Understanding Life With Locked-In Syndrome
LIS is most often caused by a brainstem stroke. It leaves a person conscious and aware, but unable to speak or move most parts of their body. For families, this can be difficult to process at first. Your loved one is still aware of what is happening around them, but their ability to respond is extremely limited.
One of the first realities many families face is the level of daily care their loved one will need. People with Locked-In Syndrome often need:
- Medical support: Your loved one may need continuous or near-continuous nursing care, along with respiratory support or airway management and assistance with feeding, often through a feeding tube.
- Communication and interaction: Many individuals rely on eye-tracking systems or other assistive communication devices, along with ongoing support to help them stay engaged and connected.
- Mobility and environment: Wheelchairs, positioning equipment, and home modifications support comfort, accessibility, and safety.
- Ongoing care: Long-term rehabilitative, neurological, and mental health care may be needed for both your loved one and your family.
People who have LIS may need this care for the rest of their lives.
Our Process
We guide you through every step with clear communication and compassionate support.
Free Consultation
Call us anytime to discuss your case. We listen carefully and answer all your questions with no obligation.
Medical Review
Our team conducts a thorough investigation with qualified medical experts to determine if malpractice occurred.
Legal Action
If we find evidence of negligence, we build a strong case and handle all legal aspects on your behalf.
Secure Recovery
We fight to secure the financial resources your family needs for long-term care and peace of mind.
The Long-Term Financial Reality
With this level of care comes significant cost. Even when families provide some care themselves, the need for professional support, specialized equipment, and ongoing treatment can quickly become a long-term responsibility. This reflected in the median costs for care in the state:
| Type of Care | Estimated Cost in Connecticut in 2025 |
| Private duty nurse (visit rate) | $165/visit |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (semi-private room) | ~$500/day / ~$15,208/month |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (private room) | ~$550/day / ~$16,729/month |
Source: Genworth
Annual care costs can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and over the course of a lifetime, those expenses may total several million. Limits on insurance coverage, gaps in long-term care support, and out-of-pocket expenses can place significant strain on a family’s financial stability.
For families in Connecticut, these challenges can be compounded by the overall cost of living. MERIC data from 2025 shows that the state ranks above the national average, with higher costs in areas like housing, healthcare, and utilities, all of which can affect the long-term cost of care.
Talk To Our Legal Team Today
We’re here to answer your questions and help you understand your options.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Legal Support Can Make Your Loved One’s Future Possible
In many cases, Locked-In Syndrome follows a severe stroke that could not have been prevented. Even with appropriate care, outcomes can be serious and life changing.
Assessing the Care Your Loved One Received
When a stroke is suspected, providers are expected to act quickly. This often includes recognizing symptoms, ordering imaging such as a CT scan or MRI, and determining whether time-sensitive treatment is appropriate. From there, decisions may need to be made about specialist involvement or transferring a patient to a facility equipped to provide more advanced care.
Where the Process Can Break Down
In some cases, questions arise from how care progressed over time.
That may include how symptoms were interpreted, how quickly decisions involving imaging and treatment were made, whether care was escalated appropriately, or whether a patient was prematurely discharged from the hospital or provider’s care.
Locked-In Syndrome Can Take Time to Identify
In the early stages after a severe stroke, medical teams are often trying to determine a patient’s level of consciousness and neurological function. That assessment can be complex, especially when movement and speech are limited.
In some cases, a patient who is conscious may be interpreted as unresponsive if subtle signs of awareness are not fully recognized. Small movements—such as consistent eye tracking or blinking in response to prompts—can be difficult to detect without careful, repeated evaluation. When those signs are not identified or explored, it can delay recognition of Locked-In Syndrome and affect when communication tools or supportive care are introduced.
Family members often play an important role in recognizing their loved one’s condition, as they may see these signs before medical staff do.
Bringing Clarity to a Complex Situation
For many families, the hardest part is not knowing how to make sense of everything that happened. Our role is to organize that information into a clearer picture.
Starting With What You Already Have
You do not need to have everything prepared before reaching out. Many families come to us with partial information, questions, or a timeline that still feels unclear. We help gather the details, identify what may be missing, and request additional records when needed.
Building a Complete Timeline
In stroke-related cases, timing often matters as much as the care itself.
We work to reconstruct the sequence of events—from the first signs of symptoms through hospital care, testing, and treatment decisions. This includes reviewing medical records, imaging, and provider notes.
Reviewing the Medical Details
Once the timeline is established, we consult independent medical experts to evaluate the care that was provided. This step helps determine whether decisions aligned with accepted medical standards or whether something may have been missed.
Explaining What We Find
As the review moves forward, we share what we are seeing in clear, straightforward terms. We will be clear if we find that your loved one’s care met the accepted medical standard or not. If there are questions or concerns, we will explain those as well.
You are never expected to make decisions without understanding the information in front of you.
Moving Forward at Your Own Pace
Some families choose to move forward with a claim. Others decide not to. Our role is to provide the information you need and support you in whatever direction feels right.
When You’re Ready, We’re Here to Listen
In the weeks and months that follow an LIS diagnosis, many families are left with questions about care, support, and what the future may hold.
For many families, the first step is simply finding a place where they can talk openly about what happened and begin to understand their options at their own pace.
If you would like to have that conversation, Newsome Law is here to listen. We offer free, confidential consultations so you can ask questions, share your experience, and decide what feels right for your family.
What Our Clients Say
Real stories from families we've helped through difficult times.
5.0
When you’re in a hospital bed all jacked up from an accident and you google best personal injury attorneys, this is who you will find, and they are. Never had been in a lawsuit before and had never needed an attorney. They took such amazing care of me, and handled everything so professionally. A great team of paralegals and attorneys. Thank you so much guys.
5.0
I am so pleased to have worked with this firm. They went above and beyond for my sons case. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone. Always communicated with us, always answered all our questions and fought for my sons case to get the best. Newsome Law thank so much again for all you did. God Bless!
5.0
Partnered with this law firm under unfortunate circumstances and ended up being a great success. They understood the mission and intent, and collectively, conducted all of the behind the scenes work, resulting in a successful end result. If you want one of the best, here’s your opportunity and highly recommended.
5.0
I am so pleased to have worked with this firm. The attention to detail, time spent one on one, not feeling like I was just a number and someone truly caring about what was going on with me and my case was more than I could have ever hoped for. I will use this firm again if I ever need one and will recommend to everyone who asks to reach out to Newsome Law if they find they ever need someone to represent them. More than pleased and happy with everyone and everything from the office. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
5.0
5 Stars???!!!! These guys deserve the universe!!!!!!! They came through with every promise and were professional, diligent, smart, friendly, and understanding of the situation I was going through every step of the way. Very happy with the customer service so if that’s a thing for you, that’s another reason to go here. Honestly you will be making a mistake if you don’t go here. Rich is top tier in the US for attorneys and he definitely fought hard to get the job done here. If you want your money… GO HERE!!!!!!!
5.0
Just an amazing experience with the Newsome Law firm. Our case was very sensitive and close to our hearts. We were treated with the utmost respect for our situation and everything was handled in a professional and timely manner. We cannot say enough good things about the entire team!
5.0
Newsome Law are fantastic! They have been working on my case for the past 3+ years and I have not once had a bad experience with anyone who works there. They have worked tirelessly to help me through my accident and the medical bills that loomed overhead. I am extremely pleased and grateful to have them, fighting on my side during this period in my life.
5.0
Selecting a Law Firm in a time of tragedy , is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. There are so many Firms out there that will chase you down , make unrealistic commitments and set unrealistic expectations. This is the last thing that is needed in such a painful and difficult time
Newsome Law Is a step above all the rest. They are not some run-of-the-mill Firm. But rather an experienced Team of established excellence and success. As one of Newsome Law’s grateful clients, they always operated in the best interest of my family. Were always available to take my call , and were compassionate to the pain and needs of my family. Newsome Law is the right Firm for you to choose.
5.0
Newsome Law represented me in a very positive manner. Always professional, courteous, supportive and attentive. They were always able to keep me apprised of the status of my case. The team on my case were always easy to work with and on top of all issues. I never had to wonder where we were at in the process. I would recommend them to anyone needing this type of help in the future.
Need to Speak with Someone New
Our lines are open 24/7. Call us anytime for immediate assistance.
Call Now: (407) 648 5977
