Oak Brook attorney says zero-dollar insurance offers should be challenged

Scott DeSalvo says an insurer’s zero-dollar offer is often a negotiating tactic, not a final judgment on an injury claim. He says filing suit can force a real valuation and improve outcomes for injured people in Illinois.

Why it matters: - A zero-dollar offer can push injured people to abandon claims that may still have value. - DeSalvo says the first denial often reflects negotiation strategy, not the true strength of the case. - Illinois injury claims can be lost if the two-year filing deadline passes before a lawsuit is filed.

What happened: - Oak Brook personal injury attorney Scott DeSalvo said an insurance company’s initial zero offer should be treated as a challenge, not a conclusion. - DeSalvo recently handled a car crash claim that began with no offer and later resolved for a six-figure amount. - He said the shift came after the claim was pushed beyond the denial stage. - DeSalvo represents injury victims across Oak Brook, DuPage County, Chicago, and surrounding Illinois communities.

The details: - DeSalvo said initial denials often rest on disputed liability, disputed injuries, or an insurer’s view that the claimant will not keep fighting. - He said those positions often fall apart once evidence, medical records, and claim pressure are tested. - The insurer-side process runs at scale, with adjusters focused on valuation and no immediate urgency. - Injury victims often face medical bills, missed work, and time pressure while the claim is still unresolved. - Illinois law generally requires personal injury claims to be filed within two years of the injury date. - A slow response from an insurer can, in some cases, outlast the filing window without a formal denial. - DeSalvo said a filed lawsuit changes the insurer’s math because discovery, depositions, and trial exposure raise the stakes. - He said the first serious valuation often comes only after the carrier sees a lawyer prepared to try the case. - He warned injured people not to give recorded statements too early, accept early settlements before the full injury picture is known, or assume a denial is final. - DeSalvo maintains free educational resources at desalvolaw.com on insurance tactics, claim valuation, and Illinois injury procedure. - DeSalvo said he personally writes those resources, and users do not need to provide an email address or register to access them. - Consultations with DeSalvo are free.

Between the lines: - The message is aimed at countering a common insurer advantage: delay can work in the carrier’s favor when claimants are overwhelmed or unsure of the process. - The legal leverage, in DeSalvo’s view, comes less from arguing and more from showing readiness to litigate. - The release also uses a recent case result and awards to reinforce credibility, while noting that outcomes vary.

What's next: - DeSalvo says injured people should move quickly to preserve evidence and stay ahead of the filing deadline. - He says the claim posture can change once a lawsuit is filed and the insurer faces formal discovery and trial risk. - Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in future cases. - Case details were limited to protect confidentiality. - More information is available at desalvolaw.com.