equipment. I work with life care planners who calculate this precisely.
Lost Wages - Full Amount
Workers' comp gives you two-thirds. When I can sue other companies, I get you 100% of what you lost. Plus overtime, bonuses, benefits—everything.
Future Earning Capacity Can't do warehouse work anymore? Your back's destroyed, you can't lift, you can't be on your feet for 10 hours? I get you compensated for what you won't earn for the rest of your working life.
Economists calculate this. If you're 35 and made $45,000 per year, losing that income for 30 years is over $1 million even before we account for raises you would have gotten.
Pain And Suffering The physical pain. The emotional trauma of wondering how you'll support your family. The frustration of not being able to do simple things. Under Illinois law, this has real value.
Permanent Disability And Disfigurement Permanent limp? Scars? Limited range of motion that won't get better? This gets compensated separately.
Loss Of Quality Of Life Can't play with your kids anymore? Can't do your hobbies? Can't enjoy activities you used to love? You deserve compensation for that.
Based on 20+ years of handling these cases, here's the typical range:
These aren't made-up numbers. These are real settlements and verdicts I've gotten for warehouse workers.
Don't wait. Don't "tough it out." Go to the emergency room or urgent care right now.
Good Chicago-area hospitals:
Tell the doctor EXACTLY what happened and EVERY symptom, even small ones.
Illinois law gives you 45 days, but don't wait. Tell your supervisor now. Get it in writing. Make sure they file an accident report and YOU get a copy.
Warehouses will try to claim it didn't happen at work if you wait. Document it now.
If you can:
Evidence disappears fast. Warehouses clean up scenes, fix equipment, make things look better. Get photos NOW.
They'll call. They'll be friendly. They'll say they're "just trying to help."
Don't talk to them. Everything you say will be twisted and used against you.
Just say: "I need to speak with my lawyer first."
The longer you wait, the weaker your case gets. I need to:
Call me right now. Any time. Day or night. The call is free. The consultation is free. You don't pay me a dime unless I win your case.
Joliet - Amazon fulfillment centers, major distribution hubs for UPS, Target, and others
Bedford Park/Clearing - Massive warehouse district near Midway Airport
Elgin - FedEx Ground, UPS, Amazon facilities
Aurora - Multiple distribution centers serving western suburbs
Romeoville - Large warehouse concentration along I-55 corridor
Naperville/Bolingbrook - Growing warehouse district
Northlake/Franklin Park - Industrial area near O'Hare with major distribution centers
Glendale Heights/Carol Stream - DuPage County warehouse belt
But honestly? If you work at a warehouse anywhere in the Chicago area and you got hurt, call me. I handle cases throughout Cook County, Will County, DuPage County, Kane County, and Lake County.
Not all injury lawyers understand warehouse work. The quotas. The staffing agencies. The multiple companies involved. The specific OSHA regulations for warehouses.
I do. I've handled hundreds of these cases. I know the game warehouse companies and their insurers play.
These are real people. Real cases. Real money that helped them and their families.
After watching what happened to my father when he got hurt at work, I know what it's like to have no money.
You don't pay me anything upfront. You don't pay me anything while I'm working on your case. The only time I get paid is when YOU get paid.
If I don't win? You owe me nothing. Not a penny.
Warehouse workers work all shifts. Second shift. Third shift. Overnight. Weekends.
So I'm available whenever you need me: 312-500-4500
Day. Night. 2 AM. Sunday. Holiday. Doesn't matter. Call me when you need to call me.
Can I sue Amazon/UPS/Target/FedEx?
Usually you can't sue your direct employer—that's what workers' comp is for. But I can often sue staffing agencies, equipment manufacturers, maintenance companies, and other parties involved in your injury. That's where the bigger money comes from.
What if I was working through a temp agency?
Even better for you. Temp agencies can be sued directly when they're negligent with training, safety, or worker placement. And you can still get workers' comp from them.
Will they fire me for filing a claim?
No. Illinois law prohibits retaliation. If they fire you for filing a workers' comp claim, you have additional claims against them for wrongful termination.
What if they say I was careless?
Even if you made a mistake, that doesn't excuse unsafe conditions, defective equipment, inadequate training, or other company failures. Illinois law says you can still recover money if you're less than 51% at fault.
How long do I have?
For workers' comp: notify your employer within 45 days, file within 3 years. For lawsuits against other companies: usually 2 years. Don't wait—call me today.
Do I have to speak Spanish?
No. My office has bilingual staff. Hablamos español.
When I was a kid, I watched my dad get hurt at work. Watched his injury lawyer treat him terribly. Watched his case drag on for 17 years. Watched the insurance company grind him down.
I became a lawyer so that would never happen to anyone I represent.
Warehouse work is hard enough without having to worry about getting hurt and fighting insurance companies. You deserve someone in your corner who actually gives a damn.
That's me. Your fight is my fight.
Call me right now: 312-500-4500
Free consultation. Available 24/7. No money out of your pocket. I only get paid if I win your case.
You showed up to work to make a living and got hurt. Now let me show up for you and fight for what you deserve.
For more information about all types of industrial accidents, visit our main Industrial Accident Lawyer Chicago page.
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