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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$6,900 Motor Vehicle Accident
Plaintiff suffered soft tissue injuries that impacted her ability to participate in daily life activities.
Car Accident -
$500,000 Construction Accident
Client was injured on the job and required a knee replacement, received $500,000 in compensation.
Construction Accident -
$500,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Jane Doe v. John Doe driver: King County Superior Court No. 02-2-26432-8 Seattle woman involved in a motor vehicle accident suffered spinal injuries to her neck and low back, radiculopathy, and a worsening of her pre-existing fibromyalgia.
Brain Injury -
$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 -
$150,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Our client was the driver of a car that was rear-ended. They sustained a concussion and neck and back injuries. To date, they have not been able to return to work due to post-concussive symptoms. Another good example as to why we need to have sufficient car insurance.
Car Accident -
$2,500,000 Medical Malpractice
Jane and John Doe v. Hospital XYZ (King County, Washington): A 53-year-old father underwent surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. During his first night, the patient was not assessed or monitored for over five hours. As a result, he developed a mucus plug, could not breathe, and suffered respiratory arrest and heart failure. The patient was revived but suffered catastrophic brain damage. He now requires care 24-7 from his wife.
Medical Malpractice -
$2,500,000 Medical Malpractice
John and Jane Doe v. HMO facility: The health care provider failed to diagnosis an intracranial aneurysm which ruptured and caused permanent brain damage to a 54 year old mother, grandmother and house wife. She will never work again and need care 24/7.
Medical Malpractice -
$8,500,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
We recovered $8.5 Million for the families of two victims who were killed in a head on collision after an impaired driver over the centerline on a highway on Whidbey Island.
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$225,000 Age Discrimination
Age Discrimination and Wrongful Termination: 62 Year old woman employed by insurance company for over 25 years years is replaced by younger and less skilled worker because of her age and her inability to be treated equally as younger workers. Our client claimed she was constructively discharged and was forced to quit. Settlement short of trial was for $225,000.
Employment Law
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.
