Lockport Car Accident Lawyer Asks:
Did You Get Injured?
Call The Lockport Car Accident Lawyer ANY TIME!
312-500-4500
"My Injury Guy" Scott DeSalvo
Trial-Trained Car Accident Lawyer for Lockport & Will County
Most Lockport car accidents don't make the news. They happen at a red light on State Street, at a turn onto 159th Street, or in a line of cars waiting for a freight train to clear a crossing.
In 2022, IDOT counted 405 crashes in Lockport. About a third were rear-end crashes, 90 involved a turning vehicle, 95 people were injured, and five people died. Those are everyday crashes on everyday roads, and they hurt real people.
Here's the problem: insurance companies treat "everyday" crashes as small claims. They assume you'll take a quick check because the damage to your car doesn't look dramatic. Meanwhile, your neck, back, or shoulder is telling a different story.
I'm Scott DeSalvo. I've handled injury cases for almost 30 years, and I live in Homer Glen, a few minutes up Route 7. If you were hurt in a crash in Lockport, I'll make sure the insurance company values your injuries, not just your bumper. (If your injury wasn't from a crash, see my Lockport personal injury attorney page.)
You pay nothing out of pocket, and there's no fee unless we win. Call me any time at 312-500-4500.
When I was nine, my father, a truck driver and Teamster, was badly hurt at work. His lawyer ignored him for years, dragged his case out for seventeen of them, and then sued him for more fees.
I know what it's like to watch someone you love wait on a lawyer who doesn't care. So when you call me after a crash, you'll get a real conversation and a real plan.
Free. Not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by this chat. Prefer to talk? Call (312) 500-4500, answered 24/7.
Lockport's traffic squeezes through an old canal town with a river, a canal, and railroad tracks running through it. That shapes the crashes I see.
Route 171 (State Street) runs through downtown, Route 7 (159th Street) heads east toward Homer Glen and I-355, and Route 53 runs along the west side. The Route 53 and Route 7 intersection recently went through more than a year of IDOT reconstruction for new turn lanes and signals. Heavy, concentrated traffic is why rear-end and turning crashes lead Lockport's numbers.
Lockport has 11 railroad crossings, and Metra's Heritage Corridor runs through downtown. When a train blocks a crossing, lines of stopped cars form quickly, and drivers who aren't paying attention plow into the car in front. When a crossing signal fails, the railroad itself may be responsible.
Illinois law requires drivers to stop when crossing gates are down, signals are flashing, or a train is approaching, and forbids driving around lowered gates (625 ILCS 5/11-1201). If a driver ignored those rules and caused your crash, that violation is strong evidence of fault.
Bottom Line: In Lockport, a crash at or near a rail crossing can bring in parties most people never think to look at.
The most common crash in Lockport. Even at low speed, a rear-end crash can cause whiplash, herniated discs, and concussions. I gather the medical proof that connects your injuries to the crash.
Turning crashes on Route 7, State Street, and Route 53 often cause serious side-impact injuries. I use the scene, witnesses, and vehicle data to prove who had the right of way.
Highway-speed crashes on I-355 near Lockport often involve multiple vehicles and serious injuries. For crashes involving a semi, see my truck accident lawyer page.
Downtown Lockport and the I&M Canal Trail draw walkers and cyclists. When a driver hits someone on foot or on a bike, the injuries are often severe.
Picture this. You're stopped on State Street, waiting for a freight train to pass. The driver behind you is looking at a phone and never slows down. Your car is pushed into the car ahead. Two days later, you can barely turn your head. The adjuster says it was a "minor" crash and offers enough to cover your ER bill.
That offer ignores your physical therapy, your missed work, and the months of pain still ahead.
Look, the insurance company's playbook for everyday crashes is predictable:
Here's what most lawyers won't tell you: many "minor" crash cases get settled cheap because nobody bothers to connect the medical records to the crash. A doctor's clear opinion that the crash caused or worsened your injury can change the value of your case completely.
Bottom Line: The size of the dent doesn't decide the size of your injury.
Most car accident cases settle, and that's usually what's best for you: fair money, without years of waiting.
What moves insurers to pay fairly is knowing your lawyer is ready for trial. I'm a graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers College and the exclusive Keenan Trial Institute, and I've invested more than $100,000 in advanced trial training. I've tried more than 30 jury trials. Insurance adjusters see that and adjust their numbers.
Nothing up front. I advance the costs of your case, and my fee comes only from what I recover. The FAQ lists the percentages.
Illinois doesn't cap pain and suffering in car accident cases. And even if you were partly at fault, you can recover as long as you were 50% or less responsible.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
It starts with a free call. I'll listen and tell you honestly whether you have a case.
If you hire me, I gather the police report, photos, video, medical records, and insurance information while you focus on getting better. When your treatment is done, I send a full demand. Most cases settle at this stage. If yours doesn't, I file in the Circuit Court of Will County in Joliet and keep pushing. My fee comes out of the recovery.
Hurt in a Lockport crash? Call me day or night at 312-500-4500.
Evidence fades fast, and the insurance company has already started working on its side of the story. Call me for a free consultation, 24/7/365. No money out of pocket. No fee unless we win.
Nearest office: The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, LLC, 116 N Chicago St, Suite 301 - Kendall, Joliet, IL 60432, about 15 minutes from Lockport. Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and by appointment.
Call me now: 312-500-4500
Nothing up front. I handle car accident cases on contingency, so you pay no money out of pocket and my fee comes only from what I recover. The fee is 33⅓% for most injury cases and 40% if a lawsuit has to be filed. I advance the costs of building your case. If we don't win, you owe no fee. Call 24/7/365 at 312-500-4500 for a free consultation.
You may. Vehicle damage and injury don't always line up. Modern bumpers are designed to absorb impact without visible damage, while the force still travels to the people inside. Insurers use "low impact" arguments to deny claims, but medical records, imaging, and your doctor's opinion about what caused your injuries are what count. Get checked out and keep your treatment consistent.
If a crossing signal or gate malfunctioned and contributed to your crash, the railroad that maintains it may be responsible. Railroads keep maintenance and inspection records, and many crossings have event recorders that log when signals activated. That evidence must be requested quickly. Railroad cases are complicated, so talk to a lawyer early.
In Illinois, most car accident injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash (735 ILCS 5/13-202). If a city, township, or county vehicle or road was involved, the deadline is often one year (745 ILCS 10/8-101). Property damage claims have a five-year deadline. Don't wait.
You can give basic facts like your name and the date of the crash, but you shouldn't give a recorded statement or discuss your injuries. Adjusters are trained to get you to minimize your pain or accept part of the blame. Let your lawyer handle those conversations.
In the Circuit Court of Will County, at the courthouse at 100 W. Jefferson Street in Joliet, about 15 minutes from Lockport. Most cases settle before trial, and I handle all the court work if a lawsuit is needed.
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
Oak Brook - 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
Joliet Office
116 N. Chicago Street
Suite 301 – Kendall Office
Joliet, IL 60432
312-500-4500
