Brain injuries are among the most severe injuries resulting from car accidents. Coup and contrecoup are two forms of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that occur due to abrupt and forceful motion on the head, such as in a motor vehicle accident, fall, or sports injury.
Coup is a brain injury occurring at the trauma point when brain tissue directly absorbs the force of the impact. For instance, a coup may happen at the front side of the brain if the head’s front side is hit in a car accident.
In contrast, contrecoup brain injury occurs on the opposite side of the point of impact. Often, this happens because the initial impact’s force pushes the brain within the skull, which then strikes the opposite side of the head and injures the brain tissue there.
Read this post to the end to learn about coup and contrecoup brain injuries from car accidents.
What Is the Difference Between Coup and Contrecoup Injuries?
Brain injuries usually result from an external force, meaning something struck the head. Three distinct forms of injury can arise from this impact:
Coup Brain injuries
A coup is a brain injury that develops immediately just below the point of impact. Cuts, bruises, contusions, and other surface scars might assist in identifying the location.
The degree of severity ranges from mild to severe, and symptoms might include bruises, brain edema, and brain hemorrhaging.
Contrecoup Brain injuries
Contrecoup refers to brain injuries resulting from a head impact that makes the brain hit the other side of the head from the impact point. Car and motorcycle accidents are the leading causes of these injuries.
Unfortunately, contrecoup brain injuries are frequently ignored or undiagnosed because of their location. They can cause permanent damage to victims if undiagnosed.
Coup-contrecoup injuries
This kind of brain injury occurs to both the side of the head that was hit and the opposite side. Coup-contrecoup brain injuries tend to be misdiagnosed, leading to treatment on one side while the other is left untreated. These injuries pose an extremely high risk of permanent brain damage.
Coup and Contrecoup Brain Injuries from Car Accidents
A car accident’s impact can cause blunt force trauma to the head. Whether the head was struck by the vehicle directly or hit a heavy object, the trauma can shake the brain and result in a coup or contrecoup injury.
In a vehicle collision, hitting your head on the dashboard or steering wheel is the most common way individuals sustain coup-contrecoup injuries.
Whiplash from a vehicle accident might cause your head to smack the dashboard or steering wheel, inflicting damage that causes the brain to bounce to the other side of the head.
Symptoms of a Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injury
Symptoms of coup-contrecoup injury can be severe and appear days or weeks after the accident. A mild concussion, if overlooked, can be fatal if another injury develops in the same region before it heals.
Some signs of a coup and contrecoup brain injuries from car accidents include the following:
- Intense headaches
- Memory loss
- Dizziness
- Unconsciousness
- Muscle weakness
- Sensitivity to sound
- Impaired vision
- Trouble concentrating
Never overlook head trauma, as you could have a severe injury and risk of permanent brain damage. It is advisable to seek immediate medical treatment if you are in pain or experiencing other symptoms.
Identifying and treating these injuries early helps avoid severe repercussions, including brain hemorrhage, swelling, and skull fragments penetrating the brain tissues.
Damages Caused by Coup and Contrecoup Brain Injury
Coup and contrecoup brain injuries typically affect the frontal and temporal lobes. These injuries can cause various issues, including memory, verbal communication, decision-making, and coordination issues.
Other symptoms, like paralysis, difficulty swallowing, and attention deficit, may also manifest depending on the severity of the trauma.
Some of the damages you can claim in a coup and contrecoup injury from car accidents are:
Economic damages
Coup and contrecoup brain injuries from car accidents can cause significant economic effects and drastically reduce an individual’s quality of life. Most of these injuries have long-lasting consequences that can impact your whole life.
Brain damage can have the most severe economic impact. The cost of treatment alone can be extensive since these injuries require long-term therapy and medication.
You may also lose your job and the capacity to earn due to the disabilities inflicted by a coup and contrecoup injury.
If you have suffered a coup-contrecoup brain injury from a car accident, you can file a claim for the following economic damages:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Lost capacity to earn.
- Physical therapy costs
Non-economic damages
Also, you may suffer non-economic damages due to a coup and contrecoup injury. The emotional suffering caused by these brain injuries can significantly impact your relationships, social life, and general quality of life.
When a negligent driver causes an accident that leaves you with coup-contrecoup injuries, you can hold them liable for your damages.
Treating Coup and Contrecoup Brain Injuries
Severe coup and contrecoup brain injuries from car accidents often result in irreversible damage, making treatment a race against time and preventative measures.
A qualified doctor must attend to your injuries right away to make a diagnosis and administer treatment.
With a CT scan, your medical provider can assess the damage caused by the injury.
Doctors could suggest you use at-home rehabilitation measures such as rest and prescription drugs to manage the symptoms.
They may also perform surgery to lessen any bleeding or swelling in your brain, based on the severity of your condition.
A coup and contrecoup brain injury can cause long-term costs
The treatment cost of a TBI can amount to thousands of dollars, posing lifetime financial challenges.
Victims could undergo rehabilitation, retraining for a new job, dependence on others, and lifelong impairment. It is impossible to overstate the amount of pain and suffering caused by these injuries.
Considering this permanent and crippling damage, you can seek compensation if you sustain a coup and contrecoup brain injuries in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence.
You can receive compensation through a settlement or a personal injury lawsuit for the damages caused by coup and contrecoup brain injuries from car accidents.
Discuss your case with a personal injury attorney to know your legal options.
A Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Seek Compensation for Your Damages
The personal injury claims process can be complex and exhausting, especially as you undergo treatment for your coup or contrecoup injury.
A car accident attorney can handle the claims process while relying on legal knowledge to get you the necessary compensation.
Car accident attorneys help with the coup and contrecoup brain injuries from car accidents in the following ways:
Identify the at-fault party
Your lawyer must determine the negligent party who caused the car accident before you can recover compensation.
They will assess the details of the car accident responsible for your coup-contrecoup injuries to determine the at-fault party. After this, your attorney will evaluate your damages, assess their worth, and send the insurance provider a demand letter.
Gather evidence to prove liability
To be entitled to compensation for your injuries, your attorney must show that the negligent actions of the at-fault party caused you harm.
To prove liability, your lawyer will gather evidence, including medical records, video footage, pictures, witness statements, and auto accident reconstruction.
Negotiate a settlement offer
The insurer could attempt to lower your compensation to maintain its profits. They will likely make a lowball settlement offer and try to convince you to take it.
A car accident attorney can assist you in negotiating a fair settlement by demonstrating that the irresponsible actions of the at-fault party led to your injuries.
Represent you at trial
An experienced lawyer will also represent you at trial if required. The case will proceed to trial if you cannot reach an amicable agreement with the insurer.
Your attorney could represent you by gathering additional evidence, getting expert witnesses, and proving that you deserve adequate compensation for your injury.
Legal Help for Coup and Contrecoup Brain Injuries from Car Accidents
Consult a car accident lawyer who specializes in handling brain injury claims if you sustained a catastrophic brain injury in a car accident.
An experienced lawyer knows how to calculate the lifetime cost of the coup and contrecoup brain injuries from car accidents.
The lawyer will not try to lure you in with what appears as an attractive settlement, as most “settlement mills” do.
Legal Giant is a lawyer referral service you can use to hire an experienced car accident case to fight for you.
Contact us at (855) 740-5024 for a free, no-obligation consultation today.
