Vertebral Artery Dissections Lawyer in Kirkland
Our Attorney at Lindquist & Kornfeld Understands Injuries in a Personal Way
A vertebral artery dissection is one of the most difficult injuries to diagnose and treat. It often poses a serious risk to a person’s health and, at times, may even be life-threatening—but many medical practitioners disagree on the most appropriate method of treatment.
If you have a vertebral artery dissection, you deserve the highest possible quality of care from your doctor. You also deserve to hold negligent parties accountable if they caused your injury, failed to diagnose it, or provided improper medical treatment. At Lindquist & Kornfeld, our lead attorney has nearly four decades of legal experience and a steadfast commitment to protecting the rights of the wrongfully injured.
The sooner we take on your case, the closer you are to justice.
Call (425) 657-5255 today.
What Are Vertebral Artery Dissections—and What Causes Them?
On the back of the neck near the spine are two vertebral arteries that, along with two carotid arteries below the jaw, send blood to the brain. A vertebral artery dissection is when the artery wall tears, and, as a result, blood begins to flow between the layers. The pooling of blood is referred to as a pseudoaneurysm.
Many cases are triggered by incidental minor trauma, but some appear to have no direct cause (i.e. spontaneous vertebral artery dissections).
Experts believe people may have a higher risk of developing this injury if they:
- Smoke regularly
- Experience one or more incidents of neck distortion (e.g. chiropractic treatment, blunt trauma, severe coughing/vomiting, invasive diagnostic procedures, hyperextension after lifting weights or playing sports, etc.)
- Have certain preexisting conditions (e.g. high blood pressure, fibromuscular dysplasia, connective tissue diseases such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, etc.)
Our Proven Results
Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.
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$125,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Plaintiff suffered soft tissue, PTSD and left shoulder injuries. Plaintiff underwent left shoulder surgery and has been left with ongoing left shoulder instability and PTSD.
Car Accident -
$2,000,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Our client suffered injuries stemming from multiple motor vehicle accidents which occurred in a short period of time. Her injuries left her unable to return to work and with expensive medical bills for her treatment. After the accident, our client’s insurance company failed to pay her the benefits she was owed so Lindquist & Kornfeld stepped in to fight on her behalf.
Car Accident -
$939,000 Dog Bite Injury
$939,000 Dog Bite Case Settlement. Fascial Injury.
Dog Bite Injury -
$200,000 Race Discrimination
Fish processor recovers $200,000 for Race Discrimination aboard a fish processor because he was Hispanic.
Employment Law -
$34,500 Motor Vehicle Accident
Plaintiff was a passenger in a car that lost control and collided with a tree. Plaintiff sustained a left shoulder scapula fracture, depression and anxiety.
Car Accident -
$275,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Our client received a $275,000 third-party settlement after he was rear-ended and recruited our firm. The accident took a toll on our client’s spine and abdomen. He suffered a cervical strain, right trapezius strain, chest wall contusion, and abdominal wall contusion. Our client also sprained his left foot and ankle, sustained A.C. arthrosis and degenerative labral tears, and suffered mild chronic rotator cuff tendinosis.
Car Accident -
$200,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
A third-party insurance company tendered its $100,000 policy limits and our client’s insurer tendered its $100,000 underinsured motorist (UIM) limits after a rear-end accident resulted in whiplash, acute pain to the right knee and lower back, muscle spasm of the back, closed compression fractures, and osteoarthritis of the right hip and knee.
Car Accident -
$1,100,000 Car Accident
Knee injury of football player: $1,100,000 mediated settlement short of trial of knee injury of 30 year old football player following head on car collision.
Car Accident -
$350,000 Burn Injury
Burn Injury to Two Boys Playing With Gasoline: Homeowners insurance pays $350,000 to an 11 year old boy and owners’ policy limits- 2010
Burn Electrocution & Chemical Exposure
What Are Vertebral Artery Dissection Symptoms and Consequences?
The dissection can occur either in the neck (extracranial) or in the brain (intracranial), and the location of the injury affects long-term effects and likelihood of recovery.
Generally, the injury may cause serious symptoms and neurological consequences, including:
- Aches in the head, neck, and face (for up to 14 days before the dissection)
- Issues with senses (e.g. dizziness, vertigo, double vision, loss of taste, “whooshing” sound in one ear, etc.)
- Sudden loss of strength in one side of the body
- Stroke (when the pseudoaneurysm, or blood pool, bursts and floods the brain)
Compared to intracranial dissections, extracranial dissections are not as serious. Roughly half of patients with this injury will experience no brain dysfunction. About a fifth will experience mild dysfunction, and a quarter will experience moderate to severe dysfunction. Only 4% of cases are fatal.
Intracranial dissections, however, usually cause severe neurological dysfunction and/or subarachnoid hemorrhage, a life-threatening stroke. While a recurring injury is statistically unlikely, a patient with an intracranial dissection experiences a higher risk of recurrence for 10 or more years after the initial tear.
What Makes Our Firm Unique
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40+ Years of
Proven Legal ExperienceWith decades of hands-on litigation and negotiation, we bring a deep understanding of how to build strong, successful cases. -
Aggressive & Personalized
RepresentationWe tailor our legal strategies to your unique situation, relentlessly pursuing the maximum compensation you're entitled to. -
Committed to Securing
Justice for Each ClientWe treat every case with the urgency and dedication it deserves, ensuring your voice is heard and your rights are protected. -
No Fees Unless
We Win Your CaseOur clients can focus on healing while we fight for results—because we only get paid when you do.
Get in Touch with Our Legal Team As Soon As Possible
Of all possible injuries, those affecting the brain are some of the most critical and complex, with far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for both body and mind. Seeking immediate, high-quality treatment is often a matter of life and death—especially for vertebral artery dissections.
If you sustained this injury, the cause may have been a preexisting condition. However, your doctor is responsible for assessing your risk factors, treating your original conditions, and doing everything possible to prevent the onset of resulting injuries or illnesses. Furthermore, proper treatment after the dissection is crucial for your full recovery. If your doctor failed to perform their basic duty to you, they must be held accountable.
The dissection may, on the other hand, have been the result of negligent chiropractic treatment, an accident such as an auto collision, or an invasive diagnostic procedure. No matter the cause of your injury or your prolonged recovery, our team at Lindquist & Kornfeld is more than prepared to help you secure the compensation you deserve. Proving liability in court will help you attain the financial resources you need to pay for your recovery, and it will also send the message that negligence is unacceptable.
Schedule your free consultation or call us directly at (425) 657-5255 today. We accept cases in Seattle, Kirkland, Everett, Bellevue, and the Greater Washington State Area.
