Lockport Wrongful Death Lawyer Asks:
Did You Get Injured?
Call The Lockport Wrongful Death Lawyer ANY TIME!
312-500-4500
"My Injury Guy" Scott DeSalvo
Trial-Trained Wrongful Death Lawyer for Lockport & Will County
Nothing prepares a family for a sudden, preventable death. One phone call, and everything changes. On top of the grief, there are funeral bills, lost income, and questions about what really happened.
In 2022, five people were killed in crashes inside Lockport, according to IDOT. Deadly crashes, work accidents, medical mistakes, and neglect affect families in every part of Will County, and each one leaves a hole that can never be filled.
Here's something families often don't know: Illinois law allows two different kinds of claims after a death. One compensates the family for their loss. The other covers what the person who died went through before their death. Both can matter, and both have deadlines.
I'm Scott DeSalvo, and I've handled serious injury and death cases for almost 30 years. I handle wrongful death cases personally. For other injury cases, see my Lockport personal injury attorney page.
There's no cost to your family up front and no fee unless we win. Call me any time at 312-500-4500.
My father was a truck driver and Teamster who was hurt on the job when I was nine. I watched his lawyer let our family down for seventeen years.
A grieving family deserves better. You'll deal with me directly, and I'll explain every step at your pace.
Free. Not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by this chat. Prefer to talk? Call (312) 500-4500, answered 24/7.
The Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180) lets the surviving spouse and next of kin recover for their losses, including grief, sorrow, lost companionship, and lost financial support. The Survival Act (755 ILCS 5/27-6) lets the estate recover what the person who died could have claimed, such as medical bills and pain and suffering before death.
Wrongful death claims are brought by the personal representative of the estate, usually a family member appointed by the court. I help families through that process.
Since 2023, Illinois law has allowed punitive damages in some wrongful death cases, such as those involving reckless conduct. They aren't available against every defendant, such as government bodies or medical providers.
Lockport's rail crossings, busy state routes, I-355, and nearby industrial job sites are where many of the fatal incidents I see begin.
Bottom Line: Illinois law recognizes both the family's loss and what their loved one endured.
Crashes on Route 7, Route 53, State Street, and I-355, including drunk driving and distracted driving.
Construction falls, warehouse accidents, and machinery deaths, which may involve both workers' comp death benefits and a third-party lawsuit.
Missed diagnoses, surgical errors, and medication mistakes that cost a life.
Deaths caused by untreated infections, falls, or neglect.
Picture this. A husband and father is driving home on Route 7 when a distracted driver runs a red light and hits his car. He dies two days later in the hospital. His family is left with medical bills, funeral costs, and the loss of his income and his presence. Illinois law gives them the right to hold the driver, and possibly the driver's employer, accountable.
Look, even in the worst cases, insurers look for ways to pay less:
Here's what most lawyers won't tell you: in many fatal crashes, there's more than one insurance policy. Employer policies, umbrella policies, and the family's own underinsured motorist coverage can all come into play. I look for every one.
Bottom Line: Don't let an insurer set the value of a life.
Many wrongful death cases settle, and settlement can give families closure without the stress of a trial. But insurers pay fair value only when your lawyer is truly ready for trial.
I'm a graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers College and the exclusive Keenan Trial Institute, I've invested more than $100,000 in advanced trial training, and I've tried more than 30 jury trials.
Nothing up front. I advance all costs, and my fee comes only from what I recover. The FAQ has the details.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
It starts with a free, private conversation. I'll listen and explain your family's options.
If you hire me, I help open the estate and appoint a representative, then investigate the death thoroughly. When the investigation is complete, I make a demand. If the case doesn't settle fairly, I file in the Circuit Court of Will County.
If your family lost someone in or near Lockport, call me any time at 312-500-4500.
Evidence fades fast, and the insurance company has already started working on its side of the story. Call me for a free consultation, 24/7/365. No money out of pocket. No fee unless we win.
Nearest office: The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, LLC, 116 N Chicago St, Suite 301 - Kendall, Joliet, IL 60432, about 15 minutes from Lockport. Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and by appointment.
Call me now: 312-500-4500
Your family pays nothing up front. I work on contingency, which means there's no money out of pocket and my fee comes only from what I recover: 33⅓% for most cases, or 40% if a lawsuit is filed. I advance the costs of the case. If we don't win, there's no fee. Call 24/7/365 at 312-500-4500.
The personal representative of the estate files the lawsuit, on behalf of the surviving spouse and next of kin. If there's no will naming an executor, the court can appoint a representative, usually a close family member.
Most Illinois wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years of the death (740 ILCS 180/2). Shorter deadlines can apply when a government body is involved, and medical malpractice deaths have their own rules. Talk to a lawyer early.
A wrongful death claim compensates the family for their own losses, like grief and lost support. A survival claim, under 755 ILCS 5/27-6, allows the estate to recover what the person who died could have recovered, such as medical bills and pain and suffering before death. Both are often brought together.
Workers' comp provides death benefits to certain family members, but it doesn't allow a lawsuit against the employer in most cases. However, if a third party, like a contractor, equipment maker, or other driver, caused the death, the family may have a wrongful death lawsuit against that party.
Most Lockport wrongful death cases are filed in the Circuit Court of Will County in Joliet. If a defendant is based elsewhere, the case may be filed in another county.
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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312-500-4500
