Joliet Personal Injury Attorney Asks:
Did You Get Injured?
Call The Joliet Personal Injury Attorney ANY TIME!
312-500-4500
"My Injury Guy" Scott DeSalvo
Trial-Trained Injury Attorney for Joliet & Will County
If you got hurt in Joliet, here's the short answer most people are looking for: you can hire me for a Joliet injury case with no money out of pocket. Zero. I work on contingency, which means no fee unless we win, and I take calls 24/7/365 at 312-500-4500.
Now here's what most people don't know about getting hurt in Joliet.
This city sits where the country's freight crosses. I-80 and I-55 meet here. The CenterPoint Intermodal Center and the rail yards in Joliet and Elwood push thousands of trucks onto local roads every day. So a lot of "car accidents" in Joliet aren't really car accidents. They're commercial truck cases. Or they're work injuries with a second claim hiding inside them. Which means there's often more than one insurance policy in play, and the adjuster who calls you first usually isn't the one with the most money.
That's exactly what the insurance companies are counting on you not to figure out.
Bottom Line: If you were hurt in Joliet or anywhere in Will County, the call is free, the advice is honest, and there's nothing to lose by finding out what your case is really worth.
When I was nine, my father, a truck driver and a Teamster, was badly hurt at work. He was never the same. His case dragged on for seventeen years. Seventeen years! And at the end of it, his own lawyer sued him for more fees.
I watched what that did to my family. We grew up with less after my dad couldn't work. And I watched a legal system that was supposed to help him take advantage of him instead.
That's why I became a personal injury lawyer, and it's why I run my practice the opposite way. You talk to me, not a case manager you've never met. You get straight answers. You never pay a dime unless I win your case. And I move your case as fast as it can go, because I know what it does to a family to wait.
Watch me tell the story in about 90 seconds:
Free. Not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by this chat. Prefer to talk? Call (312) 500-4500, answered 24/7.
Look, an injury case in Joliet isn't the same as one in downtown Chicago. The roads are different, the employers are different, and the courthouse is different. Here's what actually matters.
Joliet is the Will County seat and one of the largest cities in Illinois, with roughly 150,000 people. It's also one of the biggest inland freight hubs in North America. Between the intermodal yards, the warehouse corridors along Route 53 and Laraway Road, and the steady stream of semis on I-80 and I-55, heavy commercial traffic is everywhere.
That changes your case. Trucking companies carry far bigger insurance policies than regular drivers, and they're governed by federal safety rules. It also means their insurance company sends a rapid-response team to a serious crash, sometimes within hours. You need someone working for YOU that fast too.
I see the same stretches over and over: I-80 through the Des Plaines River crossing and the long construction zones from the multi-year I-80 rebuild, the I-55 and I-80 interchange, Larkin Avenue, Jefferson Street, Route 30, Route 53, Houbolt Road, Black Road, and Caton Farm Road. Work zones, sudden lane shifts, and trucks merging at shift change are a bad mix.
Joliet lawsuits are filed in the Circuit Court of Will County, the 12th Judicial Circuit, at the Will County Courthouse at 100 W. Jefferson Street downtown. Will County has its own local rules and scheduling practices, and Will County juries aren't Cook County juries. A lawyer who treats every courthouse the same is leaving something on the table.
Here's the thing: if a public entity caused your injury, you generally have just one year to file under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10/8-101), not the usual two. That covers things like a City of Joliet vehicle, a Will County road defect, a school district, or a park district, and some public transit claims have their own notice rules. Miss the deadline and the case is gone. Period.
Bottom Line: In Joliet, the type of vehicle, the employer, and who owns the road can change your deadline, your insurance money, and your whole case.
I handle serious injury cases of every kind. These are the ones I see most from Joliet:
Rear-end crashes in I-80 work zones, red-light crashes on Larkin Avenue and Jefferson Street, T-bones at rural intersections out toward Caton Farm Road. Even "simple" crashes get complicated when the insurance company starts arguing about fault. Learn more on my Joliet car accident lawyer page.
An 80,000-pound truck against a passenger car isn't a fair fight. Truck cases turn on evidence the trucking company controls: electronic logging device data, driver hours, maintenance records, dispatch messages. I send preservation letters right away so that evidence doesn't "disappear." More on my truck accident lawyer page.
Forklift strikes, falls from loading docks, crush injuries from shifting loads, and back injuries from nonstop lifting. In Illinois, workers' comp pays your medical bills and part of your lost wages. But it NEVER pays for pain and suffering. That's why I always look for a third party: a trucking company, a property owner, a staffing agency's client, an equipment manufacturer. That second claim can be worth more than the comp case. See my workers' compensation lawyer page.
With all the warehouse and residential building going on around Joliet, I see falls from scaffolds and roofs, trench collapses, and struck-by injuries. General contractors and subcontractors who control the site can be responsible on top of your comp claim. More on my construction accident lawyer page.
Icy parking lots, wet floors in stores, broken stairs at apartment complexes, poorly lit walkways at entertainment venues. Property owners will say they "didn't know" or that the hazard was "open and obvious." Photos and witness names taken right away beat those excuses. See my slip and fall lawyer page.
A missed diagnosis, a surgical error, a fall or bedsore in a nursing home that never should have happened. Illinois requires a doctor's report backing your claim before a malpractice suit is filed (735 ILCS 5/2-622), so these cases need early, careful work. See my medical malpractice lawyer and nursing home abuse lawyer pages.
Riders and walkers have no protection, and insurance adjusters lean hard on blame: "he was speeding," "she wasn't in the crosswalk." I push back with the evidence.
If you lost a family member because of someone else's carelessness, the Illinois Wrongful Death Act lets the family recover for lost support and for the loss of love, companionship, and guidance. The deadline is generally two years. See my wrongful death lawyer page.
For more detail on your type of case in Joliet, see:
Most people think the only target is the other driver. Often it isn't. Depending on what happened, responsible parties can include:
Here's a situation I see all the time: You're making a delivery run for your employer, and traffic stops in an I-80 construction zone. A box truck from a distribution center doesn't stop. Now you've got a workers' comp claim against your employer's insurance AND an injury claim against the trucking company. Most people only ever file the first one. That's a lot of money left on the table.
Bottom Line: Finding every responsible party, and every insurance policy, is where the real value of a Joliet case usually is.
Here's what most lawyers won't tell you: the insurance company starts building its case against you before you've even left the hospital.
Here's how they do it:
Most cases settle. That's the goal: a fair settlement, as fast as possible, with ZERO hassle for you.
So why have I spent over $100,000 on advanced trial training?
Leverage.
Insurance companies keep score. They know which lawyers will actually try a case and which ones always fold. When they know your lawyer is genuinely ready for a Will County jury, they settle faster and for more. I'm a graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers College and the Keenan Trial Institute. Add almost 30 years of practice, more than 3,000 clients, 30+ jury trials, and 100+ arbitrations, and the insurance company knows exactly who it's dealing with.
I work on contingency. No money out of pocket. Zero. I advance the case costs, and if we don't win, you owe me nothing. My fees are the standard Illinois rates: 33⅓% for injury cases, 40% if we have to file a lawsuit, 33⅓% for medical malpractice, and 20% for workers' comp, which is set by state law.
You don't get handed off to someone you've never met. You work with me, and I take calls day or night. I have an office in downtown Joliet at 116 N Chicago St, Suite 301 - Kendall, a short walk from the Will County Courthouse. Or I'll come to you, at home, at the hospital, or wherever is easiest.
Bottom Line: Preparation is what makes insurance companies pay. It's not about going to trial. It's about never having to.
If you were just hurt, here's the checklist. Do these things in this order if you can.
Go to the ER or urgent care, whether that's Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, or wherever is closest. Whiplash, concussions, and back injuries often don't show up for days. A gap between the accident and your first doctor visit is the first thing the insurance company will use against you.
For a crash, get the report from the Joliet Police Department, the Will County Sheriff, or the Illinois State Police if it happened on the interstate. For a work injury, tell your supervisor in writing. Illinois gives you 45 days to report a work injury, but don't wait that long.
Photograph the vehicles, the scene, your injuries, and anything that caused a fall. Get witness names and phone numbers. Write down what happened while it's fresh.
You don't have to talk to the other side's insurance company. Politely say your lawyer will be in touch. Then call me.
A release is permanent. Once you sign it, you can't come back for more, no matter how bad your injuries turn out to be.
Don't post about the accident, your injuries, or your activities until your case is over.
Bottom Line: The first few days after an injury shape the whole case. A free call to 312-500-4500 protects you before you make a mistake you can't undo.
Dashcam and business security video gets recorded over in days. Truck data can be overwritten. Witnesses move. The sooner I start, the more evidence I can lock down.
Soft tissue injuries, a few weeks of therapy, a couple of missed shifts: people talk themselves out of calling. A free consultation costs you nothing, and you'll know where you stand.
If you hurt the same body part before, tell me. Illinois law lets you recover when an accident makes an old condition worse. Hiding it is what kills cases, because the insurance company WILL find your old records.
Go to every appointment. Follow your doctor's plan. Consistent treatment helps you heal, and it's the best proof of how badly you were hurt.
They may be pleasant. They are not on your side. Their job is to pay you as little as possible.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
There are exceptions, including for children, and they cut both ways. Don't guess. Call.
Yes, as long as you're not more than 50% at fault. Illinois uses modified comparative fault (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). Your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame. If you're found 20% at fault, you recover 80% of your damages. Over 50%, you recover nothing, which is why the insurance company fights so hard over fault.
A lot more than the medical bills. Illinois juries are instructed on these categories:
And here's something many people don't realize: Illinois doesn't cap compensatory damages in injury cases. The Illinois Supreme Court struck down damage caps in Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital (2010).
We talk like friends. Zero pressure. You tell me what happened, I tell you honestly whether you have a case. By phone, by video, at my office, or I'll come to you in Joliet.
I get the police report, lock down video and truck data, talk to witnesses, and find every insurance policy that applies.
Your job is to treat and heal. If you don't have health insurance, I can often connect you with doctors who treat on a lien, meaning they wait to be paid until your case resolves.
When your treatment is done, or your doctors know your long-term outlook, I put together a full demand and negotiate. This is where most cases settle.
If the insurance company won't be fair, we file in the Circuit Court of Will County and keep pushing. Filing suit often moves a stubborn insurer to the table.
When the case resolves, my fee and the costs I advanced come out of the recovery, and the rest goes to you. If we don't win, you owe nothing.
Evidence fades fast, and the insurance company has already started working on your claim. Call me for a free consultation, 24/7/365.
When you call:
No money out of pocket. No fee unless we win. I represent injured people in Joliet and across Will County, including Plainfield, Romeoville, Lockport, Shorewood, New Lenox, and Crest Hill.
Joliet office: The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, LLC, 116 N Chicago St, Suite 301 - Kendall, Joliet, IL 60432
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and by appointment.
Call me now: 312-500-4500
I also represent injured people in these nearby communities:
See the Will County page or all areas I serve.
Nothing up front. I work on contingency, so there's no money out of pocket and no fee unless we win. My fee is a percentage of what I recover for you: 33⅓% for most injury cases, 40% if we have to file a lawsuit, 33⅓% for medical malpractice, and 20% for workers' compensation, which is set by Illinois law. I advance the case costs, like medical records, filing fees, and experts. If we don't win, you owe me nothing for my time. The consultation is free, 24/7/365, at 312-500-4500.
For most Illinois injury cases, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. But if a public entity was involved, such as a City of Joliet vehicle, a Will County road, or a school or park district, the deadline is generally just one year under the Tort Immunity Act. Wrongful death claims generally have two years, and medical malpractice has its own discovery rule and a four-year outer limit. For a work injury, report it to your employer within 45 days. Deadlines have exceptions, so call early rather than guess.
Injury lawsuits from Joliet are usually filed in the Circuit Court of Will County, which is the 12th Judicial Circuit, at the Will County Courthouse at 100 W. Jefferson Street in downtown Joliet. Will County has its own local rules and scheduling practices, so it helps to have a lawyer who knows them. Most cases never get that far, though. The majority settle through negotiation, and you'd only need to come to court for things like a deposition or a trial.
Yes, as long as you're not more than 50% at fault. Illinois follows modified comparative fault under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, so if you're found 20% responsible, you recover 80% of your damages. If you're found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing. That's why insurance adjusters work so hard to shift blame onto you, and why you shouldn't give them a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer.
Often, yes. In Illinois, you generally can't sue your own employer, and workers' compensation is your remedy against them. Workers' comp covers medical bills and part of your lost wages, but it never pays for pain and suffering. If someone other than your employer caused the injury, like a trucking company, a subcontractor, a property owner, or the maker of defective equipment, you may have a separate injury claim against them. In warehouse and intermodal jobs around Joliet, that third-party claim is common and often overlooked.
You may still be covered. Illinois requires auto policies to include uninsured motorist coverage, and many people also carry underinsured motorist coverage. That coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. Even though it's your own insurance company, they'll still try to pay you as little as possible, and these claims have strict notice requirements in the policy. I review every policy that might apply, including yours, the other driver's, and any employer or commercial policy.
It depends mostly on your injuries. I generally don't want to settle until we know your full medical picture, because once you sign a release, you can't reopen the case. Smaller cases with a clear recovery can resolve in a matter of months. Cases with surgery, permanent injuries, or a fight over fault can take a year or more, especially if a lawsuit is filed in Will County. My goal is a fair settlement as fast as possible, and insurance companies move faster when they know your lawyer is ready to try the case.
No. I have an office in downtown Joliet at 116 N Chicago St, Suite 301 - Kendall, Joliet, IL 60432, a short walk from the Will County Courthouse, and you're welcome to meet me there. But most of my clients never need to come in. We can talk by phone or video, and I'm glad to meet you at your home, at the hospital, or anywhere in Will County that works for you. I take calls 24/7/365 at 312-500-4500, including weekends and holidays. The first conversation is always free.
Usually not. A fast first offer almost always shows up before anyone knows how badly you're hurt, and it comes with a release. Once you sign that release, your case is over, even if you need surgery next month. Get your treatment done, or at least get a clear picture from your doctors, before you talk numbers. Call me first at 312-500-4500. It costs you nothing to find out what your case is really worth.
Probably not. Soft tissue injuries, a few weeks of therapy, a couple of missed shifts: people talk themselves out of calling all the time, and the insurance company is glad they do. The consultation is free, and I'll tell you honestly whether hiring a lawyer makes sense for your situation. If it doesn't, I'll tell you that too.
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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