Why you should call a lawyer if your loved one falls into a coma
When someone you love falls into a coma, calling a lawyer may not be the first thing on your mind—but there are many reasons why it is one of the most prudent and caring decisions you can make for your loved one.
The very nature of a coma means your loved one is no longer able to speak for themselves. It may fall upon you to speak for them. But what do you say? And to whom? There’s a powerful social taboo against seeking legal help when your loved one is still in critical care. And yet this is precisely when legal protection is most needed. You may be asked to sign waivers that deprive your loved one of their rights.
This is where having an experienced lawyer on board as soon as possible can help. Here’s how:
A lawyer can help you get to the bottom of why your loved one fell into a coma
One thing all comas have in common is that the brain is affected, which rarely happens without a proximate cause such as a traumatic head injury, stroke, or underlying illness. An experienced lawyer can help.
This is the time to ask the right questions on their behalf—to find out how they ended up in a coma in order to determine their best recourse for remedy.
If there was an accident, having an attorney on board is critical in gathering the information needed to bring legal action against the party or parties at fault. This is also true in instances of medical malpractice, such as an error made during surgery or deviation from the standard of care.
There may be another negligible cause for your loved one’s condition that you may not be aware of until a lawyer gets involved and analyzes the case.
An investigation can only start when someone is willing to ask questions and an experienced attorney will know the right questions to post to the right people.
A lawyer can determine options for recovering losses
One of the most difficult aspects of having a loved one in a coma is that the bills continue to pile up. It’s not just the cost of the medical care, but your loved one’s mortgage or rent, utilities, insurance, etc. which also continue to build up, even whilst your loved one fights for their life.
Future expenses also become a top priority. The severity of a coma frequently means long-term health complications—such as physical therapy to rehabilitate atrophied muscles or long-term medication—which invariably incurs additional expense.
Getting an attorney on board as soon as possible means giving your loved vital support with the day-to-day pains, that will either help them to focus on their recovery if they wake, or reduce the financial burden for family members if they don’t.
An experienced lawyer can help you change the outcome of the story
While it may be difficult, one of the best things you can do for your loved one is to prepare for all future outcomes. If they come out of the coma, they’ll benefit from having their financial and legal matters cared for so they can focus on regaining their strength. If they don’t, it’s important to recover financial losses for those they leave behind, particularly if they have a small child who needs to be provided for or a partner who will struggle to pay the bills on their own.
While a lawyer can’t change your loved one’s health condition, they can be there to fight for the best possible outcome on the worst day of their life.
We understand that the situation is overwhelming and when tragedy strikes, it can seem like all is lost, but know that you don’t have to confront these challenges on your own. If you have a loved one in a coma or another severe or life-threatening condition, call our attorneys to discuss the situation and potential options. The initial consultation is free.