When you get hurt on someone else's property, you probably don't think you have a case. Most people don't. They think it was their fault or just bad luck.
I get calls all the time from people who say things like, "Scott, I slipped on some ice outside a store, but I probably should've been more careful." And I have to stop them right there because that's not how this works.
Property owners in Chicago have responsibilities. They're supposed to keep their places safe. When they don't, and you get hurt because of it, that's on them.
Last month I met with this woman from River North. She slipped on black ice outside a restaurant. Broke her wrist pretty bad. Turns out the owner knew that ice was there for three days. Never put salt down. Not once. When she called me, she felt embarrassed. Like somehow she was at fault for not seeing ice on a dark sidewalk at night.
We got her a good settlement. Covered her medical bills, the two months of work she missed, and then some for everything she went through.
That's what I do. I hold property owners accountable when their carelessness hurts people.
Here's what you need to know right now: you don't pay me anything unless we win. Nothing out of pocket. And I really am available 24/7. I mean it. Call me at 312-500-4500 any time—middle of the night, weekend, whenever. You've got enough to worry about. Let me handle this part.
Lawyers call these "premises liability" cases, but let's just use plain English.
You got hurt on someone else's property because they let something dangerous exist there. That's it. That's the case.
In Chicago, property owners have a legal duty to keep their places reasonably safe. There's actually a law in Illinois about this—the Premises Liability Act (740 ILCS 130/). It says owners have to exercise reasonable care for people who are legally on their property.
These cases happen everywhere. Someone's house. A grocery store. Your apartment building. A parking lot. Restaurants. Office buildings. Even sidewalks that businesses are supposed to maintain.
This is what most people think of first:
These are a little different:
These cases really get to me:
When owners just don't maintain their property:
Some really scary stuff:
Especially in summer:
Whether at someone's home or a business.
Chicago winters create their own problems. Property owners who don't clear ice and snow off their sidewalks and parking lots? They're basically setting up accidents waiting to happen. I've represented so many people who got hurt in winter falls that could've been prevented if someone had just done their job.
Property owners have responsibilities. But some of them cut corners to save money, and regular people end up getting hurt. It happens all the time.
Broken stairs. Cracked sidewalks. Loose handrails. Damaged floors. Once they know about it, they need to fix it. But a lot of them just don't.
Dark stairwells. Parking garages where you can't see anything. Hallways with burnt-out bulbs. Chicago has building codes about this stuff, but plenty of owners ignore them because maintaining lights costs money.
Even in areas where crime is a known problem, some owners refuse to install cameras, hire security, fix locks, or add proper lighting. Then someone gets attacked and they act surprised.
When something spills, it needs to get cleaned up right away. When there's a hazard, there needs to be a warning sign. But some owners just let hazards sit there.
Chicago's Municipal Code (Title 14B) spells out how buildings need to be maintained. When owners violate these codes and someone gets hurt, that's the foundation of your case.
Chicago law (Section 7-28-190) says property owners need to remove snow and ice from sidewalks within a reasonable time. Sounds basic, right? But you'd be shocked how many don't do it.
When property owners decide money matters more than safety, people like you get hurt. That's when I step in. I figure out what happened, gather proof of their negligence, and build your case.
If you got hurt on someone else's property, Illinois law says you can recover money for your losses. Both the stuff you can measure and the stuff you can't.
Everything:
This covers:
Things like:
Money for the physical pain and limitations.
Compensation for anxiety, depression, PTSD, fear—all the mental health stuff that comes with getting hurt.
When you can't do things you used to love. Playing with your kids. Your hobbies. Normal everyday activities.
Permanent visible injuries get additional compensation.
When someone dies from their injuries, their family can recover:
Illinois law (740 ILCS 180/2) gives you two years from the death to file.
Let me give you real numbers. In Cook County, according to VerdictSearch, these cases settle anywhere from a few thousand to tens of millions. The average is about $1.9 million. The median is around $225,000.
Big range, right? That's because every case is different.
Here are some I've handled:
What determines the value? How badly you were hurt. How clear the negligence was. What evidence we have. A bunch of factors.
But here's what I promise: I fight for every dollar you deserve. And you don't pay me unless we win.
Most of these injuries come from hazards property owners should've fixed but didn't:
Chicago Winters
Our winters are no joke. Ice and snow that doesn't get cleared causes thousands of falls every year. Property owners know winter is coming. They just don't always prepare for it.
Wet Floors
No warning signs. Recently mopped areas. Spills that sit there for hours. All easily preventable.
Poor Lighting
Dark stairwells. Parking areas where you can't see. Broken exterior lights. This increases both accidents and crime.
Structural Problems
Broken handrails. Damaged stairs. Uneven floors. Crumbling concrete. Chicago building codes exist for a reason.
Bad Security
Apartment buildings, bars, shopping areas—when they don't provide adequate security, people get hurt.
Hidden Hazards
Construction debris. Unmarked holes. Sudden elevation changes. Things people can't see coming.
Broken Bones
Falls break wrists, arms, hips, ankles, legs. Many need surgery and months of recovery.
Head Injuries
Hit your head and you can end up with a concussion, skull fracture, or permanent brain damage. Brain injuries change everything about who you are.
Spinal Cord Damage
Bad falls can damage your spine. This can mean paralysis, chronic pain, permanent disability.
Burns
From fires, explosions, or heating systems. Can require skin grafts and leave permanent scars.
Soft Tissue Damage
Deep cuts, torn ligaments, muscle damage. Often need surgery and lots of physical therapy.
Death
The worst cases. When unsafe conditions kill someone.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
To win your case, we need to prove four things:
The property owner had a legal duty to keep the place reasonably safe. Under Illinois law, they owe this to anyone legally on their property.
The owner messed up. They knew about a hazard and didn't fix it. They failed to inspect. They ignored building codes. They didn't warn you about a known danger.
Their mistake directly led to you getting hurt. If they'd done what they were supposed to, you wouldn't be injured.
You actually got hurt and have losses—medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.
There's an Illinois Supreme Court case from 1998, LaFever v. Kemlite Co., that made it clear property owners have to keep their places reasonably safe.
Here's how I prove all this:
Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/13-202) gives you two years from your injury date to file a lawsuit.
Miss that deadline and you're done. No case. No money. Nothing.
But evidence disappears way before two years:
Don't wait. Call me at 312-500-4500 today. The sooner we start, the better your case.
It's not always just the property owner:
Property Owners and Landlords - They have the main responsibility.
Property Management Companies - If they're managing the building, they share liability.
Business Tenants - If a restaurant or store rents the space, they're liable for their area.
Maintenance Companies - If their bad work contributed to your injury, they're liable too.
Security Companies - If they provided inadequate security, they can be held responsible.
Finding everyone who shares responsibility is important because it means more insurance coverage and potentially more money for you. I dig into every angle.
That nice adjuster who calls you? They don't work for you. They work for the insurance company. Their job is to pay as little as possible.
What they do:
Without someone on this immediately:
These cases involve complicated laws, Chicago building codes, inspection requirements, procedures. One mistake can kill your case.
You've got enough to deal with. Let me handle the legal stuff while you focus on getting better.
I've handled cases all over:
Apartment Buildings - Unsafe stairs, bad security, carbon monoxide, lead paint.
Stores - Magnificent Mile, State Street—slips, falls, things falling on people.
Restaurants and Bars - River North, Wicker Park—wet floors, dim lighting, security problems.
Office Buildings - The Loop, Fulton Market—elevator problems, bad maintenance.
Parking Garages - Everywhere—bad lighting, ice, no security, structural issues.
Hotels - Downtown, O'Hare area—slips, pool accidents, security failures.
CTA and Metra - Slippery platforms, broken escalators, poor lighting.
Parks - Park District places—no supervision, broken equipment, poor maintenance.
Doesn't matter where in Chicago it happened. I can help.
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.
Even if you feel okay. Some injuries don't show up right away. And you need medical records documenting what happened.
Tell the property owner or manager. Get them to write an incident report. Get a copy.
Don't wash them. Don't throw them away. They're evidence.
Insurance adjusters will ask. Politely say you're talking to a lawyer first.
Insurance companies watch this. Anything you post can be used against you.
The sooner you call, the sooner I can protect your rights.
Free Consultation - We talk about what happened. No cost. No obligation.
Investigation - I immediately start gathering evidence before it disappears.
Medical Documentation - I make sure everything about your injuries gets documented properly.
Negotiation - I handle the insurance company. I know their games.
Litigation If Needed - If they won't be reasonable, I'll take them to court. I don't back down.
You Stay Informed - I keep you updated. I return calls. I explain things in plain English.
No Money Unless We Win - You don't pay me unless we recover money for you.
Nothing upfront. I only get paid if you get paid. My fee comes from your settlement. If we lose, you owe nothing. Consultation is free.
You can still recover money in Illinois as long as you're less than 51% at fault. Your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still win.
Just because something might seem obvious doesn't automatically kill your case. Property owners still have responsibilities. I've successfully fought this defense many times.
Depends. Some cases settle in months. Others take a year or two. Depends on your injuries, the evidence, and whether the insurance company will negotiate fairly. I work efficiently but I never rush and hurt your case.
Government cases have special rules and shorter deadlines. I've handled these before. Call me right away if it was on city, county, state, or federal property.
Most cases settle. Insurance companies usually prefer settling to risking what a jury might award. But if they won't be fair, I'm ready to go to trial.
Find out if you have a good case, or a tough one...for free!
When I was nine, my dad got catastrophically injured at work. He was a truck driver, a Teamster. That injury destroyed everything for him. His ability to work. His health. Everything.
He hired the wrong law firm. They were rude. Didn't explain things. Didn't pursue all his options. His case took 17 years. At the end, his own lawyer sued him for more money from his settlement.
We grew up poor after my dad couldn't work.
I worked through high school, put myself through college and law school with one goal: making sure what happened to my family never happens to yours.
That's why I started this firm. To help regular people. So injury victims don't get screwed by the system, insurance companies, and lawyers who only care about themselves.
I only represent injured people. Never insurance companies. Never.
I take cases other lawyers won't touch. Why? Because I haven't just dedicated my firm to this—I've dedicated my life to it.
Every year I spend thousands of dollars flying around the country learning the latest trial techniques. I'm a graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College. I'm a graduate of "The Edge" program. Not one in 10,000 lawyers has this training.
Why? So you get the absolute best representation possible.
Your fight is my fight. That's not a slogan. That's how I live.
If you got hurt on someone else's property in Chicago, you have rights.
Time matters. Illinois has strict deadlines. Evidence disappears. Every day makes your case harder.
Call me at 312-500-4500. I'm available 24/7/365. I mean it.
I help people all over Chicago—every neighborhood, every suburb.
Call Scott DeSalvo at 312-500-4500 any time.
Let's fight for what you deserve.
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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