Why choose GWC over other law firms:
 
When choosing a personal injury lawyer, it is imperative that you choose a law firm with the experience, knowledge, resources, staff and attorneys to maximize your recovery. Web site search engines may lead you to law firms that pay for their status or law firms that have hired sophisticated web designers who make it appear that their law firm is an expert in the field of personal injury law. Some of these law firms “blog” about serious cases leading the uninformed consumer to believe that they handle cases that they are not really handling. Recently when searching the web for a particular newsworthy case that GWC was handling, a different law firm appeared as if they were representing the family.
 
Some people feel comfortable with the family lawyer who handled a real estate closing, a DUI, traffic ticket or divorce. It is important to know that not all lawyers are alike. Some are general practitioners and some concentrate in other areas of law. Just like doctors, you would not see an internist to remove a brain tumor.
 
GWC is Illinois largest personal injury/workers' compensation law firm. Our 32 experienced trial attorneys actually represent every one of our clients and we pride ourselves on giving each and every client the excellent service and attention they deserve.
At GWC, you will talk to an attorney when you call, and you can rest assured that our “team approach” to representing our clients means that you will be able to speak to an attorney when you need to. We are Illinois’ largest because our happy clients continue to recommend their friends and family to our firm, simply because we get great results and give great service. No other law firm can make this claim.
 
With no case too big or too small we pride ourselves on getting justice for all of our clients. We spend the time and money necessary to prepare every one of our cases for trial, and the insurance companies and opposing lawyers know it. Our lawyers' expertise, vast resources, dedication to our clients and willingness to work tirelessly to maximize our clients' recovery add to our reputation with the lawyers we oppose on a regular basis. It is our work ethic and quality, coupled with the outstanding results we routinely obtain for our clients, that enables us to obtain the maximum results we get.
 
If a serious accident happens it is urgent that you or a family member acting on your behalf take immediate action to insure that your legal rights are protected. The more serious the injury, the more important it is that you have an attorney who understands what you do every day at work involved in investigating the accident and taking the necessary statements and photographs that are critical to a successful resolution of your case.
 
On November 11, 2007 brother Ernesto Oliva, a member of Carpenters Local 13 lost his life in a tragic fall down an elevator shaft at 211 W. Wacker Drive in Chicago, Illinois.  Within hours after this tragic accident occurred, insurance company investigators working in tandem with insurance company lawyers descended on the job site to begin their investigation. Statements and photographs were taken and the defense hired two of the foremost elevator experts in the country. Unfortunately it was not until more than a month later that our law firm was hired to represent the Oliva family. We immediately started our investigation into what occurred on that day and learned that all of the key witnesses had given their statements to the insurance company representatives. We also found that Ernesto’s employer, confused by a “well crafted” question posed by an insurance company lawyer, gave an inaccurate statement that could have denied Mrs. Oliva and her two young daughters the Workers' Compensation benefits that she rightfully was entitled to receive. What almost further compounded this tragedy was the fact that Mrs. Oliva was about to hire a general practice lawyer to represent her interests, because she was unaware of our law firm. Fortunately for the Oliva family, Ernesto had two brothers who were carpenters and were aware that GWC is a very experienced law firm capable of handling this extremely complex and difficult lawsuit.
 
Our next obstacle presented itself when we went to hire an expert witness. The insurance companies had already reached out to two of the most well respected elevator expert witnesses who are both located in Chicago. We were forced to go to California to find an expert for our client, adding additional difficulty and expense to this case.
 
This tragedy is another example of safety being ignored in order to save money. This tragedy should never have occurred.
 
It was our intention to prove that building management knew that this elevator was unsafe and did nothing to repair it. We also alleged that this elevator was in an unlit hallway because the building was in an energy saving mode, making it impossible to see that the elevator was eleven stories below when Ernesto entered the opened doors, falling 110 feet to his death.
 
Because of our knowledge of what you do every day, we were able to recover over $10 million dollars for this man's family, only 17 months after the tragic accident.