VanDerGinst Law PC

2 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Biography

Dennis VanDerGinst

Dennis VanDerGinst is a personal injury attorney, trial lawyer, and the Founder & CEO of VanDerGinst Law PC. He represents injured individuals and families throughout Illinois, Iowa, and other jurisdictions. For more than 30 years, Dennis has focused his practice on helping people navigate serious injury claims and complex litigation during challenging periods of their lives.

Dennis handles a wide range of plaintiff-side personal injury matters, including car accidents, trucking crashes, slip and fall injuries, dog bites, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury cases. His practice also includes Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs, as well as wrongful death and other complex claims involving substantial damages and disputed liability.

Throughout his career, Dennis and his firm have secured significant financial recoveries for injured clients. His work has been recognized by organizations such as Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Best Attorneys in America. He holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Dennis has also received regional and national recognition for his trial work, including honors from The National Trial Lawyers and repeated community-based recognition as the "Best Personal Injury Lawyer" and "Best Attorney" in Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois, the Quad Cities and Des Moines areas. These acknowledgments reflect a long-standing commitment to thorough preparation, courtroom advocacy, and client-focused representation.

Under Dennis’s leadership, VanDerGinst Law PC has been awarded the BBB Torch Award for Ethics, highlighting the firm’s emphasis on integrity, transparency, and professional responsibility in representing plaintiffs.

Dennis is licensed to practice law in multiple jurisdictions, including Illinois, Iowa, the District of Columbia, and various federal courts. His background includes extensive experience litigating cases involving complex medical issues, trucking regulations, product liability, traumatic brain injuries, and fatal accidents.

In addition to his litigation practice, Dennis has served in leadership and committee roles with organizations such as the American Association for Justice, the Iowa Association for Justice, and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He has also participated in litigation groups dedicated to advancing strategies in trucking, medical malpractice, brain injury, and mass tort cases.

Dennis was an early adopter of using digital platforms as a way to educate and inform consumers about personal injury law, insurance practices, and the legal process following serious accidents.

Through his podcast, Legal Squeaks, and his upcoming book, “Personal Injury Law Demystified: What to Expect When Navigating Injury Claims and Lawsuits,” Dennis explains legal concepts in clear, practical terms so individuals can better understand their rights and options.

Outside of his legal practice, Mr. VanDerGinst remains active in community and charitable initiatives. His philanthropic efforts have been acknowledged through recognition by GQ’s “Better Men, Better World Search.”

VanDerGinst Law PC

2 Best Lawyers awards

VanDerGinst Law PC logo

Overview

  • DePaul University, J.D., graduated 1989

  • District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar, 2022
  • Iowa, The Iowa State Bar Association, 1994
  • Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association, 1989

  • American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 2019 - Member
  • National Crime Victim Bar Association - former National Board of Directors member
  • Academy of Trial Professionals 2004-2005 - Member
  • Pound Civil Justice Institute 2004-2007 - Member
  • Trial Lawyers for Public Justice 1998-present - Member
  • Illinois Brain Injury Association 1996-present - Member
  • Brain Injury Association 1996-present - Member
  • Winnebago County Bar Association 1996-1998 - Member
  • Scott County Bar Association 1994-present - Member
  • Rock Island County Bar Association 1992-present - Member
  • DuPage County Bar Association 1991-1993 - Member
  • Cook County Bar Association 1989-1992 - Member
  • Chicago Bar Association 1989-1992, 1997-current - Member
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers 1996-1999 - Member
  • Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (National Advisory Board) - Member
  • Iowa Association for Justice 1994-present - Member
  • Iowa State Bar Association 1994-present - Member
  • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association 1992-present - Member
  • Illinois State Bar Association 1992-present - Member
  • American Association for Justice 1994-present - Member
  • American Bar Association 1989-present - Member

  • United States Court of Federal Claims 2020
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa 2017
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Federal Circuit 1990
  • United States District Court for Northern District of Illinois 1989
  • United States District Court for Northern District of Illinois 1989
  • District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar, 2022
  • Iowa, The Iowa State Bar Association, 1994
  • Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association, 1989
  • American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 2019 - Member
  • National Crime Victim Bar Association - former National Board of Directors member
  • Academy of Trial Professionals 2004-2005 - Member
  • Pound Civil Justice Institute 2004-2007 - Member
  • Trial Lawyers for Public Justice 1998-present - Member
  • Illinois Brain Injury Association 1996-present - Member
  • Brain Injury Association 1996-present - Member
  • Winnebago County Bar Association 1996-1998 - Member
  • Scott County Bar Association 1994-present - Member
  • Rock Island County Bar Association 1992-present - Member
  • DuPage County Bar Association 1991-1993 - Member
  • Cook County Bar Association 1989-1992 - Member
  • Chicago Bar Association 1989-1992, 1997-current - Member
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers 1996-1999 - Member
  • Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (National Advisory Board) - Member
  • Iowa Association for Justice 1994-present - Member
  • Iowa State Bar Association 1994-present - Member
  • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association 1992-present - Member
  • Illinois State Bar Association 1992-present - Member
  • American Association for Justice 1994-present - Member
  • American Bar Association 1989-present - Member
  • DePaul University, J.D., graduated 1989
  • United States Court of Federal Claims 2020
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa 2017
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Federal Circuit 1990
  • United States District Court for Northern District of Illinois 1989
  • United States District Court for Northern District of Illinois 1989

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Awards:
  • Top 25 Product Liability Lawyer (Illinois and Iowa)- The National Trial Lawyers

  • Best Lawyers in America

  • Honoree-Academy of Trial Professionals

  • Advocate – National College of Advocacy

  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers-American Trial Lawyers Association

  • Best Attorneys Network

  • Who’s Who in American Law

  • Life Member of the National Registry of Who’s Who

  • Top 500 Attorneys in America- Law Dragon Publications

  • Top 100 Litigation Lawyers-American Society of Legal Advocates

  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum

  • America’s Premier Lawyers

  • “Leading Lawyers” in Personal Injury Law

  • Nation’s Top 1% Attorney-National Association of Distinguished Counsel

  • Lifetime Honoree-Rue Ratings-Best Attorneys of America

  • Client’s Choice Award- AVVO Lawyer Rating Service

  • Superb Rating (10/10)-AVVO Lawyer Rating Service

  • Client Champion- Martindale-Hubbell

  • Best Attorneys of America, Rue Ratings

  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

  • Top 10 Asbestos/Mesothelioma Lawyers (Illinois and Iowa)- The National Trial Lawyers

  • Top 10 Trucking Lawyers (Illinois and Iowa)- The National Trial Lawyers

  • Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Des Moines- People's Choice Awards

  • Top 10 Nursing Home Lawyers (Illinois and Iowa)- The National Trial Lawyers

  • Top 25 Medical Malpractice Lawyers (Illinois and Iowa)- The National Trial Lawyers

  • Top 25 Brain Injury Lawyers (Illinois and Iowa)- The National Trial Lawyers

  • Top 25 Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers (Illinois and Iowa)- The National Trial Lawyers

  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers-The National Trial Lawyers

  • Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Best Attorney/Law Firm-Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois 2018,2020,2021,2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Reader’s Choice Awards

  • AV PREEMINENT Rating- Martindale-Hubbell

Additional Information

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Q&A

Three things that make our practice unique:

1.  We are the first, and perhaps only, law firm in our region to have been awarded the Better Business Bureau's Torch Award for Ethics.

2.  Unlike other law practices which handle injury claims on a contingency fee, we do not charge a cost retainer.  Most attorneys charge a cost retainer which can be hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. Our clients are never out of pocket a penny to hire us.  

3.  We mandate that clients are contacted at least once every 10 business days, even when there is nothing new to report.  That way our clients know we are on top of their file at all times.

Clients we are often asked:

Q: Do I need an attorney for my injury case?

A: The answer is usually yes, in order to make sure you are not taken advantage of, and to ensure that important evidence and deadlines are not missed.  Having an attorney usually results in more compensation for the inured person.

For more FAQs please visit www.VLaw.com.

 

I represented a young man who was seriously injured while heading to an emergency as a volunteer firefighter.  The defendant was driving a piece of farming equipment while drinking on the job.  He caused a crash which resulted in serious injuries to our client.  We were fortunate to get a good result for our client.  

Unfortunately, some defendants do not carry sufficient insurance coverage to fully indemnify the losses they cause. As a result, there are situations where clients may be unable to recover the full amount that the nature and extent of their injuries might otherwise justify. Having to explain these limitations to individuals who have been injured through no fault of their own is one of the most difficult aspects of this work.

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