Woman who suffered critical head injury from falling concrete in Wicker Park says the trajectory of her life has been changed

Romanucci & Blandin, LLC a national personal injury firm primarily based in Chicago, held a press conference with client Annie Shea Wheeler, the 22-year-old woman who suffered a critical head injury on April 6 after being struck by falling concrete from a building’s facade in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.

Ms. Wheeler, who required brain surgery and has been hospitalized for two weeks with her injuries, made her first public comments about her experience. We have learned that Annie was taking her daily walk by the building at 1227 N. Milwaukee Avenue, was in the crosswalk and walking toward the scaffolding that surrounded the building, and that Annie had the expectation the scaffold would keep her safe from some unknown danger at the location. Wheeler was then struck by concrete and suffered a devastating injury.  Wheeler was a senior in college who is no longer able to attend her graduation in May and upon release from the hospital will be returning to her family’s home out of state.

“What I know is this. My injury that day has completely uprooted my life and changed the trajectory of my life. This hurts far beyond the already intense physical pain, as my entire world is also changing now as I leave everything in Chicago, my circle of friends and my community and all the plans I had for my future.  This tragedy at that building was clearly going to happen to someone. It was me,” said Annie Shea Wheeler.

“To say Annie Shea Wheeler is a fighter is an understatement. The extent of her head injury and emotional trauma is severe, and her doctors and loved ones will continue to support her as the longer-term impacts become evident. Our legal team is working diligently on the investigation into negligence by both the building owner(s) and the company charged with creating the scaffolding to keep the area safe. This tragedy is plainly one that was completely preventable with everyone involved knowing for weeks the risks that falling debris posed to city’s residents, and those responsible parties certainly didn’t care about the health and well-being of the community members near that crumbling property,” said Partner Bruno R. Marasso, Romanucci & Blandin.

The plaintiff Annie Shea Wheeler is represented by Founding Partner Antonio M. Romanucci and Partner Bruno R. Marasso.