I'll never forget when I was nine years old and my father, a truck driver and Teamster, was catastrophically injured at work. He was still a young man. But that injury took everything from him—his ability to work, his livelihood, everything. His case dragged on for 17 years. Seventeen years! And at the end of it all, his own lawyer sued him for more fees. That's when I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

That's why I became a personal injury attorney in Chicago. I've spent almost 30 years making sure what happened to my father NEVER happens to you or your family. Whether you've been hurt in a car crash on Lake Shore Drive, injured at a construction site in Bridgeport, or suffered because of a doctor's mistake at one of our hospitals, I'm here to fight for you.

Here's my promise: no money out of pocket. Zero. You don't pay me a penny unless I win your case. And I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—because injuries don't wait for business hours, and neither should your lawyer.

I've spent over $100,000 on advanced trial training that most lawyers never even consider. I'm a graduate of the world-renowned Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer's College and the prestigious "The Edge" program. Not one in 100,000 lawyers has completed the training I have.

And I did it for one reason: so YOU get the very best representation possible. Your fight is my fight.

Auto Accident Cases Across Chicago

Look, Chicago's streets and expressways are dangerous. I've handled thousands of car crashes—from multi-car pileups on the Kennedy to intersection collisions in Lincoln Park, from the Dan Ryan to Lake Shore Drive. Whether you've been hit by a car, truck, motorcycle, or even a CTA bus or Metra train, I know these cases inside and out.

Here's what most people don't know: Illinois is a fault-based state. That means the person who caused the crash should pay. But insurance companies? They'll do everything possible to pay you nothing or as little as they can get away with. I've spent almost 30 years dealing with every major insurer in Chicago, and I know all their tricks.

I handle all types of vehicle accidents:

• Car and truck accidents on Chicago expressways and city streets
• Motorcycle and bicycle accidents, especially along lakefront routes
• Pedestrian accidents in busy areas like the Loop and Magnificent Mile
• Rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers
• Public transportation accidents on CTA buses and trains

After a crash, you're dealing with medical bills, vehicle damage, missed work, and pain. Meanwhile, the insurance company is pressuring you to settle fast for pennies on the dollar. That's where I come in. I handle the legal battle while you focus on getting better. And remember: you pay nothing out of pocket. No fee unless we win.

(Read More Avout Auto Accident Injury Cases)

Work Injury and Workers' Compensation Claims

My father was a truck driver who got catastrophically injured at work. That injury changed everything for our family. So trust me when I say I understand what you're going through if you've been hurt on the job.

If you've been injured at work in Chicago—whether you're a construction worker building our skyline, a warehouse employee, a factory worker, or anything else—you have rights under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act. But here's the problem: insurance companies will deny your benefits unless you get a lawyer involved. I've seen it a thousand times.

I handle all types of work injuries:

• Construction accidents including falls, equipment failures, and scaffolding collapses
• Industrial accidents in manufacturing facilities and warehouses throughout Chicago
• Injuries from defective machinery or lack of proper safety equipment
• Cases where someone other than your employer caused your injury

Here's something most injured workers don't know: if a third party (not your employer) caused your injury, you might have a personal injury case ON TOP OF your workers' comp claim. For example, if defective equipment hurt you, you might be able to sue the manufacturer. These third-party cases can be worth a lot more money than workers' comp alone.

Workers' comp should be straightforward: you get hurt, you get benefits. But it's rarely that simple. Claims get denied. Benefits get delayed. You're stuck at home, can't work, and the bills keep piling up.

That's where I come in to fight for you.

(Read More About Work Injury Cases)

Medical Negligence and Malpractice Claims

Chicago has some of the best hospitals in the country. But doctors aren't perfect. And when they make mistakes—mistakes they've been trained to avoid—people suffer. Sometimes catastrophically.

I've represented families across Chicago who've been hurt by preventable medical errors. Birth injuries that change a child's life forever. Surgical mistakes that cause permanent damage. Missed diagnoses that turn treatable conditions into death sentences. These cases are personal, and they're heartbreaking.

Medical malpractice cases are complicated. Really complicated. You're going up against powerful hospital systems, big insurance companies, and teams of defense lawyers. But I've spent almost 30 years and over $100,000 on advanced trial training so I can take on these cases and win.

My medical negligence practice includes:

• Birth injuries and labor and delivery complications that should never have happened
• Surgical errors including wrong-site surgery, anesthesia mistakes, and post-operative infections
• Medication errors like wrong dosages, incorrect prescriptions, or dangerous drug interactions
• Missed or delayed diagnoses—cancer, heart disease, strokes that could have been caught
• Hospital negligence including inadequate monitoring or understaffing

Here's the truth: these cases take time, resources, and expert witnesses. Most lawyers won't touch them. But that's exactly why my no-fee-until-we-win promise matters. You get experienced, aggressive representation without any financial risk. If your doctor was a jerk and ruined your health, you deserve justice.

(Learn More About Medical Negligence Cases)

Premises Liability: When Property Owners Fail to Keep You Safe

Property owners in Chicago have a responsibility to keep their premises safe. Whether it's a store on Michigan Avenue, a restaurant in River North, or an apartment building in Wicker Park, if they let dangerous conditions exist and you get hurt, they need to pay.

I've handled hundreds of fall down cases—slip and falls, trip and falls, you name it. And believe it or not, these cases can be MORE complicated than car accidents. The earlier you call me, the better, because evidence disappears fast. Store owners "fix" the problem. Witnesses forget what they saw. That's why you need a Chicago injury lawyer who knows what they're doing and has a proven track record.

Common premises liability cases I handle:

• Slip and fall accidents from wet floors, uneven surfaces, or Chicago's winter ice and snow
• Trip and fall incidents from broken sidewalks, torn carpeting, or cluttered walkways
• Dog bite attacks—especially when owners knew their dog was dangerous
• Inadequate security cases where you're assaulted because the property owner was negligent
• Injuries at stores and restaurants from falling merchandise, defective chairs, unsafe conditions
• Alcohol-related injuries at bars that overserve patrons

Chicago winters make these cases especially common. Property owners MUST clear snow and ice. When they don't, people get seriously hurt. I've represented many clients who slipped on icy sidewalks outside businesses that didn't take winter maintenance seriously.

If you've been hurt on someone else's property, don't let them blame you for their negligence. Call me.

(Learn More About Premises Liability Injury Cases Here)

Catastrophic Injuries: Fighting for Maximum Compensation

Some injuries change everything. Forever. A traumatic brain injury. Spinal cord damage. Wrongful death. These aren't just legal cases—they're about your family's entire future.

My father's injury took everything from him. His ability to work. His livelihood. Everything. I watched what that did to our family. We grew up poor once my father could no longer work. So when I take on a catastrophic injury case, I understand what's at stake. This isn't just about money—it's about securing your family's future when your world has been turned upside down.

I work with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to calculate the TRUE cost of your injury. Not just today's medical bills, but a lifetime of care, lost wages, pain and suffering—everything. Because insurance companies will fight like hell to pay you as little as possible.

My catastrophic injury practice includes:

• Wrongful death claims when negligence kills someone you love, leaving your family with grief AND financial devastation
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) causing cognitive problems, personality changes, or permanent disability
• Spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis, loss of mobility, or chronic pain requiring lifelong care
• Serious chronic pain conditions that prevent you from working or living your life
• Emotional and psychiatric injuries including PTSD, severe anxiety, and depression from traumatic events

These cases can be worth millions of dollars. And the insurance companies know it. They'll hire armies of lawyers and experts to minimize your injuries. That's why you need a Chicago personal injury attorney who won't back down and won't settle for less than you deserve.

(Learn More About Catastrophic Injury and Death Cases Here)

World-Class Training That Sets Me Apart

I've spent over $100,000 on advanced settlement and trial training that most other lawyers never even consider doing. I'm a graduate of the world-renowned Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer's College and the prestigious "The Edge" program. Not one in 100,000 lawyers has completed the training I have. I fly all over the country every year—spending thousands of dollars and dozens of hours—learning the latest trial techniques.

Why?

So YOU get the very best, most cutting-edge representation possible.

How I'm Different: Three Principles of Excellent Representation

Principle #1: Treat All Injury Victims Like Family

People who've been injured deserve to have their phone calls answered. They deserve a lawyer they like, trust, and respect. You deserve to know where your case stands and have your questions answered. Everyone on my team understands that winning your case while helping you and being there for you is our #1 goal. Because I remember what happened to my father—how his lawyers treated him like garbage. That will NEVER happen with me.

Principle #2: World-Class Legal Ability

In order to get every dollar you deserve, whether at settlement or trial, I've studied with the "best of the best." My advanced training gives you representation that's simply not available from most other lawyers.

Principle #3: Proprietary Case Processing = Fast & Excellent Results

From our in-house developed automated case management software to our proprietary pre-suit case process, my firm discovers more about your case, earlier. We beat the insurance company to the punch. That means better results and faster settlements for all of my injury clients, no matter how they got hurt.

Real Results for Real People

I've helped hundreds of Chicago families recover millions of dollars. Construction workers. Nurses. Delivery drivers. Families who lost loved ones. Each case is unique, but they all share one thing: people who trusted me to fight for them when they needed it most.

Available 24/7/365—Because Injuries Don't Wait

Injuries don't happen on a schedule. That middle-of-the-night car accident. The weekend slip and fall. The holiday workplace injury. That's why I offer free consultations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call anytime, and get the legal guidance you need without delay.

Get the Help You Deserve—No Risk, No Money Out of Pocket

Look, if you've been injured in Chicago, you're dealing with enough stress already. Medical bills. Lost wages. Pain. Wondering if you'll fully recover. The LAST thing you need is worrying about lawyer fees you can't afford.

That's why I work on a contingency fee. You pay nothing out of pocket. Zero. I only get paid when YOU get paid. If we don't win, you don't owe me a penny. Not a dime.

I even advance all the case costs—getting medical records, filing lawsuits, paying for expert witnesses. All of it. You never have any out-of-pocket costs to work with me.

Here's How a Free Consultation Works:

It's easy and zero pressure. I never chase clients. I never hustle and harass people. We talk like friends.

Here's what happens:

• You call for free (or I can call you at (312)-500-4500)
• I listen to your story
• I answer your questions and concerns
• I tell you my plan for your case
• You can hire me or not hire me—your choice
• Either way, we end up as friends

Sound good?

Call Anytime—Day or Night

I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Because when you're injured, you can't wait for business hours. Call me at (312)-500-4500 anytime.

Of course, I visit my clients all over Chicago and the suburbs. We can meet at your home or at a local restaurant. Really, anywhere you feel comfortable.

Personal Injury Lawyer Serving All of Chicago and Surrounding Areas

I proudly represent injury victims throughout Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area—from the North Side to the South Side, from Loop office workers to construction crews in Bridgeport, and throughout all of Cook County, DuPage and Will Counties.

Don't wait. Illinois has strict deadlines for filing injury claims. Most injury cases have a 2-year statute of limitations. For Workers' Compensation, it's 3 years, but you must notify your job within 45 days. If you blow this deadline, your case could be over for good.

The sooner you call, the sooner I can start protecting your rights and building your case.

Remember my promise: No money out of pocket. No fee until we win. Available 24/7/365.

Contact Personal Injury Attorney Scott DeSalvo today at (312)-500-4500.

I look forward to hearing from you and learning about your injury and what I can do to help.