We Are Selective And Committed, Digging Deep Into Every Case We Handle – That’s How We Have Developed Our Expertise.

The three attorneys standing together

What Are Coup & Contrecoup Brain Injuries?

| Nov 4, 2019 | Traumatic Brain Injury

Coup and contrecoup brain injuries are both terms that are used to describe traumatic brain injuries. They are commonly caused by falls, car accidents, and blunt force trauma. However, you may also pick up one of these injuries while playing sports.

Understanding the Differences Between Coup and Contrecoup Injuries

The main difference between coup and contrecoup injuries lies in the area of the brain that is affected. The following breakdown should make things a little clearer:

Coup Injuries

If your physician tells you that you have a coup injury, it means that your brain has been damaged directly beneath the area where you suffered an impact to your head. These injuries can usually be spotted by looking for surface bruises, cuts, and scrapes. Coup injuries can be relatively mild or quite severe and may lead to brain swelling or hemorrhaging if left untreated.

Contrecoup Injuries

Suffering a contrecoup injury means that your brain has been damaged on the opposite side from where your head was impacted. This type of injury occurs when a blunt force blow causes your brain to move around inside your head and crash into your skull.

Because contrecoup injuries are not always immediately noticeable on an external examination, it is a good idea to ask your physician to run some additional tests if you believe there is a chance that you have suffered an injury of this type. Undiagnosed contrecoup injuries can pose long-term risks to your health.

Coup-Contrecoup Injuries

If you suffer damage to both the impacted and opposite sides of your brain, you are said to have received a coup-contrecoup injury. Unfortunately, these injuries are often misdiagnosed – resulting in just one of the damaged areas receiving treatment while the other is overlooked.

If you believe that you have suffered damage to both sides of your brain, it is vital that you let your doctor know. They can perform tests to confirm the diagnosis and treat both injury sites as needed.

Treatment for Coup and Contrecoup Brain Injuries

The exact treatment that you are likely to receive for your coup or contrecoup brain injury will depend on the severity of the damage. For relatively minor injuries, physicians often prescribe medication and recommend that you take a few days off of work to rest and recuperate.

Unfortunately, many coup and contrecoup injuries are quite a bit more severe than that. If your injury has caused swelling or bleeding in your brain, you may need to have emergency surgery to reduce the symptoms and save your life.

If your coup or contrecoup injury has left you with any permanent or semi-permanent disabilities, you may also need physical therapy or rehabilitative treatment. In less serious cases, you may be able to get through your rehab in a matter of weeks. If your injuries are more serious, you may need to attend these sessions for the rest of your life.

Seeking Compensation for Your Coup or Contrecoup Injury

From the initial medical costs to the missed time in work and the ongoing treatment, receiving a coup or contrecoup injury can be an expensive affair. However, if your injuries were caused by the negligence of another party, you may be able to claim financial compensation to help you pay for these expenses.

The best way to find out for sure if you have a case is to speak with an experienced brain injury lawyer, like those at Doehrman Buba Ring. Your attorney will be able to review the facts of your case, let you know your chances of success, and give you an estimate of your eventual settlement.

Doehrman Buba Ring – Knowledgeable Brain Injury Attorneys in Indianapolis

The experienced personal injury lawyers here at Doehrman Buba Ring have been helping the people of Indianapolis seek compensation for their traumatic brain injuries for many years. When you need us, we will be there for you as well. All you need to do is give us a call at (317) 844-9999 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.