Locked-in syndrome is one of the most profound neurological injuries a person can survive. It is also one of the most expensive. Families across Mississippi are facing that reality right now, trying to understand what comes next and who is responsible for getting their loved one the care they need.
At Newsome Law, we help those families. We investigate what happened, we work with medical experts to understand whether negligence played a role, and we fight to secure the financial resources a person with locked-in syndrome will need for the rest of their life. If your family is dealing with this, we’d like to hear from you. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.
The Lifelong Weight of Locked-In Syndrome
Locked-in syndrome typically results from damage to the brainstem, most often from a stroke or traumatic injury. The brain continues to function. Awareness, memory, emotion, and cognition remain intact, but the signals that allow a person to move their limbs, speak, or swallow no longer reach their destination. Most people with locked-in syndrome communicate only through eye movements.
What that means practically is this: your loved one will need round-the-clock medical support, specialized equipment, and likely some form of skilled nursing care for the rest of their life. That care doesn’t come cheaply anywhere in the country, and while Mississippi has a lower cost of living overall, long-term care costs here tell a different story.
| Type of Care | Estimated Cost in Mississippi |
| Private duty nurse (hourly rate) | $43/hour |
| Private duty nurse (visit rate) | $128/visit |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (semi-private room) | $114,975/year |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (private room) | $118,625/year |
Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey
The nursing home figures are worth sitting with. At roughly $115,000 per year for a semi-private room, a person living with locked-in syndrome for 20 years would require more than $2 million for facility care alone, not counting specialized medical equipment, communication devices, respiratory support, or the cost of home nursing visits.
It is also worth noting that while Mississippi’s general cost of living ranks among the lowest in the country, that affordability doesn’t extend evenly across healthcare. Specialized care for complex neurological conditions can be difficult to access in rural parts of the state, and families sometimes need to travel for the level of care their loved one requires. That travel, and the concentration of specialized providers in a few urban areas, adds another layer of financial pressure.
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.
Why Families Choose Newsome Law for Help Getting Answers About Locked-In Syndrome
We are not a firm that hands your case to a paralegal and checks in six months later. When you work with us, you have direct access to the attorneys who are actually handling your case. We work closely with medical experts who understand the neurology of brainstem injury, the realistic trajectory of recovery, and what a lifetime of care genuinely looks like.
A successful outcome in a case like this can provide for:
- The full cost of long-term medical care and skilled nursing
- Specialized equipment, including eye-tracking communication systems and ventilator support
- Home modifications and accessibility accommodations
- Lost income, both your loved one’s and a caregiver family member’s
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
What we’re working toward isn’t just a settlement; it’s the financial foundation that lets your family focus on your loved one rather than on how you’re going to pay for next month’s care. We’ve seen what it means for families when that pressure is lifted.
Our consultations are free. We’re paid only if we recover compensation for your family. There is no cost to find out what your options are.
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We’re here to answer your questions and help you understand your options.
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When Locked-In Syndrome May Have Resulted from Medical Negligence
Not every case of locked-in syndrome involves negligence. Strokes and brainstem injuries can occur despite excellent care. We say that honestly because we believe families deserve honesty, not false promises.
But some cases are different. In some cases, locked-in syndrome was preventable, or its severity was made significantly worse, by failures in medical care. Those are the cases we’re built to investigate.
Mississippi Is the Center of the “Stroke Belt”
The time window matters enormously. When a stroke begins, brain tissue starts dying. Effective treatment for an acute ischemic stroke depends on intervention happening within hours. When that window closes because symptoms were missed, a transfer was delayed, or a patient was discharged prematurely or sent to a facility that couldn’t provide the right level of care, the consequences can be catastrophic and permanent.
Mississippi is the center of the country’s “Stroke Belt,” an area of the country known for high stroke mortality, and it has one of the highest stroke death rates in the nation.
The rural access issue deserves particular attention. In the Mississippi Delta and other rural parts of the state, more than half of residents must drive longer than 45 minutes to reach a specialized stroke center, according to reporting by KFF Health News and InvestigateTV.
Transfers Can Cost Patients Minutes They Can’t Spare
Research consistently shows that delays in hospital-to-hospital transfers for stroke patients worsen outcomes. The door-in-door-out (DIDO) time—the time between a patient arriving at a referring hospital and being transferred out—is a recognized quality metric in stroke care. The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association recommend that this transfer take no more than 90 minutes, yet national registry data shows the median DIDO time across hospitals is significantly longer.
In Mississippi, the median DIDO time is 146 to 209 minutes for acute ischemic stroke eligible for endovascular therapy, according to JAMA.
When we look into stroke and locked-in syndrome cases, we often find:
- A patient arrived at a rural emergency room with stroke symptoms, and transfer to a comprehensive stroke center was delayed
- Stroke symptoms were misread or ignored, and treatment was not initiated promptly
- A patient was discharged too early and suffered a subsequent event
- Warning signs that the patient or family reported were not acted on
Misdiagnosis of LIS
Misdiagnosis of locked-in syndrome itself is also worth understanding. Because the defining feature of LIS is preserved consciousness with an almost complete inability to move or communicate, it can be mistaken for a coma or vegetative state. Proper diagnosis requires specific evaluation for vertical eye movements and blinking, the signals through which most people with locked-in syndrome first communicate. When those signs are missed, a patient can go days or longer without appropriate care or communication, which is a profound failure with real consequences.
We evaluate these cases through a combination of legal and medical review. If something went wrong that shouldn’t have, we will find it. If negligence didn’t occur, we will tell you that, too.
How We Handle LIS Cases in Mississippi
We start by listening. We want to understand what your family has been through, what you observed, and what questions you’re carrying. From there, we obtain the complete medical record and put it in front of experts who understand what the standard of care required and where it may have broken down.
That review can take time. We don’t rush it, because the conclusions need to hold up. We’re not interested in chasing weak cases; we’re interested in cases where we can genuinely help a family.
If the evidence supports a claim, we can pursue one. We know how to work with economic experts to calculate what lifetime care realistically costs, and we know how to present that case in a way that reflects the true scope of what your family is facing.
Affording Legal Help With LIS Medical Bills
We work on contingency. That means no upfront fees, no hourly billing, no financial risk on your part. Our fee comes out of any settlement or verdict we obtain. If we don’t recover compensation for your family, you owe us nothing.
The consultation is free. You can talk to us, understand your options, and take as much time as you need before deciding whether to move forward. We will never pressure you.
Let’s Talk About What Happened
If your loved one is living with locked-in syndrome and you believe something may have gone wrong in their care, we’d like the opportunity to review it with you. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to reach out.
A free, confidential consultation costs you nothing, and gives you real information to work with. Newsome Law is here when you’re ready.
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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