When life takes an unexpected turn in Joliet and you need a lawyer who genuinely fights for working families, you've found the right place. As a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney with over 27 years fighting insurance companies throughout Will County, I've built my entire practice on one principle: regular people deserve the same aggressive legal representation that corporations get. Whether you were injured at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Route 30, hurt on the job at one of the warehouses near I-80, or suffered harm because of someone else's negligence anywhere in the Joliet area, choosing the right Joliet Personal Injury Attorney means the difference between accepting whatever crumbs the insurance company offers and actually getting the full compensation you deserve.
Let me tell you about my father.
When I was nine years old, he worked as a truck driver and Teamster. Strong guy. Never complained about anything. Then one day at work, something terrible happened—an accident that left him with permanent injuries to his neck, back, and spine.
He was never the same after that day.
But here's what really destroyed our family: the lawyer he hired treated him terribly. These people were rude, didn't explain anything, and worst of all, they left money on the table that should have gone to us. His case dragged on for seventeen years—seventeen years of uncertainty and stress—and at the end of it all, his own lawyer sued him for additional fees.
We grew up poor after my dad couldn't work anymore.
I watched my mom struggle to keep food on the table. I watched my dad suffer, not just from his physical injuries, but from the betrayal of a legal system that was supposed to help him but instead took advantage of him when he was most vulnerable.
That experience shaped everything about who I am today. I worked through high school and put myself through college and law school with one goal in mind: making sure what happened to my family never happens to anyone else.
That's why I became a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney. Because working families deserve someone who actually gives a damn about them. Because people shouldn't have to empty their bank accounts just to hire a lawyer when they're already drowning in medical bills. Because justice isn't just a concept—it's something you fight for and win.
Most people don't realize how much Joliet has grown. It's one of the fastest-growing cities in Illinois and the third-largest city in Will County.
That growth brings unique challenges and injury risks:
When you hire a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney who actually practices in Will County, you're getting someone who knows this landscape. I know the dangerous intersections where crashes happen repeatedly. I know which local employers have terrible safety records. I know the judges in Will County courts. I know which insurance companies operate here and their standard defense tactics.
Generic lawyers who handle cases everywhere lack that local insight. A Joliet Personal Injury Attorney with deep roots in the community understands how to build cases that resonate with local juries and navigate local court procedures effectively.
Here's something critical: every Illinois county operates its courts slightly differently.
Will County has its own local rules. Its own scheduling procedures. Its own standards for motion practice. Even the way judges handle settlement conferences differs from Cook County or Kane County.
If your lawyer isn't familiar with Will County courts, you're at a disadvantage. They'll make procedural mistakes. They'll miss deadlines. They won't know which judges prefer certain types of evidence or how local defense attorneys typically operate.
I've been practicing in Will County for decades. I know the system. I know the people. That familiarity translates directly into better results for clients. When you need a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney who understands the local legal environment, experience in these specific courts matters tremendously.
As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I take on every type of injury case:
Joliet's roads create serious safety hazards.
I-80 sees devastating crashes—particularly near the Ridge Road and Briggs Street exits where commercial trucks merge with passenger vehicles. I-55 through Joliet is a constant stream of speeding drivers and aggressive lane changes. The intersection at Route 30 and Larkin Avenue regularly appears on lists of most dangerous intersections in the Chicago area.
Then you've got downtown Joliet where pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles all compete for limited space. Jefferson Street. Chicago Street. Cass Street. These streets weren't designed for modern traffic volumes, and people get hurt constantly.
Traffic accident cases get complicated fast. Multiple vehicles. Conflicting stories. Disputed fault. Insurance companies pointing fingers at everyone except their own insured drivers.
That's exactly when you need a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney who knows how to reconstruct accidents, analyze police reports for inconsistencies, interview witnesses effectively, and prove fault beyond dispute.
Joliet's location at the intersection of major highways has made it a logistics and warehousing center. The CenterPoint Intermodal facility alone employs thousands of workers. Numerous distribution centers and warehouses line the industrial corridors near I-80.
These workplaces present serious injury risks:
Here's what typically happens after a warehouse injury. The company reports it as required. You see the company doctor who minimizes everything. Your workers comp claim gets denied or delayed. You're pressured to return to work before you've healed. And if you complain, suddenly your job performance becomes "problematic."
I fight that system every single day. As a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney specializing in workplace injuries, I ensure you get real medical treatment from independent doctors, full temporary disability benefits while recovering, and maximum permanent disability settlements based on the actual severity of your injuries—not what the insurance company wants to pay.
I-55 and I-80 through Joliet are major freight routes. Trucks everywhere, all the time. And when an 80,000-pound semi crashes into a passenger vehicle, the results are catastrophic.
Truck cases require specialized legal knowledge:
Insurance companies for trucking firms are notoriously aggressive. They'll claim the truck driver wasn't at fault. They'll argue you caused the accident. They'll minimize your injuries and rush to close your claim before you understand its true value.
Fighting back requires a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney who understands trucking regulations, knows how to obtain black box data and driver logs, and won't back down from corporate legal teams. I've handled numerous truck accident cases and know exactly how to build winning claims against commercial carriers.
Joliet's growth means construction projects everywhere. New residential developments. Commercial buildings. Road improvements. And wherever there's construction, there are serious injury risks.
Construction accidents I handle include:
Here's what makes construction injury cases unique: you may have claims beyond just workers compensation. If you were injured by a subcontractor's negligence, defective equipment, or a property owner's failure to maintain safe conditions, you might be entitled to additional compensation through a third-party lawsuit.
Most injured construction workers don't know these options exist. A knowledgeable Joliet Personal Injury Attorney investigates every potential claim to maximize your total recovery.
Property owners throughout Joliet have a legal duty to maintain safe premises. When they fail and you get injured as a result, they should be held accountable.
Common slip and fall scenarios include:
Here's the challenge with slip and fall cases: property owners immediately claim they didn't know about the hazard, or that it was "open and obvious," or that you should have watched where you were going. Evidence disappears quickly—they fix the problem and deny it ever existed.
That's why you need to act fast. Document everything immediately. Take photos. Get witness information. And call a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney who knows how to preserve evidence and prove premises liability claims.
When you trust a doctor or hospital with your health and they make a preventable mistake, the consequences can be life-altering. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider's treatment falls below the accepted standard of care and causes harm.
Medical malpractice cases I handle include:
Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex and expensive types of injury claims. You need expert witnesses to testify that the care fell below standards. You need extensive medical record review. You need an attorney willing to invest significant time and resources into your case.
Many lawyers won't touch medical malpractice because of the complexity and cost. I will, if your case has merit. My fee for medical malpractice cases is 33⅓ percent, which is standard in Illinois. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I'll fight to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable.
Few things are more heartbreaking than discovering a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home. You trusted these facilities to provide proper care, and they betrayed that trust.
Common forms of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
If you suspect your loved one is being mistreated at a Joliet-area nursing home, you need to act quickly. Document everything you observe. Take photographs of injuries or concerning conditions. Keep detailed notes of your conversations with staff and administrators. And contact an attorney immediately.
The facility will try to hide what happened or blame your loved one's condition on their age or underlying health issues. I know how to investigate these cases, preserve evidence, and hold nursing homes accountable for their failures. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I'll fight for justice for your loved one.
There's an unfortunate prejudice against motorcyclists and cyclists. Juries sometimes think, "Well, they chose to ride a motorcycle" or "They shouldn't have been on that road."
That's garbage. Motorcyclists and cyclists have every right to use the roads safely, and when a careless driver hits them, they deserve full compensation for their injuries.
The injuries from motorcycle and bicycle accidents are often catastrophic because you have zero protection. Broken bones, road rash, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage—I've seen it all, and I know how to prove these cases despite the bias some people have.
These cases require a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney who's going to fight against that prejudice and make sure you're treated fairly. I don't back down from insurance companies who try to blame the victim.
Losing someone you love because of another person's carelessness or recklessness is a pain that words can't adequately describe. While no amount of money can bring your loved one back, Illinois wrongful death law allows surviving family members to seek justice and hold the responsible party accountable.
Wrongful death claims can arise from:
I approach wrongful death cases with the profound seriousness and compassion they deserve. These cases involve not only economic losses like funeral expenses and lost financial support, but also the immeasurable loss of companionship, guidance, and love.
If you've lost a family member due to someone else's negligence in Joliet or Will County, please reach out. You don't have to navigate this devastating time alone. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I'll stand by your side and fight for justice.
Joliet Town Center and downtown Joliet bring thousands of people into the area every day. More pedestrians mean more opportunities for accidents, and unfortunately, that means more injuries.
If you were crossing the street legally and got hit by a car, you have a case. If you were walking through a parking lot and a driver wasn't paying attention, you have a case. These injuries can be severe—pedestrians have no protection when struck by vehicles.
Insurance companies will try to blame you for the accident. They'll say you weren't in the crosswalk, or you were wearing dark clothing, or you should have looked more carefully. A skilled Joliet Personal Injury Attorney knows how to counter these defenses and prove the driver's fault.
I never work on an hourly basis—you pay nothing out of pocket, period. I handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means I only get paid if you get paid first.
I advance all case costs—filing fees, expert witnesses, medical records, court reporters, everything. If we lose your case, you owe me nothing. Not a single dollar. That's my promise to you.
For workers' comp cases, my fee is 20% (set by state law). For regular injury cases, it's 33⅓%, or 40% if we have to file a lawsuit. Medical malpractice cases are 33⅓%. These are standard rates in Illinois, and hiring a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney on contingency means everyone can afford quality legal representation.
Injuries don't happen on a convenient schedule. You might be in the hospital at 3 a.m. with questions about your rights. An insurance adjuster might call you on Sunday trying to get a recorded statement.
When you need help, I'm there. Call me any time—literally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—and you'll get actual help, not a voicemail, not an answering service.
That level of availability is rare among lawyers, but it's essential when you're dealing with an injury case. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I'm committed to being there whenever you need me.
Some law firms operate like personal injury mills. The lawyer who signs you up never touches your case again. You get passed off to a junior attorney or paralegal who doesn't know your name.
That's not how I work. When you hire me, you work directly with me. I return your phone calls. I meet with you. I negotiate with the insurance companies. I'm the one standing beside you if we go to trial.
You're not just a case number to me—you're a person who's been hurt and needs help. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I treat you with the respect and personal attention you deserve.
Most lawyers go to law school, pass the bar, and think they're done learning. Not me.
I've invested over $100,000 flying around the country to study with the best trial lawyers in America. I'm a graduate of the world-famous Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer's College. I've completed The Edge program, which is one of the most prestigious trial training programs in existence.
Not one in 10,000 lawyers has done this level of training.
Why did I do it? So you get the absolute best representation possible. When you're up against insurance companies with teams of lawyers, you need someone in your corner who knows what they're doing. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I bring that level of expertise to every case.
I treat every client with honesty and respect—no games, no pressure, no nonsense. You'll never wonder where your case stands because I communicate clearly and regularly.
I'll give you my honest assessment of your case, even if it's not what you want to hear. I don't make promises I can't keep, and I don't sugarcoat reality. What I do promise is that I'll fight as hard for you as I would for my own family.
If a lawyer is putting pressure on you or acting like a jerk, ask yourself: is that really who you want representing you? Choose a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney who treats you like a human being, not a paycheck.
Even if you think you're okay, go to a doctor right away after an accident. Some injuries don't show symptoms immediately—whiplash, soft tissue injuries, even traumatic brain injuries can take days or weeks to become apparent.
If you wait to get medical treatment, the insurance company will argue you weren't really hurt. They'll say, "If they were actually injured, they would have gone to the ER right away."
Don't give them that ammunition. Get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible.
Take photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, property damage, and any hazardous conditions. Get contact information from witnesses. Keep copies of all medical records, bills, and correspondence with insurance companies.
Write down what happened while it's fresh in your memory. This documentation becomes critical evidence later. The more thorough your documentation, the stronger your case becomes.
Insurance adjusters will call you shortly after your accident, acting all friendly and concerned. They'll ask if you're okay and if you wouldn't mind giving a recorded statement about what happened.
Don't do it.
These adjusters are trained to ask questions that make you say things that hurt your case. They'll get you to minimize your injuries, accept partial fault, or say things that sound innocent but are actually case killers.
Just politely tell them you need to speak with a lawyer first, then call me immediately. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I'll handle all communication with insurance companies.
Insurance companies often make quick, lowball settlement offers hoping you'll take the money before you realize what your case is really worth. Once you accept their offer and sign a release, you can never come back for more money—even if you discover your injuries are worse than you thought.
Before you accept anything, call me for a free consultation so I can tell you what your case is actually worth. Don't leave money on the table because you were too trusting of the insurance company.
Insurance companies monitor Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms looking for anything they can use against you. That photo of you smiling at a family gathering? They'll claim you're not really in pain. That post about going to the gym? They'll argue your injuries aren't serious.
The safest approach is to stay off social media entirely until your case is resolved. If you can't do that, at least don't post anything about your accident, your injuries, or your activities.
Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget what they saw. Security camera footage gets recorded over. The property owner fixes the dangerous condition and claims it never existed. The insurance company gets more aggressive the longer you wait.
By the time you finally decide to hire a lawyer, it may be too late to build a strong case. Don't wait—call me right away. The sooner I can start investigating, the better your chances of success.
Insurance companies have teams of lawyers and adjusters whose job is to pay you as little as possible. They know you don't understand the law, don't know what your case is worth, and are probably desperate for money. They'll take advantage of that situation every single time.
Even if you think your case is simple, you need an experienced attorney on your side. The difference between handling your claim yourself and hiring a skilled Joliet Personal Injury Attorney can be tens of thousands of dollars.
Exaggerating or lying about your injuries will absolutely destroy your credibility. Be completely honest about your injuries, your medical history, and how the accident affects your daily life.
If you've had prior injuries to the same body part, tell me. If you're able to do certain activities but not others, be specific. Insurance companies investigate everything, and if they catch you in a lie, your case is over.
Honesty is always the best policy. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I need to know the truth so I can build the strongest possible case.
If you miss appointments or ignore medical advice, the insurance company will argue your injuries aren't really that serious. Follow through with every treatment your doctor recommends. Go to every appointment. Take your medications as prescribed.
This not only helps you get better—it also strengthens your legal claim. Consistent medical treatment shows that your injuries are genuine and require ongoing care.
The other driver's insurance company is not your friend. They don't care about you. Their job is to pay you as little as possible—ideally nothing.
They might seem nice. They might tell you that you don't need a lawyer and that they'll take care of everything. They're lying.
Don't talk to them. Let me handle all communication with the insurance companies. That's what I'm here for. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I know how to deal with their tactics.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
In Illinois, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. For workers' comp cases, it's three years, but you have to notify your employer within 45 days of your injury.
I know two years sounds like a long time, but it's not. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget what happened. And the insurance company gets more aggressive the longer you wait.
Don't blow this deadline. If you miss it, your case is over. Done. No second chances. Call me right away so we can protect your rights.
A lot of people think they can only recover their medical expenses. That's wrong. Under Illinois law, you can also recover:
The insurance company isn't going to tell you about all these things. That's why you need a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney who will fight for every dollar you're entitled to receive.
Illinois follows a rule called "modified comparative negligence." As long as you're less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages. Your award will just be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you're found to be 20% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you'd recover $80,000.
Insurance companies love to inflate your fault percentage to reduce their payouts. A skilled Joliet Personal Injury Attorney fights to ensure fault allocation is accurate and fair.
First, we have a free consultation where I listen to your story and answer your questions. You can call me 24/7, or we can meet in person at my office or at a location convenient for you.
I'll give you my honest assessment of your case—the good, the bad, and everything in between. You decide whether you want to hire me. There's no pressure, no obligation, and no cost.
If you hire me, I immediately begin investigating your case and gathering evidence. This includes obtaining police reports, collecting witness statements, taking photographs, reviewing medical records, analyzing insurance policies, and consulting with experts if necessary.
I use proprietary case management software I developed specifically to move cases faster and more efficiently than other firms. The sooner I start, the stronger your case becomes.
Your medical treatment takes priority—I help ensure you get the care you need. If you have health insurance, use it. If you don't, I can connect you with doctors who will treat you on a lien basis, meaning they agree to wait for payment until we resolve your case.
I make sure all your treatment is properly documented so we can prove the full extent of your injuries.
Once you've finished treatment, I calculate the complete value of your case and send a detailed demand to the insurance company. This demand includes all your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and any other damages.
I've negotiated thousands of injury settlements over my career. I know what these cases are worth, and I don't back down from insurance companies who try to lowball my clients.
About 90% of my cases settle without trial, but that's because insurance companies know I'm serious about taking cases to court. I've had more than 30 jury trials and hundreds of depositions and arbitrations.
Some lawyers are afraid of the courthouse. I'm not. If the insurance company won't offer fair compensation, we file a lawsuit and prepare for trial. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I'm fully prepared to fight in court if that's what it takes.
Whether we settle or win at trial, my goal is always to maximize your recovery. When we reach a settlement or obtain a verdict, I deduct my contingency fee, subtract the case costs I've advanced, and the rest goes directly to you.
If we lose—which is rare—you don't pay me anything. That's my promise, and I've never broken it.
If you've been hurt in Joliet or anywhere in DuPage County, you need to act now. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Insurance companies get more aggressive.
Call me right now for your free consultation. I'm available 24/7/365.
Here's what happens when you call:
Remember: no money out of pocket, no fee until we win.
You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by calling.
Don't let the insurance company take advantage of you during this vulnerable time. Get an experienced Oak Brook injury lawyer who actually cares about you on your side.
Your fight is my fight.
Call me now: (312) 500-4500
I look forward to hearing from you and learning how I can help.
Illinois typically allows two years from injury date to file personal injury lawsuits. Workers compensation cases provide three years, but employer notification is required within 45 days of the accident.
Exceptions exist to these rules, so don't assume you have the full period. The sooner you contact a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, the better your case prospects become because evidence degrades over time.
Nothing upfront, nothing out of pocket. Pure contingency—I only get paid when you get paid.
My fee is 20% for workers compensation (statutory rate), 33⅓% for injury cases, or 40% if we must file suit. These are standard Illinois rates. I advance all costs. If we lose, you owe me nothing.
Hiring a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney on contingency means everyone can afford quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation.
Absolutely not. Never accept without consulting an attorney first.
Initial offers are always lowball. The insurance company bets you don't know your case's true value and that you're desperate enough to accept anything.
Once you sign the release and accept their payment, you can't return later for additional money—even if your injuries prove far worse than initially thought.
Call me before accepting anything. Free consultation, no obligation. I'll assess whether the offer is fair or whether they're cheating you.
Yes, provided you're less than 50% at fault. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence, which reduces your award by your fault percentage.
Example: You're 30% at fault. Damages are $100,000. You recover $70,000.
Insurance companies love inflating your fault percentage to reduce their payouts. A skilled Joliet Personal Injury Attorney fights to ensure fault allocation is accurate and fair.
Yes. I can connect you with medical providers who treat on a lien basis. They provide care now and receive payment later from your settlement.
Don't let insurance absence prevent you from getting necessary medical care. Your health is paramount, and as your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I'll ensure you receive proper treatment.
It depends on multiple variables:
Some cases settle within months. Others require a year or longer. What I promise is aggressive case prosecution because you need money now, not years from now.
An experienced Joliet Personal Injury Attorney knows how to move cases efficiently while maximizing results.
Probably not. Roughly 90% of my cases settle without trial.
If we file suit, you might need courtroom appearances for depositions or hearings. If we actually try the case, you'll need to testify.
But most cases resolve through negotiation. When insurance companies know you have a Joliet Personal Injury Attorney prepared and able to try the case, they typically settle rather than risk a jury verdict.
It doesn't automatically kill your case. Illinois law permits claims for "aggravation" or "exacerbation" of pre-existing conditions.
The key is complete honesty about your medical history. Insurance companies will obtain your previous records anyway. If you lie or conceal past injuries, it destroys your credibility completely.
A Joliet Personal Injury Attorney experienced with pre-existing condition cases knows how to prove this accident significantly worsened your prior condition.
No. Illinois law prohibits retaliation for filing workers compensation claims.
Of course, proving retaliation can be challenging. Employers rarely admit "we fired you for filing workers comp." They'll claim performance issues, attendance problems, or other pretexts.
If you believe you were fired in retaliation, call me immediately. I handle retaliatory discharge cases and know how to prove them. As your Joliet Personal Injury Attorney, I'll protect your rights vigorously.
You might still recover through your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.
Many people don't realize their own auto policy includes this coverage. It protects you when hit by uninsured or underinsured drivers.
I examine every insurance policy thoroughly—yours, the at-fault driver's, any other potentially liable parties—to identify every possible recovery source. A thorough Joliet Personal Injury Attorney explores all options to maximize your compensation.
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
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
