Introduction:  A Hispanic male employed as a roofer in the southern suburbs of Chicago worked as a day laborer and would assemble with the crew at a Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot before proceeding to the worksite. Compensation was based on completed tasks rather than hourly wages. On one occasion, while working on a roof with colleagues, he encountered a hazardous condition due to the roof's excessive slipperiness and the absence of guardrails for safety.

Consequently, he fell more than two stories and sustained a head injury. This incident transpired on the day preceding Thanksgiving in 2020. The injured worker's brother engaged the services of Strom Advisory following the accident.

Challenge: The worker was unconscious and sustained catastrophic injuries, so he was transported to Cook County Hospital. At risk of death without intervention, Neal Strom visited Stroger Hospital in Chicago that evening and, with the family's consent, intervened in the patient's care. The current challenge was to have the patient transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago for further care, despite limited knowledge of insurance coverage options.

Approach: The Strom Advisory Group handled this personal injury case with a compassionate and carefully systematic approach. It started with an initial consultation and case assessment to determine its viability, followed by investigation and evidence gathering. In the discovery phase, the group began with interrogatories, questions posed to the other side, and simultaneously sent document requests to uncover all relevant information about the construction site, the involved parties, and potential responsible entities.

During depositions, Neal Strom asked questions to various parties, helping to clarify case issues and identify who might be liable. The group consistently strives to include as many parties as possible, such as potential defendants and sources for compensation at resolution or trial. Throughout this period, the client was always kept informed about what was happening and given the opportunity to participate in the case as much as he desired.

Results: Fortunately, the Strom Advisory Group was able to settle through negotiations, avoiding a trial. They secured access to top-tier medical facilities before the insurance was finalized. The patient was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after sustaining serious injuries, where he received excellent care. He was later transferred to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab downtown for rehabilitation and then moved to a group home for disabled individuals to continue daily therapy.

An investigation revealed that the homeowner had insurance, but the employer did not, and the individual's legal employment status remained uncertain. It was confirmed that a general contractor on-site had insurance coverage.

Thanks to these legal efforts, the client received treatment and rehabilitation, with the Strom Advisory Group securing over five million dollars in coverage for his medical, surgical, and hospital expenses. The case was settled for millions, enabling the client to support himself, his wife, and five children living in Mexico.