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Kentucky Persistent Vegetative State or Coma Lawyers
Strong advocacy when family members suffer catastrophic injuries
Some accidents, such as car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents, can cause victims to lose consciousness for lengthy amounts of time. At Crandall & Pera Law, we have the experience and resources to hold drivers and others accountable when their negligence causes victims to live in a persistent vegetative state/coma. We work with family members to manage the victim’s medical care. Our Kentucky persistent vegetative state/coma lawyers demand compensation for your loved one’s medical expenses, loss of quality of life, and injuries if your family member awakens from a coma. We also file wrongful death actions if the persistent vegetative state/coma is fatal.
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Table of Contents
- What is a vegetative state or coma?
- What are the systems of a persistent vegetative state or coma in Kentucky?
- What are the complications of a persistent vegetative state or coma?
- How do doctors diagnose a persistent vegetative state or coma in Kentucky?
- What are the treatments for accident victims who are in a persistent vegetative state or coma?
- Who do you hold responsible when accidents cause victims to live in a persistent vegetative state or /coma in Kentucky?
- What damages can victims or families receive for accidents that cause a persistent vegetative state or coma in Kentucky?
- Do you have a Kentucky persistent vegetative state or coma lawyer near me?
What is a vegetative state or coma?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a coma is a disruption in brain activity. Victims are unconscious and generally cannot be awakened by outside interventions. Any accident victim who is in a coma requires immediate medical care. Many patients who are in a coma do wake up or move into another state of “decreased or minimal consciousness.” These alternate states include:
- Vegetative state. Here, the accident victim is awake but is not aware of their surroundings and does not exhibit any intentional behaviors, even if they open their eyes.
- “When a vegetative state lasts long enough, it’s known as a persistent vegetative state (experts define a vegetative state as “persistent” when it lasts at least three months when not related to trauma and at least 12 months when related to trauma).”
- “People in a vegetative state have recovered enough that they aren’t in a coma, but their brain’s abilities and activity are still very limited.”
- Patients can stay in a vegetative state for weeks, months, or even years if they have constant medical care. Most people in a vegetative state do not survive. The risks of complications are high.
- Minimally conscious state. Here, the coma victim does show some awareness of their surroundings and exhibits some intentional behaviors. Victims in this condition “can follow simple commands and say short phrases, but they can’t do these things consistently.”
What are the symptoms of a persistent vegetative state or coma in Kentucky?
The three main symptoms of a coma:
- Unconsciousness. This is essentially a deep sleep where the patient cannot be awakened.
- Lack of eye response. The victim’s eyes stay closed. Some reflexive movements, such as responding to light, may or may not happen.
- Lack of motor (movement) response. Accident victims in a coma do not move, though some reflexive responses may be possible.
Doctors use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to grade the severity of a coma. The GCS examines a patient’s eye, motor, and verbal responses. An overall score of 8 or fewer means the patient is in a coma.
What are the complications of a persistent vegetative state or coma?
At Crandall & Pera Law, we review with your loved one’s medical providers the likely complications that patients with a coma have because they cannot move, feed themselves, bathe, or take care of themselves. Coma patients require around-the-clock medical care. Most coma patients require a urinary catheter and mechanical ventilation to keep them breathing.
Possible complications include the following:
- Healthcare-associated infections
- Bedsores/pressure injuries
- Tube feeding
- Atrophy of muscles
- Blood clots
- Delirium
- “Tracheostomy for breathing support (usually only needed if a coma lasts more than two weeks).”
How do doctors diagnose a persistent vegetative state or coma in Kentucky?
Doctors normally begin their examination by conducting a neurological examination and the Glasgow Coma Scale test. If a patient has head injuries, additional tests can help confirm those injuries.
Additional coma tests include:
- Blood tests of blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and other laboratory tests.
- CT and MRI scans.
- An electroencephalogram (EEG) that examines your loved one’s brain’s electrical activity to help determine the severity of the coma and possible causes.
- An electrocardiogram (EKG) to detect or rule out heart rhythm disorders.
What are the treatments for accident victims who are in a persistent vegetative state or coma?
The treatments vary depending on the underlying cause(s). Early treatments help to stabilize the victim. These treatments may include:
- Glucose or insulin, which can raise or lower blood sugar levels. “Glucose can rapidly reverse a coma when given in time.”
- Medications to help reverse opioid overdoses, such as naloxone. “Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose in two to five minutes.”
Who do you hold responsible when accidents cause victims to live in a persistent vegetative state or coma in Kentucky?
Our Kentucky personal injury and wrongful death lawyers file claims against everyone responsible for the accident that caused your loved one’s emergency health condition. Depending on how the coma/vegetative state occurs, the defendants may include:
- Drivers of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles.
- Employers of drivers.
- Nursing homes.
- Construction companies.
- Healthcare providers.
- Property owners, such as when a slip and fall causes a coma.
- Manufacturers of defective products that cause a coma.
What damages can victims or families receive for accidents that cause a persistent vegetative state or coma in Kentucky?
At Crandall & Pera Law, we are in regular communication with families and the supervising physicians to understand your loved one’s medical condition and needs.
Our Kentucky catastrophic injury lawyers file personal injury actions. We demand payment for your loved one’s medical care, loss of bodily function, and inability to enjoy life’s pleasures. If your loved one survives, we can help you obtain compensation for their financial and personal damages due to their injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries or head injuries.
We file wrongful death claims if a coma/persistent vegetative state is fatal. Wrongful death damages include the funeral and burial costs, the outstanding medical expenses, the loss of financial support, and the loss of personal support your loved one would have provided.
Do you have a Kentucky persistent vegetative state or coma lawyer near me?
Yes. We meet accident victims and families at our office located at 201 E Main St., Suite 530, in Lexington, KY. We can make arrangements to discuss your case at your home or another convenient location if medical disorders prevent you from coming to our office. We also hold consultations by phone and through online video platforms.
We’re prepared to answer your questions, explain your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact our respected persistent vegetative state or coma lawyers today
At Crandall & Pera Law, we help accident victims who survive persistent vegetative states and comas — and their families when these catastrophic injuries are fatal. Our Kentucky personal injury and wrongful death lawyers understand the unique legal and medical issues that catastrophic injuries involve. If a loved one is in a persistent vegetative state or a coma, please call us or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to help you now.