What is a coup contrecoup brain injury? A somewhat common type of brain injury, coup contrecoup, is a type of contusion that happens on both sides of the brain, due to the type and amount of force applied to the brain.
A traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain tissue suffers damage, but there are various ways this can happen, and injuries can also range from mild to severe, as well as permanent to temporary. A Charlottesville brain injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for your losses.
How Coup Contrecoup Brain Injuries Happen
A coup contrecoup brain injury occurs when there is so much force involved in the trauma to the head that the brain tissue slams into one side of the skull and then rebounds and slams into the opposite side of the skull. This causes damage to both sides of the brain. The force is great enough to cause contusions on opposite sides of the brain.
In some situations, this happens immediately, causing noticeable damage right away. With serious force, the impact on the skull causes the brain to bounce back and strike the other side of the head. This can immediately damage the brain tissue on both sides of the head.
The damage may be noticeable on both sides of the head from a CT scan, but it is very common for no injury to ever be noticed on an MRI or CT Scan. Any type of brain injury, including coup contrecoup brain injury, is serious and requires careful medical care right away. Not doing so can result in complications. Review our FAQs to learn more about brain injuries.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call (434) 817-3100
Common Types of Accidents That Can Cause Coup Contrecoup Brain Injuries
Coup contrecoup brain injuries may occur from traumatic accidents in which a person’s head rapidly accelerates, decelerates, or experiences impact forces. If you are in an accident in which your head moves rapidly forward or to one side and then back to the other, this can cause damage to both sides of the brain. Some of the most common causes of coup contrecoup brain injuries involving personal injury include:
- Vehicle accidents: The more force involved in an accident, such as due to a fast-moving vehicle or a large truck striking you, the more likely it is that a significant injury to the brain will occur.
- Slip and fall accidents: In some slip and fall accidents, the sudden blow to the head or any type of violent head movement during the fall can trigger this type of injury
- Sports accidents: Impact from sports activities can also cause this type of brain injury, often resulting in concussion-like symptoms
- Traumatic attacks: In some situations, any type of violence in which your body moves suddenly in a back-and-forth movement can cause this type of incident to take place
- Explosive blasts: In an explosive blast, such as in a lab or manufacturing location, the blast’s shockwaves can cause this type of effect on the brain tissue
Various types of accidents can lead to this injury, with various degrees of severity possible. If you were hurt in any type of accident involving force or you struck your head, seek medical attention immediately. You may feel okay right after the incident, but it could worsen rapidly into a life-threatening condition, so understanding the injury is important.
Symptoms of Coup Contrecoup Brain Injuries
It may not be clear from the accident that you have a traumatic brain injury right away. In some situations, you may feel out of it but not impaired. Yet, if you have any of the following symptoms, you should not wait but instead should seek help from an emergency room immediately after the accident:
- Onset of headaches: Headaches that do not improve, increase, or intensify, or are debilitating, could be due to a coup contrecoup injury. This occurs as pressure builds in the skull around the trauma locations.
- Dizziness and changes in balance: These symptoms can occur right away or develop over time and are often the result of damage to the brain’s tissues in areas where balance and coordination occur.
- Nausea: Many people experience bouts of severe nausea with or without vomiting. This can occur without feeling ill to the stomach.
- Seizures: The onset of seizures, a type of irregular electrical brain activity, can also be a sign of damage to the brain tissue, and some may also experience a loss of awareness, unusual sensations, or lost time without having a traditional seizure-like experience.
- Loss of consciousness: Many victims struggle with a loss of consciousness, in which they may pass out for a short time, and others may remain unconscious for a longer period of time.
- Vision or hearing problems. Look for blurry vision, focus problems, light sensitivity, or hearing issues like a buzzing noise, sound sensitive, or processing difficulties.
Whenever you have any changes in thoughts, behaviors, speech, senses, or thinking, seek medical care immediately. Note that all of these changes can be very obvious right away, while some may develop over a few days. The sooner a doctor checks you out, the sooner they can provide you with the important care you need.
Critical Reasons to Hire an Attorney if You Suffer Coup Contrecoup Brain Injury
After such a brain injury, the need for advanced medical care, therapy, and rehabilitation is likely, as is a long period of being unable to work and meet your day-to-day needs. Though the severity of such injuries varies, if you are unable to work, suffering from pain, or facing a long list of medical bills, hiring an attorney can be critically important.
In situations where someone else caused your accident or injury, seeking full and fair compensation for your losses is essential. You may need those funds to help you recover and maintain your life, especially in moderate to severe cases. Our legal team can help you recover those funds.
If your loved one is suffering from such an accident and now has complications from a coup contrecoup brain injury, do not hesitate to contact an attorney. Doing so can help you to get the money they are owed to help them recover, as evidenced by our Charlottesville verdicts & settlements.
Seek Out Care Immediately
If you were in an accident with a hit to the head or rapid back-and-forth movement, seek medical care immediately. These injuries can lead to long-lasting health problems and need to be evaluated quickly.
Then, contact a Charlottesville brain injury lawyer from MartinWren, P.C., who can help you recover losses from a coup contrecoup brain injury.
Call (434) 817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
