You are likely carrying fear, grief, and growing questions about your loved one’s care and what your family’s future looks like. You may also be wondering whether the outcome could have been different.
At Newsome Law, we represent Illinois families affected by locked-in syndrome when medical negligence may have played a role. Our role is both to support you during this time and to secure the resources your loved one will need for lifelong care. If you would like to speak with us, we offer a free, no-pressure consultation.
Understanding the Long-Term Impacts of a Locked-In Syndrome Diagnosis
Locked-in syndrome is a rare but catastrophic condition in which a person is fully conscious and aware—able to think, feel, and understand everything around them—but almost entirely unable to move or speak. Their mind remains intact. What is disrupted is the connection between the brain and the body.
In most cases, locked-in syndrome is caused by a stroke affecting the pons in the brainstem. When blood flow to this area is blocked, movement and speech can be lost almost completely, even as awareness is fully preserved. Your loved one can hear your voice. They are still very much present.
For many patients, the only reliable movement is vertical eye motion or blinking. From that starting point, families learn to communicate and rebuild, but doing so requires substantial, sustained support.
The Care Your Loved One May Need
Locked-in syndrome demands continuous, high-level care across nearly every area of daily life. Most patients require around-the-clock nursing support, assistance with all personal care, and ongoing management to prevent serious complications such as pneumonia, pressure sores, and blood clots. Many rely on ventilators and feeding tubes.
Communication technology, such as eye-tracking devices and speech-generating software, can restore meaningful independence, but these tools are expensive and require trained support. Home modifications, adaptive equipment, and ongoing physical, occupational, and speech therapy add further to the long-term burden.
The cumulative cost is significant.
Cost of Long-Term Care in Illinois
| Type of Care | Estimated Cost in Illinois |
| Private duty nurse (hourly rate) | $76/hour |
| Private duty nurse (visit rate) | $180/visit |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (semi-private room) | ~$8,300/month |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (private room) | ~$9,200/month |
Source: Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey
These figures capture only direct care costs. They do not account for assistive technology, home modifications, equipment maintenance, transportation, or the income lost when a family member reduces or leaves work to become a caregiver.
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.
What You Can Expect When You Work With Us
When you work with Newsome Law, you work directly with your attorney. We take time to understand your loved one’s full situation, including their care needs and the impact on your family, because that shapes everything about how we build your case.
We engage qualified medical experts to evaluate the care your loved one received. We give you an honest assessment of what we find, regardless of what that shows.
If negligence played a role in your loved one’s diagnosis, we pursue compensation that reflects the full scope of what your family faces: lifelong medical care, assistive technology, home modifications, therapy, lost income, and pain and suffering. We limit the number of cases we take so that every family receives the attention their situation deserves. We approach every case with the commitment that reflects what is truly at stake.
A settlement or verdict will not restore the life your family had before this diagnosis. What it can do, however, is secure the resources your loved one needs to live with dignity and receive the quality of care they deserve.
Talk To Our Legal Team Today
We’re here to answer your questions and help you understand your options.
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Can a Medical Error Cause Locked-in Syndrome?
Not every case of locked-in syndrome involves medical error. Strokes can cause devastating outcomes even when care is excellent. Medicine has real limits, and we believe you deserve to hear that honestly.
At the same time, locked-in syndrome sometimes follows failures that could have made a difference, such as missed symptoms, delayed treatment, and decisions that closed the treatment window.
The Urgency of Stroke Treatment
When a brainstem stroke occurs, time is the most critical factor. Clot-busting medication and mechanical thrombectomy can restore blood flow and limit permanent damage, but only if administered quickly. Every minute of delay increases the extent of injury.
Brainstem strokes do not always present in the way strokes are typically recognized. A patient may arrive with sudden dizziness, double vision, slurred speech, or loss of balance, all of which are symptoms that can be mistaken for vertigo, migraine, or anxiety. When a patient is evaluated too quickly or sent home without adequate imaging, the treatment window can close entirely.
What a Legal Review May Examine
Depending on the circumstances, a review may look at whether providers:
- Failed to recognize signs of a brainstem stroke
- Dismissed symptoms or family concerns
- Delayed or failed to order appropriate imaging
- Sent a patient home without adequate evaluation
- Failed to administer available treatments within the appropriate window
- Failed to transfer a patient to a facility capable of providing necessary care
- Experienced communication breakdowns that contributed to the delay
Researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan found that shorter DIDO (door-in-door-out) transfer times reduce the potential for disabling conditions. This is especially true if the patient requires transfer to a more advanced facility. The DIDO time in Illinois for ischemic stroke that would be eligible for endovascular therapy is 126 to 131 minutes, higher than the maximum DIDO guideline of less than 120 minutes.
Source: JAMA
When Locked-In Syndrome Goes Unrecognized
Locked-in syndrome can be mistaken for coma or a vegetative state, especially as a patient may awaken from a coma with locked-in syndrome. A patient who is fully conscious may be treated as though they are not, excluded from decisions as they are left without any means of communication.
Families are often the ones who notice first: a deliberate blink, eyes that follow movement, a response too purposeful to be reflexive. When medical staff fail to evaluate or act on these signs, it can represent a failure of care in its own right.
Our Approach to Locked-in Syndrome Cases
We begin every case by truly hearing and learning your story. Before reviewing a single record, we ask families to walk us through what happened, from the first signs that something was wrong through the diagnosis and beyond.
We then gather the complete medical record and work with qualified medical experts to evaluate whether care met accepted standards. This review is thorough and honest. If the evidence shows that providers acted appropriately, we will tell you clearly. We do not pursue cases we do not believe in.
If the review identifies failures that contributed to your loved one’s diagnosis, we will explain what we found and what your options are. The decision about how to proceed always belongs to you.
Affording Legal Help in Illinois
There is no upfront cost to work with Newsome Law. We handle everything at our expense and are paid only from the compensation we recover. If we recover nothing, you owe nothing.
A free consultation carries no obligation. You are not committing to legal action by reaching out; you are only giving yourself the opportunity to understand what happened and what your options are.
Get Help from an Illinois Locked-In Syndrome Attorney
If you are carrying questions about how this happened, you deserve the chance to find out. Newsome Law is here when you are ready. Our consultations are free, confidential, and carry no obligation.
Whenever you are ready, we are here.
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. Frank and Laurie 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 Melton 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. Big shout out to Laurie who works her butt off day and night to get the job done!!! Frank give that lady a raise already haha!!! Honestly you will be making a mistake if you don’t go here. Frank 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 Melton 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 Jesse and the entire team!
5.0
The people at Newsome Melton 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. Frank and his team have worked tirelessly to help me through my accident and the medical bills that loomed overhead. I am extremely pleased and grateful to have Frank, Laurie, and the rest of the team, 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 Melton 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 Melton’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 Melton is the right Firm for you to choose.
5.0
Newsome Melton 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. Jesse Stern and 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.
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