How People End Up Here, and What We Actually Do About It
Locked-in syndrome most often follows a brainstem stroke. The brainstem is the structure that carries motor signals from the brain to the body, and when it is damaged, particularly the pons, those signals stop traveling. Cognition is preserved. The person can think and understand. But voluntary movement, speech, and most physical function are lost, typically leaving only the ability to move their eyes.
Stroke is one of the most time-dependent emergencies in medicine, and the difference between a meaningful recovery and permanent locked-in syndrome can come down to hours, sometimes less. That is why what happened before, during, and immediately after the stroke matters so much, legally and medically.
When we review a case, we are asking specific questions about that window of time:
- Was the stroke recognized for what it was? Was there a failure to diagnose the stroke entirely?
- Was intervention initiated quickly enough?
- If the facility where your loved one first arrived was not equipped to provide the appropriate level of care, was the decision made to transfer them? Was that transfer carried out without unnecessary delay?
- Were signs of a developing stroke acknowledged and acted on, or were they documented and set aside?
Locked-in syndrome also introduces a separate issue that families sometimes bring to us: the question of whether the condition was properly recognized after the injury. Because locked-in syndrome can appear superficially similar to a coma or vegetative state, it is sometimes misidentified.
A person who is fully aware may not be treated as such, which has consequences for their comfort, care, and legal rights. Families are frequently the first ones to notice that something is different. Those observations deserve to be taken seriously.
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 Financial Weight of Lifelong Locked-In Syndrome Care in Vermont
Vermont is a small, largely rural state, and that geography shapes what care looks like and often what it costs. Services that might be more accessible in a dense metro area require travel, coordination, and sometimes a level of resourcefulness that adds to the burden families already carry.
For a person with locked-in syndrome, the care required is extensive and permanent. It typically includes around-the-clock skilled nursing, respiratory support, feeding assistance, communication technology, and ongoing therapy. And these costs are significant.
| Type of Care | Estimated Cost in Vermont |
| Private duty nurse (hourly rate) | $153/hour |
| Private duty nurse (visit rate) | $175/visit |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (semi-private room) | $169,360/year |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (private room) | $186,333/year |
Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey
Vermont’s overall cost of living index sits at 113.5, more than thirteen points above the national average, driven in part by housing and healthcare costs that consistently outpace most of the country.
These are medians. For someone whose care needs are as intensive as locked-in syndrome demands, such as skilled nursing extended across many hours of each day, specialized equipment, adaptive communication devices, home modifications or facility placement, actual costs will often run considerably higher. Multiplied across a lifetime, the financial exposure a family faces is staggering.
Compensation recovered through a legal claim can be used to cover all of the following:
- Nursing care costs, both current and projected
- Equipment
- Modifications
- Lost income
- The full human dimensions of a life transformed by catastrophic injury
Getting that number right requires the kind of rigorous, evidence-based case-building our firm is experienced in.
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Why the Geography of Vermont Matters Medically
Stroke intervention is not available equally across Vermont. The state has one comprehensive stroke center in Burlington. The rest of the state, including large stretches of the Northeast Kingdom, the southern counties, and the rural corridor along the New Hampshire border, can be geographically distant from that level of care.
According to JAMA, the national median door-in-door-out (DIDO) guideline for stroke transfers (the time a patient spends at a community hospital before being transferred to a higher-level facility) is less than 120 minutes. In Vermont, the median DIDO time for acute ischemic stroke eligible for endovascular therapy is 132 to 144 minutes and 115 to 167 minutes for other acute ischemic stroke. For patients in rural communities who are already far from a comprehensive center before the clock even starts, delays at an intermediate facility can be particularly consequential.
This is a question we ask in every case involving transfer: Was the urgency of this situation met with the urgency it required?
What You Can Expect When You Work With Us
When you call us, you will not be screened by a questionnaire or handed off to a paralegal. You will speak with someone who wants to understand your family’s situation: what happened, what your loved one’s life looks like now, and what questions are keeping you up at night.
From there, if you decide to move forward, we gather the complete medical record and bring in the expert review that complex cases like these require. We work with physicians who understand the standard of care in stroke and neurological injury, and we build a case that reflects both what went wrong and what the consequences of that will be across a lifetime.
We will also be honest with you if our review concludes that the outcome, however terrible, does not reflect a breach of the standard of care. We do not tell families what they want to hear. We tell them what the evidence supports. That honesty is one of the ways we believe we actually serve the people who come to us.
Families have direct access to the attorneys on their case, not a queue of intermediaries, and we stay engaged and communicative throughout. People dealing with something this difficult should not have to chase down updates from their own legal team.
Get a Free Case Consultation
We represent locked-in syndrome families on a contingency basis. You will not pay any fees to retain us. We cover the costs of case development while the matter is active. We are compensated only if we recover money for your family.
The consultation is free. It is confidential. It carries no commitment. And there is no deadline by which you must decide. Take the time you need. When you are ready, call Newsome Law to get started.
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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