A few months ago, I got a call from a woman who'd been hit crossing Villa Street near her apartment. She worked as a nurse at Advocate Sherman and was walking home after her shift. Some guy in a delivery truck wasn't paying attention, and boom—she's got a broken leg and can't work.
But you know what she was worried about? Not the leg. She kept asking me how she was going to pay rent. Her voice was shaking. She didn't know what to do.
I told her what I'm telling you: You're not doing this alone.
Look, when I was a kid—nine years old—my dad got catastrophically injured at work. Watching what happened to him over the next 17 years is the whole reason I became a lawyer. His lawyer didn't care. The insurance company jerked him around. And our family struggled while his case dragged on forever.
I swore that would never happen to anyone I represented.
So if you got hurt in Elgin because someone else screwed up, you need someone who actually gives a damn about you. Not someone who's going to treat you like another file number. And you shouldn't have to empty your bank account to get a good lawyer.
That's where I come in.
I handle cases all over Kane County, but Elgin's different. This isn't Chicago. It's got its own vibe, its own problems, its own way things work.
I know where the bad intersections are. Route 20 and Randall Road during rush hour is a nightmare. McLean Boulevard has some sketchy blind spots. The Walmart parking lot on Bowes Road? People drive like maniacs there. And that stretch of Route 31 by the casino gets dicey at night, especially with people leaving the bars on Villa Street after they've had too many.
I know the local facilities and infrastructure. Advocate Sherman Hospital is where most serious injuries end up. Elgin Community College has its share of pedestrian accidents. The Metra station on National Street gets crowded during rush hour. Wing Park, Fox River Trail, the downtown area along Douglas Avenue—I know these places because I work here.
More than that, I know the insurance adjusters who work this area. I know the defense lawyers in Elgin and St. Charles. They know me too. And they know I'm not some pushover who's going to take their first lowball offer just to close a case quick.
When insurance companies see a lawyer who actually knows Elgin—not just someone who threw up a website after Googling "Elgin personal injury lawyer"—they take you more seriously. They know you can't BS someone who understands the local roads, the local courts, and how things actually work here.
And I know the Kane County legal system. When cases go to trial, they're heard at the Kane County Courthouse in Geneva. I've tried dozens of cases there and know the judges, the procedures, and what works with Kane County juries. That local courtroom experience matters when your case is on the line.
Whether you got hurt in a car crash, truck accident or it involved a bicycle, bus, train or even Uber or Lyft, we work hard to get you a top settlement fast!
Workers Comp and Third Party Work Injuries are handled with the best speed and professionalism to get you a fast and full recovery for work injuries.
Fell at a business or got bit by a dog or hurt by someone who was intoxicated? We make sure all the boxes are checked in premises liability cases to get it all for our clients.
Medical errors are the third highest cause of death in the United States, and we take an aggessive, meticulous approach to these most challenging cases to win for our clients.
Nursing home cases can involve falls, mistreatment, or bad medical care, buy they always involve a betrayal of trust, and that's why we pull out all the stops to maximize results for our clients.
Elgin's on major truck routes—I've beaten big trucking companies in cases just like yours. Call us before they hide the black box data.
I handle all kinds of injury cases. Big firms only want the huge, easy cases. I'll take those, sure, but I also take cases other lawyers won't touch. Because I remember what it was like when my family needed help and couldn't get it.
Car accidents happen in Elgin every day. Someone blows through a red light at Highland and McLean. Someone misjudges merging onto I-90. A fender bender in the Grand Victoria parking lot turns into a neck injury that won't go away.
Whether you got rear-ended at a stoplight, T-boned by someone texting on Randall Road, or hit head-on by a drunk driver on Route 20, I can help.
Here's the thing with car accidents: the insurance company is going to lowball you. Every time. They're counting on you panicking about your bills and taking whatever they offer. Don't. Talk to me first.
→ Learn more about Elgin car accident cases
Elgin's on major trucking routes—Route 20, I-90, Route 31. Semitrucks everywhere, hauling freight to distribution centers all over the northwest suburbs. When one of those 80,000-pound rigs hits your car, you're in bad shape.
Truck cases are complicated. You're dealing with trucking companies, their insurance, their lawyers, cargo companies, maintenance outfits—it's a mess. These corporations have millions on the line and they fight hard.
I've gone up against big trucking companies before. I know how to get the black box data, driver logs, maintenance records. I know how to prove they violated federal regulations or pushed drivers to skip rest breaks. Their lawyers don't scare me, no matter how big their firm is.
→ Learn more about Elgin truck accident cases
I ride, so I get it. People in cars don't see motorcyclists. They cut you off. Make left turns right in front of you. Then when they hit you, they blame you for being on a bike.
If you've been hurt on a motorcycle in Elgin, you need someone who understands that bias and knows how to fight it. I've won cases for dozens of riders throughout Kane County—guys other lawyers said didn't have cases worth pursuing.
Fox River Trail, Route 20, backroads near South Elgin—doesn't matter where it happened. I can help.
Elgin's gotten more bike-friendly, but that doesn't mean it's safe. Drivers still don't respect cyclists' right to the road.
I've handled cases where cyclists got doored on Douglas Avenue, hit by cars pulling out of driveways downtown, or struck by vehicles passing too close on narrow streets.
Insurance companies love blaming the cyclist. "You shouldn't have been in the road." "You came out of nowhere." All that crap. I shut that down pretty quick.
Getting hit by a car when you're on foot is terrifying. Walking to the Metra station, crossing near Elgin Community College, heading into Jewel on Larkin Avenue—you've got rights.
These accidents cause catastrophic injuries. Broken bones, brain injuries, spinal cord damage. You need serious compensation, and I've got the experience to prove what your case is worth.
Lot of people in Elgin work manufacturing, construction, warehousing, distribution. Elgin has manufacturing facilities, warehouses on the west side, and distribution centers near the airport. Hard jobs. Injuries are common.
Back injuries from lifting, shoulder problems from repetitive motion, serious construction site accidents—you're covered under Illinois workers' comp law.
But here's what they don't tell you: you might also have a personal injury case against someone besides your employer. Work-related car accident? Defective equipment? Subcontractor's negligence? Those could be separate claims.
I look for every angle to get you all the money you deserve. Not just workers' comp, but any third-party claims too. Most lawyers don't bother. I do.
→ Read about Elgin workers' compensation cases
When you trust a doctor with your life—or your kid's life, or your parent's life—you expect them not to screw it up. But doctors make mistakes. Nurses miss things. Hospitals get sloppy.
Birth injuries at Advocate Sherman. Surgical errors. Wrong medications. Misdiagnoses that cost people their health or their lives. These cases are complicated as hell, but I work with top medical experts to prove what went wrong.
If something feels off about the care you got, trust your gut. Call me. Even if you're not sure there's a case, I'll tell you straight up.
This one kills me every time.
Putting someone you love in a nursing home is one of the hardest decisions you'll ever make. You're trusting them to take care of someone precious to you. When they don't—bedsores because staff ignored your mom, falls because nobody answered your dad's call button, wrong meds given to your grandmother—it's a betrayal that cuts deep.
If your loved one got hurt or neglected in an Elgin nursing home, call me. I've taken on these facilities before. They prioritize profits over patients, and somebody needs to hold them accountable.
Property owners have to keep their places safe. When they don't—ice on the sidewalk, broken stairs they never fixed, spills in grocery aisles, dangerous conditions they ignored—and you get hurt, they're liable.
Slip and fall cases are trickier than people think. Insurance will argue you should've seen the hazard, you wore the wrong shoes, you weren't paying attention. I know how to counter all that and prove the owner's negligence caused your fall.
→ More about Elgin slip and fall cases
Illinois is tough on dog owners. Good. If someone's dog bites you—neighbor's pit bull, relative's German shepherd, random dog that attacked you jogging near Wing Park—the owner's on the hook.
Dog bites cause serious injuries, especially for kids. Facial scars, nerve damage, infections, psychological trauma. These injuries deserve serious money, and I fight for it.
Some accidents don't just hurt you—they destroy your whole life.
Traumatic brain injuries. Spinal cord damage. Amputations. Burns. Paralysis. These aren't "get better in six weeks" injuries. These change everything forever.
And sometimes, people don't survive. Wrongful death cases are the hardest thing I do. Nothing I say or do brings your loved one back. But I can make damn sure the people responsible pay for what they did—and that your family has financial security moving forward.
If you've lost someone, or if you're facing a lifetime of disability from your injuries, you need a lawyer who's handled cases this serious before. I have. Many times. And I know how to prove what these cases are truly worth.
Illinois law gives you deadlines to file lawsuits. Miss them, and you're done. No case. No compensation. No exceptions.
Most personal injury cases: two years from the accident date. Workers' comp is different—three years to file, but you've got to notify your employer within 45 days of injury.
But waiting until the deadline is stupid. Here's why.
Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Surveillance footage gets recorded over. Accident scenes change. The longer you wait, the harder proving your case becomes.
Insurance uses delays against you. Wait six months to get a lawyer? They'll argue you weren't really hurt. "If she was hurt, why didn't she get a lawyer right away?"
Your memory fades. Details crystal clear today get fuzzy over time. I need you remembering everything while it's fresh.
Medical records get harder to collect. The longer you wait, the more scattered they become, the more likely something important gets lost.
I know you're dealing with a lot. You're in pain. Stressed about money. Trying to heal. But call me sooner rather than later. At least get a free consultation so you know where you stand. Don't let time screw you.
I'm going to be blunt: most personal injury lawyers are doing it wrong.
They take too many cases, churn them like a factory, treat clients like file numbers. They hire green associates to do the actual work. They pressure clients to settle cheap because they want quick fees.
I don't work that way. Here's why.
When my dad got hurt, his lawyer didn't return calls. Didn't explain anything. Didn't care that my dad couldn't feed his family.
Not happening on my watch.
When you call, you get me or someone who actually knows your case. Questions get answered. You know where things stand at every stage. Something changes? I tell you—no surprises.
I train my whole team that winning your case while respecting you and being there for you is our number one goal. Not "a" goal. THE goal.
I've spent over $100,000 on advanced trial training. Flown all over the country studying with the best legal minds in America. I'm a graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College—one of the most prestigious and selective trial programs in the world. Also graduated "The Edge," another elite program most lawyers never hear about.
Not one in 10,000 lawyers has my training. I didn't do it to show off. I did it so when you hire me, you're getting the absolute best.
Insurance companies know who I am. They know my reputation. They know I'm not folding when they make a lowball offer. That gets you better settlements.
My firm uses case management software I developed in-house. We've got pre-suit processes that help us discover more about your case earlier than other lawyers.
What's that mean? We beat insurance to the punch. We settle faster and get better results. You get paid sooner.
Most lawyers use outdated systems and wing it. I've invested serious money building something better—for you.
You can listen to me all day, but what matters is what people I've represented say.
Richard, a cab driver in a fall case, wrote: "Hiring Scott was one of the best moves I have made in my life. 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."
Geannine, after a car crash: "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."
Lisa, hit as a pedestrian: "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."
Real reviews, written in their own handwriting, on file in my office. You can come see them.
Why do clients write these? Because I treat them how I wish someone treated my father. With respect. Honesty. Compassion. And legal skill most lawyers don't even attempt.
Nothing out of pocket. I work contingency—don't get paid unless I win. Workers' comp is 20% (set by law). Personal injury is 33 1/3% to 40%, depending on whether we go to trial. Standard rates.
I advance all case costs—filing fees, medical records, expert witnesses, everything. We lose? You don't pay me back. We win? Costs come out of your settlement after my fee.
Depends. I've settled cases in months. Some take a couple years if we go to trial.
I push every case hard because you don't get paid waiting, and neither do I. But I won't pressure you to take a bad settlement just to close quick. Some cases need time, especially if you're still treating.
I'll give you a realistic timeline once I know your case.
Nah. I represent people all the time who talked to insurance before hiring me. Sometimes I can fix it. Sometimes it hurts. Depends what you said.
Call me now so I can figure out the damage and what we need to do.
Not an issue. We just have to be honest about your medical condition before the accident. Illinois law lets us claim "exacerbation of pre-existing condition"—your existing problem got worse because of this accident.
Insurance will find out about prior injuries anyway. Honesty's the best policy from the start.
Yep. If you're unhappy with your current lawyer, you can switch. I don't badmouth other lawyers—that's cheesy and unethical—but if you've already decided to fire yours, I'm happy to talk about taking over.
You won't pay double fees. I work it out with your old lawyer, or if we can't agree, the court divides it. You pay the same as if you'd only hired me.
Maybe 2-3 times for depositions and hearings. If we actually go to trial, you're there the whole time.
Good news: most cases settle. About 90% of mine resolve through negotiation. Insurance knows I'll go to trial if they don't make a fair offer, and that usually motivates them.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
If you're looking for help with a specific type of case in Elgin, we have detailed information on:
Each page has specific information about how these cases work in Elgin and Kane County.
If you got hurt in Elgin—doesn't matter how, doesn't matter if you think you've got a case—call me.
Free consultation. Zero pressure. We'll talk like friends. I'll listen, answer questions, tell you honestly what I think.
Maybe you've got a huge case. Maybe you don't have one at all. Either way, you deserve to know so you can make an informed decision.
You didn't ask to get hurt. Didn't ask for medical bills, lost wages, pain, or dealing with insurance companies. But now that it happened, you need someone in your corner who knows how to fight.
That's me.
Been doing this since 1998. Over 30 jury trials. Millions recovered for clients. Built my whole practice on one principle: treat injured people how I wish someone treated my father.
Your fight is my fight.
Call me right now. Day or night, 24/7/365. I'm here.
No money out of pocket. No fee until we win. Free consultation anytime.
Car crash on Route 20, hurt at work, fell at a business downtown, or any other accident—I want to hear from you.
Let's get you the money you deserve and the respect you're entitled to.
Call Scott DeSalvo—your Elgin personal injury lawyer.
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
Chicago and Other Suburban Offices
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