The team at Newsome Law helps Washington families understand what happened. Not by starting with a lawsuit, but by starting with a review. We are here to listen, and the consultation is free with no obligation to move forward.
Call us when you are ready.
Getting Answers Is Where This Starts
When families reach out to us, they are rarely thinking about litigation first. Most are trying to make sense of something that upended their lives. They want to understand what happened at the hospital, whether the right steps were taken, and what it means for their family going forward.
That is exactly what we help with.
When you contact Newsome Law, here is what the process looks like:
- We listen first. You share your story in your own words and at your own pace. There is no pressure to take action of any kind.
- We gather the records. We collect your loved one’s medical records, imaging scans, and other documentation from their care.
- We bring in independent medical experts. Those experts review the care your loved one received and compare it against accepted standards, i.e., what a qualified provider, acting with appropriate caution, would reasonably have done under similar circumstances.
It is worth saying clearly: sometimes this review confirms that providers did everything that could have been done, even when the outcome was devastating. Many strokes cause permanent damage even when care is delivered correctly. If that is what the review finds, your family can move forward with that clarity. Knowing the truth, even when it is not what you hoped for, has real value.
The consultation costs nothing, and you are never obligated to take any further action.
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 a Review Actually Examines
Stroke misdiagnosis does not always look the same. Understanding how it happens is part of understanding whether it happened in your loved one’s case.
- Symptoms mistaken for something else. Stroke symptoms can resemble migraines, minor injuries, or a benign episode of vertigo. Without proper testing, a provider may send a patient home with the wrong diagnosis and no treatment.
- Brainstem strokes that don’t present in the classic way. The best-known warning signs (face drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty) are not universal. A brainstem stroke may instead cause dizziness, confusion, trouble with balance, or a sudden, unexplained change in physical or cognitive function. These presentations are easier to miss, and missing them carries serious consequences.
- Delayed or absent imaging. Imaging scans are a critical part of any responsible stroke evaluation. Delays in ordering them, or failing to order them at all, can push a patient past the narrow treatment window.
- Discharge before a thorough workup. Patients who are discharged too quickly, such as before imaging is complete or before a specialist has been consulted, may lose the opportunity for treatment that could have limited their injury.
- Prolonged transfer to a stroke center. The treatment window for stroke is very short, which means it is often a race against time for those who don’t live near stroke treatment centers. The nationwide guideline for door-in-door-out times (how long it takes from when a patient enters an ER to when they leave on their way to a comprehensive stroke treatment center) is fewer than 120 minutes, but ideally 60 to 90 minutes. According to JAMA, the median door-in-door-out time in Washington State is:
- 119 to 125 minutes for acute ischemic stroke eligible for endovascular therapy
- 217 to 258 minutes for other acute ischemic stroke
Healthcare facilities in Washington have protocols designed to prevent exactly these failures: review the patient’s history, examine them thoroughly, and order the appropriate scans. Any meaningful departure from those protocols can have permanent consequences.
When a stroke is missed, the range of outcomes is wide. Some patients are left with partial physical or cognitive disabilities. Others experience catastrophic injury. In the most severe cases, when the stroke damages the brainstem, the result can be locked-in syndrome, a condition in which the patient remains fully aware but is left almost entirely paralyzed, unable to communicate except through eye movement.
When the review reveals a departure from the expected standard of care, families can make an informed decision about what they want to do next.
Talk To Our Legal Team Today
We’re here to answer your questions and help you understand your options.
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If the Review Reveals a Problem
For families whose review uncovers evidence that something went wrong, the path forward involves understanding who may bear responsibility and what a legal case would need to establish.
Responsibility does not always rest with a single provider. Depending on what the records show, it may involve an emergency department physician, a hospital system, a specialist who was not consulted, or multiple parties.
The goal of legal action is not punishment. It is obtaining resources. Caring for a loved one with a serious brain injury, whether that means in-home care, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, home modifications, or simply lost income while family members step away from work, carries real financial weight.
| Type of Care | Estimated Cost in Washington |
| Private duty nurse (hourly rate) | $73/hour |
| Private duty nurse (visit rate) | $250/hour |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (semi-private room) | ~$13,000/month |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (private room) | ~$16,000/month |
Source: CareScout
A legal case, when appropriate, is a path toward securing the stability a family needs to provide for their loved one over the long term.
If you are not ready to decide anything yet, that is fine. There are steps you can take right now that simply preserve your options:
- Request copies of all medical records and imaging discs.
- Write down a timeline of what happened, including conversations with providers.
- Keep any discharge paperwork, instructions, or follow-up notes.
None of this commits you to anything. It just means that if and when you are ready to explore this further, the information is there.
Why Washington Families Choose Newsome Law
We understand that the hardest part of reaching out is not knowing what comes next. Here is what you can expect from us.
We start by learning your story, not by pushing you toward any particular outcome. We coordinate the medical review with independent experts qualified to assess the care your loved one received. You will have direct access to an attorney throughout the process, not a rotating staff of case managers. We keep our caseload intentionally limited so that every family receives the attention they deserve.
If your case moves forward, we work on contingency. There are no legal fees unless we recover compensation for your family.
We will never tell you what decision to make. Our role is to provide the information you need to make that decision yourself.
Take the First Step Toward Stability
You do not have to have it all figured out before you call. The consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to proceed. Many families who reach out are simply trying to understand what happened. That is enough of a reason to talk.
When you are ready, the team at Newsome Law is here.
What Our Clients Say
Real stories from families we've helped through difficult times.
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