When a Drunk Driver or Negligent Bar Changes Your Life Forever
Late one Saturday night, my phone rang. A family in Wicker Park. Their daughter Maria had been crossing Milwaukee Avenue at that crazy North/Damen/Milwaukee intersection when a drunk driver blew through a red light.
When I sat with them in their living room that week, watching Maria's mother hold her hand while she struggled with traumatic brain injury, I saw my own family. The drunk driver? BAC of .18. More than twice the legal limit. And get this—he'd been at a River North bar for three hours. The bartenders just kept pouring.
Look, I need to tell you something.
When I was nine years old, my father was catastrophically injured at work. He was a truck driver. A Teamster. Still a young man. But that injury took everything from him. His neck, back, spine—never the same. He couldn't work anymore.
And then? He hired the wrong personal injury lawyer. They were rude. Didn't explain things. Didn't even pursue parts of his case, leaving money on the table. His case dragged on for 17 years. Seventeen years. And at the end? His own lawyer sued him for more money.
That's why I became an alcohol related injury lawyer in Chicago. Not for the money. Not for the prestige. But because what happened to my family should never happen to yours.
If you've been hit by a drunk driver on the Kennedy. If you got hurt outside a Wrigleyville bar because some drunk patron got violent. If a River North restaurant kept serving someone who was clearly wasted and then that person hurt you—you're dealing with more than broken bones and medical bills. You're dealing with anger. Confusion. Fear about how you'll pay for everything.
Here's what I promise you: No money out of pocket. Not a dime. I handle everything, and I only get paid if we win. And I'm available 24/7/365, because I know drunk driving crashes don't happen during business hours.
Your fight is my fight. Call me anytime, day or night.
CALL NOW: 312-500-4500
Most lawyers go to law school, pass the bar, and that's it. They stop learning.
Not me. I've spent well over $100,000—my own money—flying across the country to study with the best trial lawyers in America. Why? Because you deserve better than average.
I'm a graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College. If you don't know who Gerry Spence is, just know this: he's never lost a criminal case. Ever. And his college teaches maybe 50 lawyers a year. Out of thousands who apply.
I'm also a graduate of "The Edge" program. It's invite-only. Advanced trial strategy that most lawyers will never see.
Not one in 10,000 lawyers has done what I've done. And I did it for one reason: so when we're in that courtroom fighting for your money, you've got the most skilled lawyer possible.
Remember my father's case? Seventeen years of being jerked around by his own lawyer?
I swore that would never happen to anyone I represent.
When you call my office, we answer. When you have questions, we explain things in plain English, not lawyer-speak. When you're scared about money or worried about your case, we're honest with you.
Everyone on my team knows: winning your case while treating you right is our #1 goal. Because that's how I'd want my own family treated.
Here's something most people don't know: we've built our own custom case management software. From scratch. It's one-of-a-kind.
What does that mean for you? We discover more about your case, earlier. We get evidence while the insurance company is still figuring out what happened. We build your case while they're still deciding who to assign it to.
That means faster settlements and better results. Because we're already three steps ahead.
I know what it's like to grow up without money. After my dad got hurt, we were poor. Really poor.
So when I say no fee until we win, I mean it. You don't pay me a dime upfront. You don't pay during the case. And if we don't win, you still don't pay.
All the expert fees? The investigation costs? The money to get police reports and medical records? I cover all of it. You focus on getting better. I'll worry about the money.
Bar fights happen at 2 AM. Drunk drivers leave the West Loop at midnight. Some drunk idiot causes a crash on Lake Shore Drive at 4 in the morning.
You shouldn't have to wait until Monday at 9 AM to talk to a lawyer.
Call me at 3 PM. Call me at 3 AM. Call me on Christmas morning if you need to. If you're hurt and scared and need help, I'm here.
CALL NOW: 312-500-4500
This is the obvious one, right? Drunk driver hits you, you sue them.
But here's what most people don't know: I don't just go after the drunk driver. I investigate whether a bar or restaurant over-served them. Because sometimes that bar has way more insurance money than the broke drunk driver.
I've handled cases on every major road in Chicago:
I've represented people in Lincoln Park, Hyde Park, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Lakeview, the Gold Coast—all over. Every neighborhood in Chicago has drunk driving crashes. And every one of those victims deserves justice.
This is my favorite type of case. You know why? Because bars need to be held accountable.
Illinois has a law called the Dram Shop Act. It says if a bar serves alcohol to someone who's already visibly drunk, and that drunk person then hurts someone, the bar can be sued.
And here's the thing: Illinois courts have made it clear that "visibly drunk" is a pretty low bar. In one case, a guy who only had two beers still counted. The court said if he was showing signs of being drunk when they served him those beers, the bar is liable.
What are signs of visible intoxication?
I go after these establishments hard. I get their surveillance footage. I depose their bartenders and servers. I get their training records. I find out if they've been cited before.
And let me tell you something: most bars in River North, Wrigleyville, West Loop, Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Old Town, and the South Loop care more about making money than cutting people off. They'd rather serve one more round than have their customer get upset.
Well, when that customer kills someone on the drive home, I make sure that bar pays.
Important: You only have ONE YEAR to file a dram shop case. Not two years like regular injury cases. One year. So don't wait.
Alcohol doesn't just mess up driving. It makes people violent.
If you got assaulted at a Chicago bar—beat up, stabbed, attacked—the bar might be responsible. Not just the drunk guy who hit you. The actual bar.
Why? Because bars have a duty to:
I've represented people who got hurt in bar fights on Division Street, in River North clubs, outside West Loop spots. And in almost every case, the bar saw it coming and did nothing.
One case I had? Guy was getting louder and more aggressive for two hours. Security saw it. Bartenders saw it. They kept serving him. He finally attacked my client outside, sent him to the hospital with facial fractures.
We got $650,000. From the bar.
The human body cannot withstand an impact with a car.
I've represented pedestrians in crosswalks who got mowed down by drunk drivers. Cyclists in bike lanes who got hit from behind. Runners on the Lakefront Trail who got struck by drunk drivers who veered off Lake Shore Drive.
These cases are heartbreaking. And they're everywhere:
These crashes result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal injuries. Life-changing stuff. And the compensation has to reflect that—not just your current medical bills, but the decades of care you're going to need.
Yeah, it happens. Uber and Lyft drivers get behind the wheel drunk.
The good news? Rideshare companies carry big insurance policies:
The bad news? These companies fight like hell to deny claims.
But I know how to deal with them. And I know how to make them pay.
This one surprises people.
If someone throws a party at their house and serves alcohol to guests who are visibly drunk—or to minors—and then one of those guests hurts someone, the host can be sued.
I've done cases involving private parties, corporate events, wedding receptions. Anywhere alcohol was served irresponsibly.
And here's the thing: most people have homeowner's insurance that covers this. So recovery is possible even when the drunk person has no money.
The worst calls I get are from families who lost someone.
A mother killed by a drunk driver on Lake Shore Drive. A father hit in a crosswalk. A daughter who died because a bar kept serving a patron who was falling-down drunk.
Under Illinois law, families can recover:
I've represented families in wrongful death cases, and I'll be honest: no amount of money brings your person back. But holding the drunk driver and the negligent bar accountable? That matters. Making sure they face consequences? That matters too.
CALL NOW: 312-500-4500
Look, I'm not supposed to promise you'll get a certain amount of money. Every case is different. But I want you to see what I've done for other people in situations like yours.
A 34-year-old teacher was crossing State Street near Monroe. Drunk driver, BAC of .16, ran the red light. Hit her hard. Multiple pelvic fractures. Fractured femur. Traumatic brain injury.
The driver had been over-served at a Loop sports bar. I got the surveillance footage showing him stumbling around, slurring his words. Bartenders admitted they kept serving him.
We sued both the driver and the bar. Got $875,000.
Finance guy gets attacked outside a Hubbard Street nightclub. The attacker had been drinking there for three hours, getting louder and more aggressive. Security saw it. Did nothing. Kept serving him.
My client needed facial reconstruction surgery. Has permanent scars. PTSD.
I presented evidence of the club's terrible security policies. $650,000 settlement.
Cyclist riding in a protected bike lane on Milwaukee Avenue. Drunk driver with a BAC of .19 swerved right into him. Severe traumatic brain injury. Spinal fractures. Multiple broken bones.
I found out the driver had been at a Wicker Park tavern for four hours. Staff kept serving him even though he could barely stand.
We sued the driver, his employer (company vehicle), and the tavern. $580,000.
Family of three stopped in traffic near the Ohio Street exit. Drunk driver, BAC of .21, slammed into them at high speed. Mom needed back surgery. Kids had soft tissue injuries and are now terrified of cars.
Driver had been at a West Loop bar for a corporate happy hour. Bartenders admitted in deposition that they saw he was drunk but kept serving.
$425,000 settlement.
Wrong-way drunk driver, BAC of .23, killed a 52-year-old executive near the North Avenue curve. I represented her husband and two teenage kids.
The drunk driver had been over-served at a Gold Coast restaurant. I investigated their alcohol service policies, found prior violations, proved they had a pattern of over-serving to make more money.
$1.2 million settlement.
In Illinois, it's illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. For commercial drivers, it's .04. For anyone under 21, it's zero tolerance—any alcohol at all.
When someone causes a crash over the legal limit, that's strong evidence of negligence. And it opens the door for punitive damages.
This is the law that lets you sue bars and restaurants.
235 ILCS 5/6-21 says if a bar serves alcohol to someone who's already intoxicated, and that person then causes injuries, the bar is liable.
This applies to:
One year deadline. That's it. You only have one year from the date of injury to sue under dram shop law.
Mohr v. Jilg – Court said serving just TWO BEERS was enough to support dram shop liability if the person was visibly drunk when served.
Kingston v. Turner – Court said bars can't escape by arguing they "didn't serve that much." It's about whether the person was visibly intoxicated, not how many drinks they had.
Carr v. Turner Diesel – Even without exact BAC proof, expert testimony about visible intoxication signs is enough.
These cases make it easier for you to win. And harder for bars to escape responsibility.
Chicago has specific rules about alcohol:
This is important. Most people think you can only sue the drunk driver. Wrong.
We go after their auto insurance first. But most drunk drivers? They have minimum coverage. Maybe $25,000. Maybe $100,000 if you're lucky.
That's not enough when you've got $200,000 in medical bills and can't work for a year.
So we look for other defendants.
This is the big one. Bars have insurance policies specifically for dram shop claims. Often $1 million or more.
I investigate where the drunk driver was drinking. I get receipts. Credit card statements. Surveillance footage. Witness statements.
And then I prove they over-served.
If it was a house party, we can sue the homeowner. Their homeowner's insurance usually covers it.
Was the drunk driver working? Driving a company vehicle? Then we can sue their employer.
I've done cases where a drunk driver was technically "on the clock" or using a work vehicle. The employer is responsible.
If someone lent their car to a drunk driver—especially if they knew that person had a drinking problem—they can be held liable for negligent entrustment.
The more parties we can bring in, the more insurance money we can access. And that means better compensation for you.
CALL NOW: 312-500-4500
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
Illinois law says you should be made whole. That means compensated for everything you lost.
Every penny. Emergency room. Ambulance. Surgery. Hospital stays. Physical therapy. Prescriptions. Counseling. Future medical care.
And here's something important: if you need care for the rest of your life, we calculate that and include it.
Every day of work you missed. Every raise you would've gotten. Every bonus. If you can't go back to your old job, we calculate what you would've made for the rest of your career.
I've had clients who were 35 years old and could never work again. That's 30+ years of lost income. That's millions of dollars.
The physical pain. The emotional trauma. The PTSD. The depression. The anxiety.
The fact that you can't sleep anymore. Can't drive without panicking. Can't enjoy life the way you used to.
All of that has value. And I fight to get you compensated for it.
When a drunk driver's behavior is especially bad—really high BAC, prior DUIs, fleeing the scene—Illinois courts can award punitive damages.
These aren't to compensate you. They're to punish the wrongdoer and send a message.
I've gotten punitive damages for clients. It makes the settlement or verdict much larger.
Late at night, these roads are deadly. Drunk drivers leaving downtown bars, speeding home.
After big games and events, drunk driving crashes spike.
And holidays? St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Eve, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day—drunk driving goes through the roof.
Even if you feel okay. Some injuries—brain injuries, internal bleeding—don't show symptoms right away.
And if you wait to see a doctor, the insurance company will say you weren't really hurt.
Go. Now.
Make sure they document everything:
Without a police report, your case is much harder.
The accident scene. The damage to your car. Your injuries. Any open alcohol containers in the other vehicle.
Your phone is in your pocket. Use it.
Anyone who saw what happened. Anyone who saw the drunk driver before the crash. Anyone who knows where they were drinking.
Get names and phone numbers.
This is critical for dram shop cases. Ask around. Look for receipts. Listen to what the drunk driver says to police.
Which bar? Which restaurant? We need to know.
They'll call you. Sometimes within hours. They're friendly. They act like they want to help.
They don't.
They want a recorded statement where you'll say something they can use against you. They want you to admit fault. They want you to minimize your injuries.
Tell them: "I'm represented by counsel. Talk to my lawyer."
The sooner I can start investigating, the stronger your case.
Surveillance footage gets deleted in 30-90 days. Witnesses forget. Bars destroy records.
Call me now. Any time. Day or night.
CALL NOW: 312-500-4500
First thing I do. I want to see that BAC number. I want to see what the police observed. I want every detail documented.
Prior DUIs? Prior crashes? License suspensions? I find it all.
And if they've got a pattern, that helps your case tremendously.
Credit card statements. Receipts. Witness interviews. Surveillance of bars they frequent.
Once I know where they were, I start building the dram shop case.
Surveillance footage from inside the bar. Server and bartender statements. Training records. Prior liquor license violations.
This stuff disappears fast. That's why you need to call me immediately.
Accident reconstruction specialists. Toxicologists. Medical experts. People who can explain to a jury exactly how the drunk driving caused your injuries.
The drunk driver's auto policy. The bar's dram shop policy. Any umbrella policies. Your own uninsured motorist coverage.
I find every dollar available to compensate you.
Time matters. The longer you wait, the more evidence disappears. Call me today.
Under Illinois law, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit.
Miss that deadline and you get nothing. Zero. Doesn't matter how strong your case is.
Same thing. Two years from the date of death.
This is the one that gets people. You only have ONE YEAR to sue a bar or restaurant.
Not two years. One.
So if you're thinking about going after the bar that over-served the drunk driver, you need to call me now.
Hiring Scott was one of the best moves I have made in my life. Scott is a down to earth person and attorney. Scott is a 5 star first class act who really knows his stuff. The Judge said his presentation was one of if not the best he had ever seen. Take my advice, hire Scott I’m sure you’ll be 200% satisfied I was.
Scott not only cares about the case, but he truly cares about his clients and that makes him the best lawyer I have ever met and hired! He won my case! He is thorough in everything he does. I highly recommend Scott, and will always refer him to family and friends.
I hired Scott DeSalvo upon a friend’s recommendation. His office kept me informed of developments as they happened, and I felt the settlement reached was fair considering my injuries. I would highly recommend Scott DeSalvo to represent your personal injury case.
Nothing. Zero. Not a penny.
I work on contingency. That means I only get paid if we win. My fee comes out of your settlement or verdict—typically a percentage.
If we don't win, you don't pay me anything.
All the costs—expert fees, investigation, court costs—I pay for all of it upfront. You don't reimburse me unless we win.
Yes. Absolutely yes.
Without a police report documenting the drunk driver's BAC and behavior, proving they were drunk becomes way harder.
Even if the cops weren't called to the scene, go file a report at your local police station. Today.
The police report will have:
I can get all of these records.
Yes. If they served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated, and that person then hurt you, Illinois law says you can sue them.
And I've done it many times.
Then we look at:
There are usually multiple ways to get you compensated.
Doesn't matter for the civil case.
Criminal DUI charges are separate. They require proof "beyond a reasonable doubt."
Your civil case just requires "more likely than not." Much lower standard.
Even without criminal charges, we can prove they were drunk and win your case.
Illinois has a rule: as long as you're less than 51% at fault, you can still recover.
Your award just gets reduced by your percentage of fault.
So if you're 20% at fault and awarded $100,000, you get $80,000.
Insurance companies will try to blame you for more than you deserve. I fight that hard.
Absolutely.
People feel weird about this—suing a friend or family member. But remember: you're not taking money from them personally. You're making a claim against their insurance.
And they chose to drive drunk with you in the car. They put your life at risk.
You deserve compensation.
Yes. Illinois courts have said even minimal service—just two beers—can be enough if the person was visibly intoxicated when served.
It's not about quantity. It's about whether they were showing signs of being drunk.
Not without talking to me first.
Insurance companies lowball. They offer you 10-20% of what your case is worth, hoping you'll take it before you know better.
Once you sign that release, you can never get more money. Even if you find out later your injuries are worse than you thought.
Call me before you sign anything.
Yes.
Emotional injuries are real. PTSD is real. Anxiety, depression, nightmares, fear of driving—all of that gets compensated.
I work with mental health experts who document your psychological injuries. And I make sure you're compensated for them.
Depends on the complexity.
Simple cases with clear liability might settle in 6-12 months.
Complex cases with multiple defendants or catastrophic injuries can take 18-36 months.
Cases that go to trial can take 2-3 years.
I never rush your case just to close it fast. You get one shot at this. We're going to do it right.
CALL NOW: 312-500-4500
My father got treated like garbage by his lawyer. Seventeen years of being ignored, talked down to, and jerked around.
I swore that would never happen to anyone I represent.
When you call, we answer. When you have questions, we explain things in plain English. When you're worried, we're honest with you about where your case stands.
You deserve to be treated with respect. And you will be.
I told you about the $100,000+ I've spent on advanced training.
Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College. The Edge program. Constant continuing education.
Most lawyers stop learning after law school.
I never will.
Because you deserve a lawyer who knows what the hell they're doing.
Our custom case management software. Our proprietary investigation process. The way we build cases that other firms can't match.
We discover more, earlier. We're three steps ahead of the insurance company from day one.
That means faster settlements. Better results. Less stress for you.
Call me at 312-500-4500. Any time. Day or night. Weekends. Holidays. I don't care.
Or fill out the form on my website and I'll call you back.
I want to hear everything. What happened. Where it happened. How you got hurt. What you're worried about.
I'm not rushing you. Take your time. Tell me everything.
You've got questions. About the law. About your case. About money. About timing.
I'll answer all of them. In plain English. No lawyer-speak.
If I think you have a case, I'll tell you exactly what I'll do. Who we'll sue. What evidence we'll get. What your case is worth.
If I don't think you have a case, I'll tell you that too. And I'll explain why.
Hire me or don't hire me. Your choice. No pressure.
But either way, we're going to end this conversation as friends.
Sound good? Then call me.
Find out if you have a good case, or a tough one...for free!
✓ Free case evaluation – No cost, no obligation
✓ Available 24/7/365 – Call any time, day or night
✓ No fee until we win – You pay nothing unless we recover money for you
✓ Evidence is disappearing – Surveillance footage gets deleted in 30-90 days
✓ One-year deadline for dram shop cases – Clock is ticking
✓ Maximum compensation – I fight for every dollar you deserve
One year for dram shop claims
Two years for personal injury claims
30-90 days before surveillance footage is deleted
Weeks before witnesses forget details
Months before bars destroy records
Every day you wait makes your case weaker and reduces the money you'll recover.
The drunk driver who hit you needs to be held accountable.
The bar that over-served them needs to face consequences.
The insurance companies that are trying to cheat you need to be forced to pay.
Your fight is my fight. And it starts with one phone call. 312-500-4500.
Main Office:
1000 Jorie Blvd Ste 204
Oak Brook, IL 60523
New Cases: 312-500-4500
Office: 1 312-895-0545
Fax: 1 866-629-1817
service@desalvolaw.com
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