What Are Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries?

Traumatic brain injuries are some of the most life-threatening and life-changing types of injuries to occur in car accidents and other types of personal injury claims. The brain is one of the most delicate organs of the body, and even though it is protected by the strength of the skull, there are times when injuries can occur that are not visible and easily recognizable. One type of these injuries is called coup-contrecoup brain injuries. A Springfield brain injury attorney from Holley Rosen & Beard can assist with your claim.

What Does Coup-Contrecoup Mean? 

A coup-contrecoup injury is actually two different injuries. It relates to the violent movement of the head after a sudden, forceful impact occurs. These are closed skull brain injuries, which often means that there is no laceration or puncturing wound to the skull. There are three key factors to consider:

• A Coup Injury: The term coup refers to an injury that causes internal damage to the brain directly at or just beneath the site where the head impacted something. For example, if someone throws something at your head, a coup injury occurs at the location where it hit, and that is likely where the wound within the brain occurs.
• A Contrecoup Injury: A contrecoup injury is one in which the area of the brain opposite of the direct trauma location suffers the injury. This occurs when the force behind the injury is so much so that the head’s sudden and violent movement causes the brain to slam into the other area of the skull, located at the opposite side of the skull.
• Coup-Contrecoup Injury: When used together, this type of injury occurs when a blow or impact to the head causes damage to both sides of the brain. That means that the brain is damaged at the direct site where the impact occurred, as well as the opposite side where the force caused the injury.

Keep in mind that all types of brain injuries are very serious, and all require careful care from an emergency room. However, coup-contrecoup injuries are considered very serious and often life-threatening because of the overall impact and damage they can cause to the brain.

Car Accidents Can Create Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries

Though various types of personal injuries can result in coup-contrecoup brain injuries, car accidents are one of the most common causes for this to happen. They occur as a result of the fast, violent movement of the brain within the skull when one car strikes the other. When this happens, it causes the brain to forcefully move back and forth within the skull, causing damage to various areas of the skull. Some of the most impactful car accidents that create these injuries are those involving sudden collisions with fast-moving cars. The amount of force present can create incredible damage to the brain.

If you are feeling any changes in your ability to think, concentrate, or communicate, it is essential to get to an emergency room for help. Severe headaches, light sensitivity, and memory loss are some of the complications that you may notice first. Call the office of Holley Rosen & Beard today for a free consultation with a Springfield brain injury attorney.