I'm Scott DeSalvo. Here's a fact that surprises almost every Aurora resident I talk to: Aurora is the only major city in Illinois that sits across FOUR different counties. Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will. Depending on which block your accident happened on, your case could end up in St. Charles, Wheaton, Yorkville, or Joliet — four different courthouses, four different jury pools, four different sets of local rules, and four very different case values.
Get it wrong and your case gets dismissed before it starts. Get it right and you pick the courthouse where your case is worth the most. Most lawyers don't think this through. I do.
Most of Aurora is in Kane County, but significant chunks reach into DuPage (northeast corner), Kendall (far southwest), and Will (south). Route 59, the biggest commercial strip in town, crosses multiple county lines. A crash on Route 59 at Ogden is Kane or DuPage depending which side of the intersection. Route 34 and Indian Trail cross lines the same way. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-101, proper venue is any county where the accident happened OR where any defendant resides. If the other driver lives in Cook County, you can sometimes file there. Cook County juries historically return higher verdicts. That single strategic decision can change case value by 30% or more.
The other driver is obvious but rarely the only answer. Was the other driver working? Their employer is on the hook under respondeat superior, and business policies are much larger. Company-owned vehicle? That brings the commercial auto carrier. Drunk driver? Under the Illinois Dram Shop Act, the bar or restaurant may have exposure. Road defect? IDOT or the municipality may be liable under the Tort Immunity Act, though notice deadlines are very short. The biggest mistakes I see are lawyers who file against the driver only and leave hundreds of thousands in other policies on the table.
Three plays. First, call you before you've had time to think and try to get a recorded statement or quick settlement. Second, tell you the ER visit is 'the only medical care you need' and refuse to authorize follow-up. Third, file a declaratory judgment action in a defense-friendly county hoping you won't fight the venue issue. Each is a trap, each has a specific counter-move. Aurora cases need a lawyer who understands local court culture — Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will each have procedural quirks.
Most personal injury lawyers settle every case. They don't try them. Insurance companies know exactly who those lawyers are and price settlements accordingly — low, because they know the lawyer won't go to trial. I trained at Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers College and the Keenan Trial Institute specifically to be trial-ready on every case. Insurance carriers track plaintiffs' lawyers. They know who goes to verdict and who takes the first reasonable offer. That knowledge shapes every settlement number.
"Scott is absolutely fantastic. He will always go the extra mile for his clients. They always take the time to return phone calls at all hours and I highly recommend him to all my friends."
-Melissa Brooks
"Great people and Scott's a great lawyer. They helped me make the wisest decision for my case, and that's important in serious legal matters. I trust him completely. He is the one to call."
-Tony Skvarenina
"Beyond satisfied with the services I received from this law firm. Definitely recommend! They got me fully paid and all the doctor bills, too. If you want the best, this is the law firm for your injury case!"
-Cynthia Rodriguez
"Scott represented me and I was really pleased with everything, my car accident paid a lot and quick. If you want a good Lawyer who is responsive, and straight with you, I highly recommend him."
-Greg Garcia
Illinois law gives crash victims the right to recover past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, disability, disfigurement, scarring, and property damage. Punitive damages may be available for drunk or reckless drivers. Family members may have separate loss-of-consortium claims. Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora treats most local crash victims, charges substantial bills, and asserts hospital liens under the Health Care Lien Act. How those liens get negotiated affects your final take-home.
Call 312-500-4500. I answer personally, day or night. Tell me the intersection, who hit you, what hospital you went to. I'll walk you through the four-county venue analysis in five minutes and tell you which courthouse gives your case the best shot. Bilingual staff available. Nothing out of pocket. No fee unless we win.
Depends exactly where in Aurora. Most is in Kane County (courthouse in St. Charles), but the northeast sits in DuPage (Wheaton), the far southwest in Kendall (Yorkville), and the south in Will (Joliet). Under 735 ILCS 5/2-101, venue is proper in any county where the accident happened or where any defendant lives. If the other driver lives in Cook, you may be able to file there — usually the most plaintiff-friendly venue.
Rush-Copley Medical Center on Weston Avenue is the primary trauma and emergency facility for Aurora. For the most serious injuries, paramedics may transport you to Northwestern Delnor in Geneva or a Level I trauma center in Chicago. Rush-Copley charges high rates and files hospital liens under the Health Care Lien Act.
Yes. We have bilingual staff and handle Spanish-speaking clients all the time. If Spanish is your first language, we communicate in Spanish throughout the entire case and I can have every document explained in Spanish before you sign anything.
Fault is determined the same way regardless of county — by the facts, the police report, witness statements, physical evidence. What changes is which court applies and what jury sees the case. The legal standard (Illinois comparative negligence, 51% bar) is uniform, but real-world application varies.
Two years from the date of the accident under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Shorter for claims against government entities like IDOT or the city of Aurora, where you may need to give notice within one year. Don't wait. Free consultation 24/7 at 312-500-4500.
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
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