Coup-Contrecoup Car Accident Brain Injuries

Colburn Law

Posted in Brain Injury on March 17, 2021

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) affect thousands of people each year. These injuries usually occur due to a violent blow or jolt to the head, or when an object penetrates the skull. TBIs often result in permanent complications and can be fatal without prompt treatment.

There are many types of TBI, including concussions, contusions, and coup-contrecoup injuries. Coup-contrecoup injuries occur when the brain hits the side of the skull, resulting in bruising and bleeding at the impact site.

Symptoms of Coup-Contrecoup Injuries

A coup injury occurs when the brain hits the skull at a single impact site. On the other hand, a contrecoup injury occurs when the brain hits the opposite side of the skull from where the initial impact occurred. As a result, you can develop a contusion, or a bruise, at the impact site.

A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when you experience a coup and contrecoup injury at the same time. The brain hits the skull at the impact site and on the opposite side, resulting in severe trauma and bruising. These injuries often occur in accidents involving excessive amounts of force, such as high-speed motor vehicle collisions.

Symptoms of coup-contrecoup injuries include the following.

• Severe or worsening headache
• Dizziness and disorientation
• Loss of consciousness
• Memory loss
• Vision problems
• Light sensitivity
• Lack of coordination
• Difficulty concentrating
• Ringing in the ears

Complications from Coup-Contrecoup Injuries

Depending on the severity and location of the injury, a coup-contrecoup TBI can result in permanent complications. In severe cases, you may experience coma, brain death, or be in a permanently vegetative state. Physical complications, such as seizures, hydrocephalus, infections, and persistent headaches, may also occur. Many coup-contrecoup victims also develop cognitive changes, such as memory and learning problems, communication issues, and difficulty performing executive functions such as problem-solving, multi-tasking, or decision making.

As a result, coup-contrecoup injuries can result in financial hardship, physical pain, and psychological suffering. You may need to pay for expensive long-term medical care, specialized therapies, and long-term care and disability accommodations. You may be unable to work for a long period of time and, depending on the severity of your TBI, be unable to return to your job at all. The physical and emotional complications of a coup-contrecoup injury can be difficult to handle alone.

Legal Options for Coup-Contrecoup Victims

If you developed a coup-contrecoup injury in a car accident, you may be eligible to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the other driver. Under Washington’s fault insurance laws, you have the right to recover compensation for your injuries if someone else was responsible for your collision.

You can claim compensation for your economic and non-economic losses after a car accident, including the following.

• All past and future medical expenses related to the injury
• Lost wages during your recovery time
• Loss of future earnings
• Property damage
• Disability accommodations
• Chronic pain
• Loss of quality of life
• Emotional distress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Insurance claims and lawsuits can help TBI victims secure the compensation they need to treat their injuries. However, you will need to provide clear evidence that the other driver caused the accident, and that the accident caused your coup-contrecoup TBI.

In these situations, a Seattle personal injury lawyer can help. Your attorney can evaluate your claim and gather the evidence necessary to prove your right to compensation. As soon as you receive medical attention for your injuries, contact a car accident lawyer to discuss your next steps.