Atlanta Locked-In Syndrome Lawyer

Locked-in syndrome is one of the most devastating neurological conditions a family can face. Caused by a severe brain stem injury, this rare disorder leaves a person fully conscious but unable to move or speak. Victims are literally “locked in” their bodies, with communication often limited to blinking. For families in Georgia, especially in Atlanta, the physical, emotional, and financial toll is overwhelming.

If your loved one developed locked-in syndrome after a traumatic brain injury, medical malpractice, or stroke mismanagement, you may have legal options. At Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC, our Atlanta locked-in syndrome lawyers help families pursue justice and compensation for long-term care, lost income, and the devastating impact of this condition.

Contact Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC to connect with an experienced team of legal professionals. An Atlanta brain stem injury lawyer in our office can discuss more in a consultation, including whether you can seek financial compensation.

What Causes Locked-In Syndrome?

Locked-in syndrome most often results from a catastrophic brain stem injury—specifically damage to the pons, which controls voluntary muscle movement. When this area is harmed, patients lose the ability to move or communicate, even though they remain fully aware of their surroundings.

Some of the most common causes include:

• Traumatic brain injuries from car accidents, truck crashes, or serious falls
• Medical malpractice such as failure to diagnose or treat a stroke in time
• Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) leading to stroke and brain stem damage
• Near-drowning incidents, which can cause oxygen deprivation and brain damage
• Surgical or anesthesia errors that reduce oxygen supply to the brain

Locked-in syndrome has no known cure, and is an expensive condition. Patients usually need advanced care which often requires 24/7 medical care, long-term rehabilitation, or placement in specialized nursing facilities—costs that can reach millions of dollars over a lifetime.

Seeking Compensation for Locked-In Syndrome

A personal injury claim is one way to seek financial compensation to defray the costs of this injury. Someone with locked-in syndrome could easily require a million dollars in care over one or two years. They might need home modification so that a loved one can live in a wheelchair, or they need to cover the costs of a facility.

Our team’s first goal is to identify the person responsible for the condition. Some people develop Locked-In Syndrome due to diseases like ALS or because a tumor grows on the brain.

But this syndrome might be the result of negligence, and we could sue for compensation from the person responsible:

• Motorists who caused a car accident which injured your loved one’s brain.
• Trucking companies which own the truck involved in an accident.
• Property owners if your loved one suffered a brain injury in a fall.
• Medical providers, including surgeons or doctors, whose malpractice led to brain injury.

Each case is unique. There is no one cause for locked-in syndrome. Sometimes nobody is legally responsible for this medical condition, but you won’t know that until you contact an experienced law firm.

Steps in a Legal Claim

A personal injury claim is one way to seek accountability and compensation. When dealing with a complicated medical condition like locked-in syndrome, your choice of lawyer matters. We know the steps needed to file an injury claim and negotiate a settlement.

1.       Medical review. Some people suffer locked-in syndrome because of a traumatic accident, while others are injured in botched surgeries or other medical procedures. We want to fully analyze your medical records to uncover the root cause.

2.       Investigation. Sometimes it is unclear if someone is legally liable for the injury. For example, a motorist is only liable if they drove negligently. A medical professional might be liable if they failed to treat a patient properly. These are fact-intensive investigations.

3.       Coordination with experts. Medical experts are a big help in these cases. They can help us understand what led to locked-in syndrome. They can also help us understand the full scope of your disability.

4.       Calculation of damages. These cases are enormously complex because we need to calculate future as well as past damages. Someone with locked-in syndrome will likely need years (or decades) of ongoing care. They also cannot work. We might request economic damages for past and future medical care, as well as loss of earning capacity.

5.       Negotiation with the defendant or their insurer. If we believe you have a solid claim, we can open negotiations to seek a settlement.

Our firm might also litigate the claim through the courts. Filing a lawsuit is a necessary step to protect a client’s rights. Georgia’s statute of limitations gives victims only so much time to file a lawsuit. We keep our eye on all deadlines and strive to have claims filed in the proper court well in advance of any deadline.

Compassionate Advocacy from an Experienced Law Firm

Families which have received a locked-in syndrome diagnosis are often at sea about what to do. They have hundreds of questions and real fears about the future. In this difficult moment, solid legal advice is necessary to help you plan.

Contact Chance, Forlines, Carter & King. Our legal team can discuss whether a lawsuit makes sense. We have ample experience working with medical experts, accountants, and life care planners to analyze the full cost of any medical condition.

The worst thing is to assume you have no case. It might be that your loved one’s stroke was preventable, and a negligent doctor is to blame for the fallout.

Speak with an Atlanta Severe Neurological Injury Claim Locked-In Syndrome Lawyer at Our Firm

Chance, Forlines, Carter & King is an established Atlanta personal injury firm with deep experience in medical malpractice. We understand complicated medical conditions like locked-in syndrome. And we can fully analyze the financial burdens on families after a tragic diagnosis.

Call our office to speak with an attorney in our medical malpractice law firm.  If a loved one is living with locked-in syndrome, we can meet to discuss the current prognosis and what steps to take to secure your legal rights.