Brain Injury Lawyer

Coup Vs. Contrecoup Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury can occur in different ways, including coup and contrecoup injuries. A coup brain injury happens at the same site as the impact. For example, if you are in a car accident and hit the side of your head on the window, you may suffer a traumatic brain injury at that location. A contrecoup brain injury, on the other hand, occurs on the opposite side of the impact. If you strike the left side of your head on the window during a collision, the injury may appear on the right side of the brain. This happens because the brain, which has the consistency of firm jelly, moves within the skull. The initial impact causes the first injury, and the brain’s movement inside the skull leads to the secondary injury on the opposite side.

When an impact occurs, it can injure both the initial trauma site and the opposite side, which is known as a coup-contrecoup injury.

All three of these injuries, coup, contrecoup, and coup-contrecoup are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These brain injuries are non-penetrating and usually the result of some heavy blunt force trauma from accidents like a fall, sports injury, car crash, motorcycle crash, and others.

Diferences Between Coup, Contrecoup, and Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries

• Coup Injuries: These injuries affect the brain at the site of the impact, and trauma can range in severity from mild to severe. There are usually signs, such as cuts, bruises, or contusions, that help to identify the location of the injury. Brain swelling, bruising of the brain, and hemorrhaging are all associated with a coup brain injury.
• Contrecoup Injuries: These injuries affect the opposite side of the brain where the impact occurs. Contrecoup brain injuries often go undiagnosed and may be overlooked, which increases the long-term risks for those affected. Victims of motorcycle crashes and rollover car accidents frequently experience these types of injuries.
• Coup-Contrecoup Injuries: These injuries a ect both the site where the impact happened and the opposite side. Car crash victims often sustain injuries when they hit their heads against the steering wheel, window, or dashboard. In many cases, healthcare providers diagnose these serious injuries only on one side or misdiagnose them, which can significantly increase the risk of permanent brain damage for the victims.

How Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries Happen

These injuries happen when an impact on the skull results in brain damage to two different sides of the brain. The following are ways that these injuries can occur:

Car Accidents

When a car hits another car or crashes into another object, then the trauma delivered to the brain can cause it to rattle around inside the skull and result in a coup-contrecoup injury. This is commonly seen in whiplash accident victims who strike their heads on a hard surface during a car crash as the result of the impact. The trauma can cause the brain to endure damage at the site of impact as well as the opposite end due to the brain bouncing to the other side of the skull.

Sports

Football, baseball, basketball, water sports, and even cycling all contribute to the 1.7 million people who su er from TBIs annually. Falling o of a bike, running into another competitor, being hit by a ball to the head, diving into a shallow end of a pool and striking your head, or being tackled can all lead to dangerous brain injuries, like concussions, coma, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as CTE, and coup-contrecoup injuries.

A concussion is bruising or damage to the brain, so it is often associated with a coup—contrecoup injury. While a concussion is known as a mild TBI, this just means that the injury is not threatening, it is still a serious injury that can disrupt your life, causing vision loss, confusion, unconsciousness, loss of balance, and nausea.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip-and-fall accidents may involve your head encountering a hard surface, like the floor or a wall. For example, if you slip on water in a restroom at a restaurant and bang your head on a sink, the impact could cause your brain to rattle, leading to a coup-contrecoup injury.

If the negligence of the restaurant or property owner contributed to your slip and fall accident, then you may be able to pursue financial compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against their insurance company.

Symptoms of a Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injury

Coup-contrecoup brain injuries may present specific symptoms within days to weeks following the initial trauma. If you have received a blow to the head for any reason, you should not ignore this injury as it could cause permanent damage to your brain if you choose to ignore it.

Below are various symptoms that are linked to a coup-contrecoup brain injury:

• Dizziness
• Loss of memory
• Severe headaches/migraines
• Loss of consciousness
• Sensitivity to loud noises
• Sensitivity to light
• Loss of vision
• Ringing in ears
• Muscle weakness
• Comprehension language troubles
• Inability to concentrate
• Difficulty swallowing
• Paralysis
• Trouble speaking
• Difficulty making decisions

Treating coup-contrecoup brain injuries can be difficult as often these injuries are irreversible. Address these injuries immediately to prevent further damage to the brain. Treatment can range from rest and medications to surgeries to reduce brain bleeding and swelling.

How Can Our Florida Brain Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton Help You?

Our Florida Brain Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have decades of experience handling personal injury accidents, like car crashes, sport-related catastrophes, and slip and fall incidents that may result in traumatic brain injuries. Our team knows how to identify the party responsible for your injury, gather the necessary evidence to prove their fault, negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance companies involved, and represent your best interests in court if we cannot reach an agreement with all parties.

At Whittel & Melton, we work closely with medical and financial experts to analyze the full cost of your TBI over the course of your life. We truly care about your well-being and making sure that you have the money you need to take care of yourself in the present and the future.

We urge you to act fast and reach out to us for a free consultation as soon as possible. Time can erase critical evidence needed to prove your case, and statutes of limitations may apply to your case. Do not hesitate to call us now at 866-608-5529 or contact us online 24/7. We offer free consultations, and you won’t have to pay any upfront fees to pursue your case. We only get paid if you win.

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