When you need a Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney who refuses to back down to insurance companies and knows how to turn the tables on corporate defendants, you've come to the right place. As a Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney who's spent over 27 years fighting for injured people across Illinois, I've developed a reputation for taking cases other lawyers won't touch and winning settlements that insurance companies swore they'd never pay. Whether you were rear-ended on I-80 during rush hour, injured at work in one of Tinley Park's distribution centers, or hurt because someone else's carelessness anywhere in the southwest suburbs, hiring the right Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney means the difference between accepting pennies and securing real justice.
A Promise I Made to Myself
Let me tell you about my father.
When I was nine years old, my dad was seriously injured at work. He was a truck driver and a Teamster, and what happened to him changed our entire family's life forever. The physical injuries were devastating—permanent damage to his neck, back, and spine that left him unable to work.
But what made it infinitely worse was that he hired the wrong lawyer.
These people were rude to him. They didn't explain anything. They didn't communicate. They dragged his case out for seventeen years—seventeen years—and at the end of it all, his own attorney sued him for more fees.
My family went from comfortable to struggling overnight. I watched my mom work herself to exhaustion trying to make ends meet. I watched my dad's physical and emotional pain compound because the legal system that was supposed to protect him failed him completely.
We grew up poor after my dad couldn't work anymore.
That's why I worked through high school, put myself through college and law school, and dedicated my entire career to making sure what happened to my family never happens to yours.
Every single client I represent gets treated like family. Not because it sounds good in marketing, but because I genuinely believe that's how human beings should be treated when they're at their most vulnerable. Because I know what it's like to be on the other side, feeling helpless while the system works against you.
Most people don't realize how strategically located Tinley Park is—and what that means for injury risk. The village sits at the intersection of I-80, I-57, and Harlem Avenue, creating one of the busiest traffic corridors in the entire Chicago metropolitan area.
That location brings unique challenges and injury risks:
When you hire a Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney who actually practices in the southwest suburbs, you're getting someone who knows this landscape. I know the hazardous intersections where accidents cluster. I know which local employers have questionable safety records. I know the judges in Cook County and Will County courts. I know which insurance companies operate in this area and their typical defense strategies.
Generic lawyers who handle cases everywhere don't have that local insight. A Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney with deep roots in the community understands how to build cases that resonate with local juries and navigate local court procedures.
Here's something critical: court procedures vary significantly across different Illinois counties.
Cases filed in Cook County follow different procedural timelines than Will County cases. Local rules differ. Scheduling procedures differ. Even the way judges handle settlement conferences varies between jurisdictions.
If your lawyer isn't familiar with southwest suburban 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 these courts for decades. I know the system. I know the people. That familiarity translates directly into better results for clients. When you need a Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney who understands the local legal environment, experience in these specific courts matters tremendously.
As your Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney, I take on every variety of injury case:
Tinley Park's roads are dangerous by design.
I-80 sees constant crashes—particularly near the Harlem Avenue and LaGrange Road exits where traffic merges unpredictably and semi-trucks dominate the lanes. I-57 through Tinley Park creates another gauntlet of distracted drivers and aggressive speeds. The intersection at 159th Street and Harlem Avenue is notorious for T-bone collisions.
Then you've got local arterial roads where commuters, shoppers, and delivery vehicles all compete for space. Oak Park Avenue. 80th Avenue. 183rd Street. These weren't designed for current 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 Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney who knows how to reconstruct accidents, analyze police reports for inconsistencies, interview witnesses effectively, and prove fault beyond dispute.
Tinley Park has become a major distribution hub for the Chicago metropolitan area. The 80th Avenue corridor alone houses dozens of warehouses and logistics facilities where workers face serious injury risks daily.
These workplaces present dangers including:
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 Tinley Park 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-80 through Tinley Park is one of the busiest freight corridors in America. Semi-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:
Most personal injury attorneys don't know how to handle truck cases properly. They miss critical evidence. They don't understand federal regulations. They fail to identify all liable parties.
I've handled dozens of truck accident cases. I know exactly how to investigate these crashes, preserve electronic data before it's erased, and hold every responsible party accountable. As your Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney, I'll maximize your recovery by pursuing every available source of compensation.
Property owners in Tinley Park have a legal duty to maintain safe premises. When they fail—whether it's icy parking lots at shopping centers, broken stairs at apartment complexes, or wet floors without warning signs at stores—they should be held accountable.
Common premises liability cases include:
Here's what makes premises liability cases challenging: you must prove the property owner knew (or should have known) about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn about it.
Evidence disappears fast. Property owners fix hazards immediately after accidents and claim they never existed. Surveillance video gets deleted. Witnesses forget details.
That's why you need to contact a Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney immediately after a slip and fall. The faster I can investigate, photograph conditions, and preserve evidence, the stronger your case becomes.
Medical errors happen more frequently than people realize. Doctors are human and make mistakes. But when those mistakes cause serious harm—misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, anesthesia errors—victims deserve justice.
I handle medical malpractice cases involving:
Medical malpractice cases are expensive and complex. They require expert witnesses, extensive medical record review, and a lawyer who isn't intimidated by hospitals and their defense teams.
I've been handling medical malpractice cases throughout my career. I understand medical terminology, I know how to work with expert witnesses, and I'm not afraid to take on healthcare providers and their insurance companies. My fee is 33⅓%, which is standard for these cases.
Nothing breaks my heart more than cases involving elderly people who were mistreated in facilities where they were supposed to be safe.
I've seen bedsores that went down to the bone because staff didn't turn patients. I've seen malnutrition and dehydration because nobody bothered feeding residents. I've seen outright physical abuse by staff members who should never have been hired.
Common nursing home cases involve:
If your loved one has been harmed in a Tinley Park nursing home, call me immediately. These cases require urgency because evidence can disappear quickly as facilities cover their tracks. As your Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney, I'll investigate thoroughly, hold facilities accountable, and fight for maximum compensation.
Losing someone because of another person's negligence is a pain I can't adequately describe with words.
Illinois law allows certain family members to bring wrongful death claims to recover for their loss and hold responsible parties accountable.
Wrongful death cases can arise from:
These cases require compassion combined with aggressive legal advocacy. I handle wrongful death claims with the utmost respect and seriousness they deserve. As your Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney, I'll pursue maximum compensation for your family's devastating loss.
Some injuries change everything forever:
These cases require a lawyer who understands the lifetime financial impact of your injury—not just today's medical bills, but decades of future care, lost earning capacity, home modifications, assistive equipment, and pain that will never fully go away.
I've invested over $100,000 in advanced trial training, including graduating from Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College and completing The Edge program. Fewer than one in 10,000 lawyers have completed this level of training. I did it so I can handle exactly these kinds of serious cases and secure maximum results for my clients.
Insurance adjusters are trained to sound sympathetic. They'll call you shortly after your accident, express concern about your well-being, and offer to "help you out" with a quick settlement.
This is a trap.
Their goal is to pay you as little as possible—ideally nothing. Every dollar they save is a dollar in their pocket. They count on injured people not knowing what their cases are actually worth and being desperate enough to accept whatever lowball offer gets thrown their way.
I used to work for big defense firms representing insurance companies. I saw how they operate from the inside. It was ugly. That's exactly why I switched sides and now exclusively represent injured people—regular folks like you and me who deserve better.
Always. I've been doing this since 1998, and I have never—not once—seen an insurance company make a fair first offer.
Why? Because most people will take it. They don't know any better, they need money urgently, and the insurance company is betting they won't hire a lawyer.
Once you accept that settlement and sign the release, it's over. You can't come back later when you realize your injuries are worse than you thought or that the settlement didn't even cover your medical bills.
Don't sign anything without calling me first. The consultation is free, and I'll tell you what your case is really worth.
Never, ever give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster without talking to a lawyer first.
They'll ask questions designed to get you to say things that destroy your case:
Just politely decline and tell them you need to speak with an attorney. Then call me immediately at (312) 500-4500.
Insurance companies hire people to monitor your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter—everything. They're looking for anything they can use against you.
That photo of you smiling at your kid's birthday party? They'll claim you're not in pain.
That post about going for a walk? They'll argue your injuries aren't serious.
That check-in at a restaurant? They'll say you're well enough to enjoy life normally.
The best policy is to stay off social media entirely until your case resolves. If you can't do that, at least don't post anything about your accident, your injuries, your activities, or anything else that could be twisted against you.
Most people think injury cases are only about medical expenses. That's wrong. Illinois law allows you to recover:
The insurance company won't tell you about all these categories. That's one reason you need a Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney who will.
I don't settle cases for less than they're worth. About 90% of my cases settle without trial, but that doesn't mean I roll over during negotiations. It means I negotiate aggressively based on comprehensive case preparation and a willingness to go to trial if necessary.
Insurance companies know which lawyers are scared of the courthouse and which ones aren't. I've had more than 30 jury trials in my career, plus about 100 arbitrations and hundreds of depositions. A judge once called my trial presentation one of the best he'd ever seen.
When you're represented by someone insurance companies respect—or frankly, fear a little—you get better settlement offers. That's just reality. As your Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney, my reputation for trying cases works directly in your favor.
When you call me, here's what happens:
I don't chase clients. I don't pressure people. I don't play high-pressure sales games. We talk like normal human beings, and you make your own decision.
If a lawyer is putting pressure on you or acting like a jerk, ask yourself: is that really who you want representing you?
If you hire me, I get to work the same day:
Evidence disappears fast. Witnesses forget. Surveillance footage gets recorded over. Property owners fix whatever caused your fall and claim it was never broken. Speed matters, and I move fast.
My office has proprietary case management software that I developed in-house. It helps us move cases faster and more efficiently than other law firms. We discover more about your case earlier, which means better results for you.
Your health is priority number one. I'll help connect you with quality medical providers if needed.
If you have health insurance, use it. If you don't, I can refer you to doctors who treat on a lien basis—meaning they agree to get paid out of your settlement at the end of the case.
All your treatment gets properly documented so we can prove your case and maximize your recovery. I make sure you're seeing the right specialists and getting the care you actually need—not just whatever the insurance company wants to authorize.
Once you've finished treating (or reached maximum medical improvement), I calculate the full value of your case and send a comprehensive demand to the insurance company.
I've negotiated thousands of these cases. I know what they're worth, I know the tactics insurance companies use, and I don't back down. Most of my cases settle during this phase—about 90% of them. But that doesn't mean I roll over. It means I negotiate aggressively and get you a fair settlement without putting you through the stress of a trial.
If the insurance company won't be reasonable, I file a lawsuit. Some lawyers are scared of court. I'm not.
I've been practicing in Cook County, Will County, and DuPage County courts for decades. I know the judges, I understand local procedures, and I'm comfortable in the courtroom.
My office is at 1000 Jorie Blvd, Ste 204, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523. I'm close to Tinley Park and handle cases throughout the southwest suburbs regularly.
My goal is always the same: get you every dollar you deserve as quickly as possible.
When we win:
If we lose—which is rare—you owe me nothing. I eat the costs I've advanced. That's the deal.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
You pay nothing out of pocket. I advance all case costs—filing fees, expert witnesses, medical records, everything.
I only get paid if you get paid first.
For workers' comp cases, my fee is 20% (set by Illinois 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. If we lose your case, you owe me nothing. I eat the costs I've advanced. That's my promise to you.
Injuries don't wait for business hours. You might be in a hospital bed at 2 a.m. with questions. You might get a call from an insurance adjuster on Sunday morning and not know how to respond.
Call me anytime. I'm available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I mean that. When you call, you get actual help—not voicemail, not an answering service. Real help.
I don't run a mill. When you hire me, you work with me—not some paralegal or junior associate who doesn't know your name.
Everyone on my team is trained to understand that winning your case while treating you with respect and honesty is our number one goal. You'll get your calls returned. You'll know where your case stands. You'll have your questions answered.
When you hire me, you work with me. That's what client service looks like in my practice.
I've invested over $100,000 flying around the country studying with the best trial lawyers in America:
Not one in 10,000 lawyers has done this level of training. I did it so you get the absolute best representation possible when you're up against insurance companies with unlimited resources and teams of lawyers.
This training gives me tools and techniques that most lawyers will never learn. It's why I win cases other lawyers can't. As your Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney, you benefit directly from this investment.
When my dad got hurt, his lawyer treated him like garbage. I promised myself I would never do that to anyone.
Every single client I represent gets treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Not because it's good marketing, but because that's how human beings should be treated when they're at their most vulnerable.
You're not a case number to me. You're a person who got hurt and needs help. That's how I approach every case, and that's what you'll experience when you work with me.
Even if you think you're fine, see a doctor immediately after an accident. Some injuries don't show symptoms right away—whiplash, concussions, internal injuries.
If you wait days or weeks to seek 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 immediately, even if you feel okay.
I already mentioned this, but it's worth repeating: don't give recorded statements to insurance adjusters without talking to a lawyer first.
These adjusters are trained professionals. They know exactly how to ask questions that make you say things that hurt your case. And it's all recorded and will be used against you later.
Just politely tell them you need to speak with a Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney first, then call me at (312) 500-4500.
Insurance companies monitor your social media accounts. They're looking for anything they can use against you.
The best policy: stay off social media until your case resolves. If you can't do that, at least don't post anything about your accident, your injuries, your activities, or anything else that could be twisted against you.
The insurance company's first offer is always—always—too low. They're betting you don't know what your case is worth and that you're desperate enough to accept anything.
Once you sign that release and take their money, you can't come back later for more. Even if you discover your injuries are worse than you thought. Even if you realize the settlement didn't cover your bills.
Before accepting any settlement, call me. I'll tell you if it's fair or if they're trying to rip you off. The consultation is free.
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 insurance companies. That's what I'm here for. As your Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney, I'll protect you from their tactics.
In Illinois, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. For workers' comp cases, it's three years, but you must notify your employer within 45 days.
Miss these deadlines and your case is over. Done. No second chances. No exceptions.
Don't risk it. Call me today.
Illinois law protects injured people through several legal theories:
You don't need to be a legal expert to pursue a claim—that's my job. But understanding that you have rights is the first step. As your Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney, I'll explain everything in plain English and guide you through the entire process.
What if you were partially at fault for the accident?
Illinois follows "modified comparative negligence" rules. As long as you're less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages. Your award just gets reduced by your percentage of fault.
Example: If you're found 30% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you'd recover $70,000.
Insurance companies love to inflate your fault percentage to reduce their payouts. That's why you need a skilled Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney who will fight to ensure fault allocation is accurate and fair.
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.
Insurance policies have limits, and Illinois law requires insurance companies to disclose those limits in certain situations.
I make sure we identify every available insurance policy—including umbrella policies and excess coverage that many people don't even know exist. The goal is to maximize your potential recovery by pursuing every available source of compensation.
A thorough Tinley Park Personal Injury Attorney explores all options. Sometimes there are multiple insurance policies that apply to your case, and you need someone who knows how to find them and pursue them.
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 Tinley Park 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 Tinley Park 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 35% at fault. Damages are $150,000. You recover $97,500.
Insurance companies love inflating your fault percentage to reduce their payouts. A skilled Tinley Park 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 Tinley Park 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 Tinley Park 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 Tinley Park 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 Tinley Park 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 Tinley Park 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 Tinley Park 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
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Main Office:
1000 Jorie Blvd Ste 204
Oak Brook, IL 60523
New Cases: 312-500-4500
Office: 312-895-0545
Fax: 866-629-1817
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