The Questions Families Are Left With
- “The doctors said it was something else.”
- “They sent him home.”
- “By the time they figured it out, it was too late.”
These are the kinds of things families tell us. And behind each one is a version of the same question: Did this have to happen?
Stroke is one of the most time-sensitive medical events there is. The window for intervention is narrow, and every hour matters. That reality makes the initial emergency department evaluation consequential in a way that few other clinical moments are.
It also makes misdiagnosis more common than most people expect. Strokes don’t always arrive with textbook symptoms. Brainstem strokes frequently present as dizziness, imbalance, sudden vision changes, or severe headache. In a busy emergency department, those complaints can look like inner ear problems, a migraine, or anxiety. Without a high index of suspicion and appropriate imaging, a patient with a stroke can be sent home.
In Indiana, the geography adds another layer. Patients in rural counties may be evaluated first at a community hospital without full stroke capabilities. The decisions made in that setting, such as whether to image, whether to call neurology, or whether to transfer and how quickly, can be the difference between recovery and permanent disability.
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 an Independent Medical Review Actually Does
When a family reaches out to us, here’s what happens: we listen first, then we get to work.
We gather the full medical record and bring in independent physicians to evaluate it. The information and documentation we obtain may include:
- ED notes
- Imaging
- Nursing documentation
- Discharge instructions
These specialists in neurology and emergency medicine have no relationship with the treating providers and no stake in any particular finding. Their job is to assess the care against the accepted standard: what a competent provider, in comparable circumstances, would have recognized and done.
The review looks at specific decision points:
- Was imaging ordered, and if so, when?
- Were stroke symptoms recognized or attributed to something else?
- Was neurology involved?
- Was the patient discharged before the picture was clear?
- If a transfer was needed, how long did it take?
Here’s something we tell every family: the review doesn’t always confirm wrongdoing. Sometimes a stroke outcome is devastating, not because of anything a provider did wrong, but because a stroke itself is devastating. When the review reaches that conclusion, it still matters, because uncertainty is its own kind of burden, and replacing it with clarity, even painful clarity, is something families deserve.
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The Range of What Can Be Found
When the review does identify a departure from expected care, the specifics vary. Sometimes it’s a failure to order imaging promptly. Sometimes symptoms were attributed to the wrong cause and never revisited. Sometimes a patient was transferred too slowly to a facility capable of advanced intervention, and in Indiana, where comprehensive stroke centers are clustered in larger cities, that transfer delay can be significant.
In Indiana, the door-in-door-out time for transfers (i.e., how long it takes from when a patient arrives at a hospital to when they leave for a more equipped hospital) is:
- 132-144 minutes for acute ischemic stroke eligible for endovascular therapy
- 194-215 minutes for other acute ischemic stroke
Source: JAMA
The national guideline is fewer than 120 minutes.
The outcomes of a missed stroke run a wide spectrum from partial disability to severe cognitive impairment and catastrophic and permanent injury. In the most serious cases, particularly when a brainstem stroke goes untreated, a patient may develop locked-in syndrome, a condition in which full awareness is preserved but the ability to move and speak is almost entirely gone.
When the review shows that something should have happened differently, families are finally in a position to make an informed decision.
If There’s a Case: What It Looks Like and What It’s For
A stroke misdiagnosis claim is built on the findings of the medical review. It requires establishing what the standard of care was, how the care received deviated from it, and how that deviation contributed to the harm that followed. Depending on what the review uncovers, responsibility may fall on a single physician, an emergency department, a hospital system, or some combination.
The goal isn’t to extract punishment from anyone. It’s practical: when a family member sustains a severe or permanent stroke-related injury, the financial reality is immediate and relentless. Skilled nursing care alone can run over $100,000 a year in Indiana. That figure doesn’t include home modifications, rehabilitation, lost wages, or the years of ongoing support that catastrophic injury demands.
| Type of Care | Estimated Cost in Indiana |
| Private duty nurse | $70/hour |
| Non-medical in-home caregiver | $175/visit |
| Nursing home — semi-private room | $107,310 / year (~$8,943/mo) |
| Nursing home — private room | $123,918 / year (~$10,326/mo) |
Source: CareScout/Genworth 2025 Cost of Care Survey
A successful case can help secure the resources that make long-term care manageable — or possible.
One practical note: if you’re considering reaching out, preserve what you have now, such as medical records, imaging discs, discharge paperwork, or any written communication with providers. Write down the timeline while it’s fresh. These materials are the starting point for any review, and they’re easier to gather sooner rather than later.
On Transfer Times: A Note on Indiana’s Geography
Just over one-third of Indiana’s counties contain a certified stroke center, according to Indiana’s stroke registry. For patients who need to move from a first-responding hospital to a stroke center, the clock doesn’t stop at the first ER door. This makes what happens in that first emergency department all the more consequential.
How We Work
We keep our caseload small. That’s a deliberate choice, not a limitation, because the families we work with need and deserve real attention, someone who knows their case, answers the phone, and explains what’s happening without burying them in jargon.
Every client has direct access to their attorney from the first conversation to the last. We coordinate the independent medical review with qualified specialists. We explain what it finds, plainly and completely. And we don’t collect a fee unless we recover compensation.
We’ve handled complex stroke and catastrophic injury cases for many years. We know how these cases are built, what they require, and what they can mean for a family trying to find its footing after an event that changed everything.
Ready When You Are
There’s no wrong time to reach out, and no level of certainty required. Many of the families who call us are still working through what happened. That’s okay. The consultation is the beginning of that process, not the end of it.
It’s free. It’s confidential. It doesn’t obligate you to anything.
If you have questions, we have time for them.
What Our Clients Say
Real stories from families we've helped through difficult times.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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