As experienced Virginia personal injury attorneys, we know that it’s hard to cope with any incapacitating injury in Virginia. But when it happens to someone you love, it can be even harder to watch him or her suffer than to be injured yourself. However, your relative does have one hope: you. Families of coma victims may not know that they can file an injury suit on their loved one’s behalf. The law will allow for surviving family members to seek medical payments and compensation for victims who are unconscious, unable to speak, or are in a state of altered consciousness. You may be able to get compensation for injury costs if your loved one is experiencing:
- Coma. If your loved one is unconscious and unaware of their surroundings, he or she is in a comatose state. Many people recover from a coma in a matter of days, but some will remain unresponsive for months or even years, requiring permanent hospital residence.
- Vegetative state. In some head injury cases, the brain will “shut down” in order to repair itself. This often results in a vegetative state: patients are not conscious or aware of what’s going on, but their eyes may be open and their reflexes may respond.
- Locked-in syndrome. This is a condition wherein the brain is conscious, but the body is unable to respond. Victims are awake and aware, but they are not able to speak or move their arms and legs.
In addition to medical costs, families may be able to pursue a medical malpractice case if the coma was a result of hospital negligence. Learn more by ordering a FREE copy of our book, Do I Have A Case? A Patient’s Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law, when you click the link on this page.Our Fairfax coma injury attorneys know that the loss of your loved one’s income and ongoing hospital treatments are putting a financial strain on your family. That’s why we are proud to offer a FREE, one-on-one case evaluation to answer all of your legal questions. Call Shevlin Smith today at 703-721-4233 or fill out our online contact form to get started.