How Our Firm Helps Families Get Answers
When families reach out to us, the first thing we do is listen. You’ll have the chance to share what happened—when symptoms began, how care unfolded, what you were told along the way, and what questions have stayed with you since.
From there, if it makes sense to move forward, we gather the complete medical record and coordinate a review with independent medical experts. Their role is to examine the care your loved one received and compare it against accepted standards, i.e., what a qualified provider, acting reasonably under similar circumstances, would have done.
That review is thorough and honest. Sometimes it confirms that providers acted appropriately despite a tragic outcome. That clarity, while painful, has real value. It allows families to stop wondering and start moving forward with complete information.
The consultation is free and comes with no obligation. Speaking with us is simply a way to understand your options.
What the Review May Uncover
Stroke misdiagnosis doesn’t always involve an obvious error. More often, it unfolds through a combination of factors, such as:
- Symptoms that resemble other conditions
- A presentation that doesn’t fit the textbook picture
- Delays in imaging
- A decision to discharge before a full picture has emerged
Some of the most commonly missed strokes involve the brainstem. These strokes can present without the classic signs many providers are trained to recognize (no facial drooping or obvious arm weakness), making them particularly vulnerable to being attributed to vertigo, inner ear problems, or anxiety. Without the right imaging and the right questions, a patient experiencing a brainstem stroke can be sent home.
The standard of care provides a benchmark for evaluating what happened. It reflects what a reasonable provider, with appropriate training and resources, would have done in similar circumstances. The medical review examines whether that standard was met at every point in the timeline.
When a stroke goes unrecognized or untreated, the range of outcomes is wide. Some patients recover with partial impairment. Others face permanent disability. In the most severe cases, a missed brainstem stroke can result in locked-in syndrome, a condition in which a person is fully conscious but almost entirely unable to move or communicate, or death.
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 Stroke Treatment Looks Like in South Carolina
South Carolina sits within the Stroke Belt, a region of the southeastern United States where stroke mortality has been documented to be consistently higher than the national average. Within the Stroke Belt, the coastal regions of North and South Carolina and Georgia have average stroke mortality rates approximately 40% higher than the rest of the nation, a distinction researchers refer to as the “Stroke Buckle,” according to UMass Chan Medical School.
Geography plays a significant role in how stroke care unfolds here. South Carolina has made meaningful investments in telemedicine to extend the reach of stroke expertise into rural communities, and those efforts have expanded access, per the CDC.
At the same time, the shortage of specialized stroke treatment facilities in South Carolina results in geographical disparities in access to stroke care—and in the quality of that care—particularly for rural populations. For patients in areas without a certified stroke center nearby, the path to appropriate care depends heavily on how quickly symptoms are recognized and how efficiently transfer protocols are followed.
That context matters when reviewing what happened to your loved one. Whether they were seen at a community hospital without on-site neurology, transferred to a higher-level facility, or treated in an area where access to specialists requires telemedicine rather than in-person care—all of it is part of the picture the medical review examines.
Talk To Our Legal Team Today
We’re here to answer your questions and help you understand your options.
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What Comes Next If the Review Shows Something
If the review identifies a potential departure from the standard of care, we’ll walk you through what that means clearly and without pressure. You’ll have the information you need to decide whether to move forward, and you stay in control of that decision throughout.
Building a legal case from those findings involves establishing what care was provided, where it departed from accepted standards, and what that departure may have caused. Responsibility may rest with an individual provider, an emergency department, a hospital system, or more than one party. Our role is to investigate that carefully and honestly.
For many families, the goal isn’t punishment. It’s making sure the people they love have access to the care and support they need, both now and in the years ahead. A successful outcome in a stroke misdiagnosis case can help provide for ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, home modifications, lost income, and the full human cost of what your family has endured.
Things Worth Preserving Now
If you’re still early in this process, there are steps you can take to protect important information. Gathering medical records and imaging discs, writing down a timeline of events as you remember them, and keeping any discharge paperwork or notes from conversations with providers can all be valuable later.
Understanding Transfer Timing in South Carolina
One area the medical review often examines carefully is how quickly a patient was transferred to a facility capable of providing the level of care they needed. The nationwide benchmark for door-in-door-out time, i.e., how long a patient spends at the first hospital before being transferred, is 120 minutes or less for stroke patients who need a higher level of care.
|
South Carolina door-in-door-out time* |
|
| Acute ischemic stroke eligible for endovascular therapy | Other acute ischemic stroke |
| 126-131 minutes | 217-258 minutes |
Source: JAMA
The Cost of Long-Term Care in South Carolina
For families whose loved ones are living with serious or permanent effects of a stroke, the financial reality can be just as overwhelming as the medical one. Below are estimated costs for long-term care services in South Carolina.
| Type of Care | Estimated Cost in South Carolina |
| Private duty nurse (hourly rate) | $73/hour |
| Private duty nurse (visit rate) | $185/visit |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (semi-private room) | $108,000/year |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (private room) | $115,000/year |
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey
These numbers don’t account for medical equipment, home modifications, transportation to appointments, or the financial strain placed on family members who reduce their hours or leave work to provide care.
Why Families Trust Our Team With Their Loved Ones’ Cases
Families who come to us are usually carrying two things at once: grief and unanswered questions. Our job is to help with the second, so the first has room to settle.
We start by listening. Not by sizing up a case, but by understanding what your family has been through and what you still need to know. From there, we coordinate the medical review with qualified independent experts who can examine the care your loved one received with honesty and precision.
Throughout the process, you’ll have direct access to your attorney. We maintain a limited caseload so that each family receives the attention their situation requires. You’re never passed off to someone who doesn’t know your case.
We’ve worked on complex stroke and catastrophic injury cases, and we bring that experience to every stage, from the initial review through any legal proceedings that follow. And there are no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for your family.
Get the Clarity You Deserve
If your family is still trying to understand what happened, the consultation is where that process begins. It’s free, it’s confidential, and there’s no obligation to move forward. Our South Carolina stroke failure to diagnose attorneys are here to help you find answers at your pace, on your terms.
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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