Wittmeyer Briefs-eNews Edition – January 2026

Hello friends,

Happy New Year! January is a time for fresh starts, renewed focus, and setting intentions for the months ahead—and we remain committed to showing up every day ready to advocate for those who need us most.

In this edition of Wittmeyer Briefs, you’ll find updates on what’s happening at the firm, highlights from our community involvement, and helpful resources around handling your settlement payout along with safe winter driving tips. You’ll also meet Terri, our amazing Legal Assistant and don’t miss the easy and healthy recipe in the “Cooking with RFW” section.  Thanks for inviting us into your inbox! We’re wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2026.

When you receive a personal injury settlement check, the journey isn’t over—planning matters. Here’s what to consider next:

• Protect your settlement funds — You may want to open a dedicated account and safeguard the money from careless spending or fraud.
• Create a financial plan & budget — Address immediate needs like medical bills or debt and set goals for long-term security.
• Understand tax obligations — While compensation for physical injury generally isn’t taxable, the money you earn from your settlement proceeds likely will be. You may want to consult a tax professional to understand your specific tax obligations, and do some future tax planning.
•  Update your estate plan — Review and consider updating wills, trusts, and beneficiaries to reflect the new financial situation and protect loved ones.
• Seek professional guidance — Financial advisors, accountants, and estate planning attorneys can help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
• Ask us for recommendations — Although our firm doesn’t provide any of these services ourselves, we are happy to refer you to an advisor who can assist you with any of these issues.

Read the full blog article for practical financial, tax, and estate planning steps.

Employee Spotlight: Terri D’Souza

This month, we are proud to shine the spotlight on Terri, one of our Legal Assistants here at RFW. Terri has been with us for 7 years and is an integral member of our team. Most clients have the pleasure of speaking with Terri at some point during their case timeline. As part of her role, Terri has the very important challenge of handling most of our clients’ lien negotiations that ultimately help to maximize the case recovery amounts for our clients. Terri is responsible for all aspects of our client settlement disbursements — from final paperwork to processing the final payout checks. She is typically the final step in our clients’ case journey and we couldn’t do what we do for our clients without her! Get to know a little bit about Terri…

Q: What do you enjoy most about your role at the firm?

A: The most rewarding and enjoyable part of my job here is lien negotiations and I love it when I am able to get a significant reduction on a lien for our client—that equates to more money in their pocket from the final recovery amount.

Q: What’s your favorite part of our office culture?

A: We are a tight knit group here at RFW and I really appreciate and value my co-workers who have also become friends over the years.

Q: What’s something fun your coworkers might not know about you?

A: I’m a bit of a “birder” and really enjoy keeping an eye on my backyard bird feeder and catching a glimpse of new birds on it.

Q: When you’re not at work, how do you like to spend your time?

A: I’m a huge sports fan with a particular passion for the Bears and Blackhawks (Fun Fact: Terri is a lifelong Bears season ticket holder, going back two generations! She doesn’t miss a Bears home game–especially this season! Bear Down 🐻⬇️). I also really enjoy taking in live music at various venues and trying new restaurants and bars in Chicago.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: I would most definitely return to Italy, but would also like to visit Ireland and Scotland.

Q: What’s your favorite local spot for coffee, lunch or a weekend treat?

A: I enjoy going to CoCo & Blu here in Arlington Heights for their cappuccino and quiche.

Safety Tips: Winter Driving

Winter weather in Illinois can change fast—bringing snow, ice, black ice, and reduced visibility that increase the risk of serious crashes. Preparing your vehicle, carrying a winter emergency kit, and adjusting your driving habits (like slowing down and increasing following distance) can make a big difference. It’s also important to know how to react if you start to skid, watch for high-risk areas like bridges and highways, and recognize when it’s safest to stay off the road altogether.

If a winter accident does occur, taking the right steps afterward can help protect your safety and your rights. Read our full blog for practical winter driving tips—and learn how we can help if you’re injured in a winter weather crash.

Read the full article

Q: Can I still file a claim if I was partially at fault in a car accident?

A: Yes. Illinois and Wisconsin follow a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover compensation as long as you were 49% or less at fault. Your compensation will simply be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if you are found 20% at fault, your recovery will be reduced by 20%.

If fault is disputed, having an experienced attorney becomes especially important to maximize your recovery.

2025 Food Drive

During our drop-off visit, we had a chance to meet Wheeling Township Supervisor, Maria Zeller Brauer, and learn more about Wheeling Township’s critical services, including home meal delivery, senior transportation, and help with public aid navigation.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed—your support made a real difference.

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Who says work can’t be fun and delicious? Our RFW family enjoyed an amazing feast of International themed dishes…and our talented team brought their A-game to the table!

From zesty bean dip and savory homemade mostaccioli, to mini empanadas, mini tequeños, and those crowd-favorite pies from Baker Square. The centerpiece? An unforgettable Southern rolled turkey breast with a special stuffing.

Hit play and celebrate the spirit of gratitude with us…because at RFW, we’re not just coworkers, we’re family!

________________________________________________

Cooking With RFW

A favorite recipe from the kitchen of an RFW colleague

Beth made these fresh, colorful caprese tortellini skewers for one of our firm potluck events. It’s an easy-to-assemble, healthy recipe that’s great for entertaining—perfect for your “Big Game” watch party next month!

Directions

• Cook the cheese tortellini according to package instructions. Drain and let cool slightly.
• Prepare remaining ingredients: halve the cherry tomatoes and tear basil into small pieces.
• Assemble each skewer in the following order:
• Half cherry tomato
• Basil
• Tortellini
• Mini mozzarella ball
• Basil
• Half cherry tomatoes
• Arrange assembled skewers on a serving platter.
• Brush generously with olive oil.
• Just before serving, drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Enjoy!

“Larry, his assistants, and the Wittmeyer firm are the best. From start to finish, they kept me updated, refused to give in to the insurance company and maximized my recovery. I highly recommend the Law Office of RF Wittmeyer.”

-Javier G.

________________________________________________

If we’ve had the privilege of working a case for you in the past, or we were able to assist in a referral, we’d appreciate you sharing a quick Google review to help other potential clients feel confident in choosing us. Simply click the link above or scan the QR code.

The greatest compliment we can receive is the trust of our clients. If you know a friend, family member, or colleague who has been injured and may need assistance, we’d be honored if you shared our firm. Every referral gives us the chance to provide compassionate support and strong advocacy to someone who truly needs it.

We’re Here for You

Please let us know if we can be of service to you, a friend or family member in a personal injury matter. Also, if you need help with a non-personal injury legal issue, we are happy to refer you to a well-qualified lawyer who can help. Call us anytime at (847) 357-0403 or visit InjuryLawAttorneys.com for a free consultation.

That’s all for now. We’ll be back in April with another action-packed edition of Wittmeyer Briefs-eNews Edition. Thanks for reading and please let us know if we can help you.

Are you enjoying the eNewsletter? We’d love your feedback on what you’d like to see more (or less) of. Please share any comments with our team at jm@injurylawattys.com.

Keep up with all the happenings at RFW by following our socials.