If you are involved in a car accident, one of the injuries that you could suffer is called a coup-contrecoup brain injury. This kind of brain injury is among one of the worst because it impacts multiple areas of your brain.
A coup-contrecoup injury is possible in high-speed collisions and other accidents that are particularly jarring to the person inside the vehicle. As their head whips forward, around or side to side, the brain impacts the skull and takes on damage.
Understanding coup-contrecoup injuries
Coup-contrecoup injuries get their name from the French language. The term literally means “blow,” and “counterblow,” referring to the initial impact of the brain and then the secondary impact as it is moved in another direction.
A coup injury is the first injury that takes place. The contrecoup is the second. For example, in a case of acute whiplash from a rear-end collision, the person’s brain may whip forward and hit the front of the skull before being pushed backward into the back of the skull. The first impact at the front is the coup injury. The second is the contrecoup injury.
Does a coup-contrecoup injury always happen when the brain is impacted?
No. This is because the brain is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid acts like a cushion, so with milder impacts, there may be enough to help the brain avoid hitting the skull. Unfortunately, in situations with severe blows, the fluid may be pushed completely out of the way, which then allows the brain to hit the skull.
It is most likely for this injury to occur if your vehicle hits a stationary object or if you are hit when you are stationary. Any two regions of the brain could be impacted, and the symptoms that result will reflect the areas that were damaged.
You deserve fair compensation after being involved in a car crash
If you suffer from this kind of injury after a crash, it is worth looking into your options for compensation. You may need ongoing medical care, so it’s important that you have the financial cushion you need to focus on your recovery.