Wittmeyer Briefs-eNews Edition – July 2026

Hello friends,

As we move through the heart of summer, our team has been staying busy—both in the office and out in the community. In this issue, we’re sharing a look at some of the great events we’ve been part of recently, along with a few timely reminders to help keep you and your loved ones safe on the road.

With construction season in full swing and longer days bringing unique driving challenges like sun glare, we’ve included two helpful articles to keep you informed and prepared during your daily commute. We’re also excited to spotlight one of our team members and give you a glimpse into the people who help make our firm what it is.

And, of course, we’re rounding things out with a fresh, summer-ready recipe that is perfect for your next gathering or a simple meal at home.

As always, thank you for staying connected with us.

— Ron Wittmeyer, Managing Attorney

Construction Season Is Here – What Does That Mean For You?

Road construction is a sure sign of summer, but work zones bring more than traffic delays. Various factors contribute to the dangers of construction zones, which can quickly turn an ordinary drive into a serious accident. Learn what makes construction zones so dangerous, who may be responsible when a crash occurs, and the steps you can take to protect yourself.

Read the full article to stay informed before your next commute.

Employee Spotlight: Gianna Hesslau

This quarter, we’re shining the spotlight on Gianna, our Social Media Manager. Since joining the team in March, she’s done an outstanding job managing our social media platforms and bringing fresh, engaging content to life.

You won’t want to miss what she’s sharing—be sure to give us a follow (you can find all of our social links at the end of the newsletter)! In the meantime, we’d love for you to get to know Gianna…

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

A: Something I enjoy most about my role at the firm is being able to share the behind the scenes of what happens every day. I think I can speak for most when I say that not everyone knows what happens in a law firm or law in general. Being able to share daily happenings and helpful advice from our firm is such a blast.

Q: What motivates you when you’re having a busy or challenging day?

A: When I am having a busy or challenging day, I always look to my future for motivation. I love working towards achieving certain goals and when I remind myself of said goals it always helps me push through.

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

A: My favorite part of our office culture is how kind everyone is. Everyone goes out of their way to say hi and goodbye, share updates with one another and overall create a friendly environment. I will admit though my other favorite thing is the snacks in the break room.

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

A: Something fun that my coworkers might not know about me is that I am half Puerto Rican. My mom is from Puerto Rico and I am lucky enough to enjoy her cooking on the daily!

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

A: When I’m not at work I spend most of my time riding horses! I have been riding for over 13 years and compete at the national level in show jumping. If I’m not in office, I am most likely riding my, or someone else’s horse. I am very lucky to be able to both own and lease a horse and enjoy every aspect of the sport. When I am not riding, you’ll find me on the sidelines doing photography and videography of riding competitions and all kinds of events. I recently did photography at the first ever corporate event in the Obama Presidential Center, a super cool experience and one I hope to do again!

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

A: If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Rome. I love cathedral architecture, especially gothic cathedrals, and Rome is truly a city full of so much ancient art and buildings to soak in. From what I have seen it looks beautiful and I’d love to snag some pictures with my camera while being there.

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

A: My favorite local spot to grab a bite is Mitsuwa Marketplace. They have the best ramen I have ever tasted and the cutest bakery that has the most delicious Japanese Anpan (Sweet Red Bean Buns) that I can’t help but get every time I go. You can get so much there from boba, to groceries, and even books! I have been going there since my brother first took me at 12 years old and have loved it ever since.

Safety Tip: Don’t Let the Sunset Catch You Off Guard

Sun glare can turn a routine commute into a dangerous situation within seconds. Reduced visibility during sunset contributes to countless crashes each year, especially during busy rush-hour traffic. Although it may be difficult to see signals, pedestrians, and other vehicles, the driver maintains responsibility for adjusting their driving to keep others safe.

Our latest blog explores why these accidents happen, how drivers can reduce the risk, and what victims should know if negligence leads to injury.

Read the full article for tips on safely navigating the risks that dusk brings on the road.

Q: What if I don’t have health insurance? Can I still get medical treatment after an accident?

A: Yes. Under EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act), hospitals must provide emergency care—such as EMS and ER treatment—regardless of your ability to pay. However, this does not mean the care is free. You are still responsible for your medical bills, and non-emergency providers are not required to treat you without payment.

When you hire a personal injury lawyer, many medical providers are more willing to treat you because they know they can secure payment through a medical lien. This means the provider is paid directly from your settlement once your case resolves.

If you don’t have insurance, you may need to find a doctor who accepts lien-based treatment. Some unpaid bills may also go to collections, but collection agencies often cooperate once they know an injury claim is being handled by an attorney.

Getting the medical treatment you need and getting all of your medical bills covered after an accident is critical, but can be complicated and stressful too. We help our clients get the necessary treatment and get it covered even if they don’t have health insurance.

Our Team is Growing!

Team RFW has continued to grow in 2026 as we welcomed six new team members to the firm. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to:

• Jae Castro – Lien Specialist
• Chandler Sauer – Paralegal
• Maddie Keipert – Legal Intern

• Donatella Peri – Receptionist
• Cristinne Buliga – Legal Intern
• Karen Cameron – Executive Asst

We’re excited to have them on board and look forward to the contributions they’ll make to our team and the positive impact they’ll have on the clients we serve.

________________________________________________

Listen Up! Our First Podcast Episode is Now Live!  

We are so excited for the launch of our new podcast, Wittmeyer Briefs!

We took to the studio last month where our partners, Ron and Greg LaCost, sat down with host, Jim Mitchell, for a conversation around who we are, what makes us different and why we do what we do.

You’ll find our podcast episodes on the website and on our YouTube channel.

Watch episode 1 and be sure to check in monthly for future episodes where we’ll talk about various facets of personal injury cases. If you like what you hear, let us know!

________________________________________________

RFW + Gerry’s Café + Golf = A Great Day

We were a proud sponsor of the annual golf outing hosted by Gerry’s Café. Golfers and supporters alike hit the course for a fun-filled day all in support of Gerry’s mission to provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to earn a paycheck while connecting with and contributing to their community.

We pitched our tent, invited golfers to spin and toss for awesome prizes, kept everyone fueled with snacks and drinks, and raffled off a $100 gift card to Gerry’s Café. It was a fantastic day and we’re already looking forward to next year.

________________________________________________

Hey Nonny Office Outing was a Blast!

Our team had a great time unwinding after work at the June 26th Hey Nonny Hey Day Friday Afternoon Happy Hour in downtown Arlington Heights. As a long-time sponsor of the weekly event, we were excited to host the evening—bringing along giveaways, raffling off two $50 gift cards to Hey Nonny, and connecting with members of the community.

The RFW team enjoyed drinks, appetizers, and live music from Lynn Nardelli and Karl Kirkpatrick. Although the rain moved the party indoors, it didn’t dampen the energy—it was a full house and a fantastic night all around.

BTW…If songwriting and music is your jam, the 2026 Hey Nonny Songwriting contest was recently announced.

RFW is the lead sponsor of the contest and we can’t wait to hear from all the talented musicians who enter this year. Are you going to enter? Get all the details.

________________________________________________

Under Construction! Kenosha Office is Moving and Expanding.

Exciting things are happening at our Kenosha office! We’re expanding into a larger space on the second floor of the same building, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.

Work is underway to refresh the new space with a new layout and updated finishes—including a kitchenette (arguably the most exciting part of the move!). It’s all part of creating a more comfortable, welcoming environment for both our team and the Wisconsin clients we serve.

________________________________________________

Pickleball is in the Air!

Grab your paddles—it’s pickleball season! Our very own attorney, Larry Appelbaum, is serving up some friendly competition for a great cause as he hosts his 7th annual pickleball tournament in Vernon Hills, IL.

This year’s event will benefit both the Vernon Hills Park District Family Scholarship Program and the Nate Wasserman Camp Fund. On July 25th, 48 players will hit the courts at Deerpath Park in Vernon Hills, competing for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies, and plenty of bragging rights.

RFW is proud to sponsor this event and be part of the positive impact it brings to the kids and families these programs support. Game on!

Cooking With RFW

A favorite recipe from the kitchen of an RFW colleague

This black bean salad is fresh, flavorful and perfect for summer. It comes together easily and is perfect to bring to a back yard gathering or for a light lunch or dinner at home. Compliments of Ron’s kitchen and an office potluck favorite!

From Our Clients… ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Marina, my assigned attorney, was very thorough during the entire process. She made sure that I understood exactly what was going on so that I could make informed decisions. I highly recommend this law firm!! Ann and Mr. Wittmeyer were very accommodating as well. Thanks for everything.”

-Jovon S.

“Paula Candea is an amazing lawyer!!! If I could, I’d give her more than 5 stars. She is determined, constant and helpful. She worked on my case so hard while fighting for justice. Wittmeyer office are the best in the field. A firm dedicated to the people that everyone can count on.

-Gloria C.

________________________________________________

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.

We’re Here for You—And Grateful for Your Referrals

The greatest compliment we can receive is your trust. If you know someone who has been injured, we’d be honored if you shared our firm.

If you or a loved one needs help with a personal injury matter, we’re here for you! Even if you have 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.

Thanks!

That’s all for now. We’ll be back in October 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.