Car accidents and other mishaps frequently cause head trauma to Ohioans. Sometimes victims suffer brain injuries on opposite sides of their heads from a single blow. These types of traumatic brain injuries (TMI) are called coup-contrecoup injuries and are confined to specific areas of the brain.
How do coup-contrecoup injuries occur?
This brain injury occurs when the head receives a sharp blow, like hitting one’s head on a steering wheel during an auto accident or violently hitting the ground after falling. The location of the impact is the coup injury. However, because the brain moves within the skull, another area may hit the skull wall, causing a contrecoup injury.
Coup-countrecoup signs and symptoms
Coup-contrecoupe injuries can affect any two areas of the brain, but they don’t have to be exactly opposite of one another. Symptoms depend on what areas of the brain are affected, so different challenges may present themselves. The brain consists of four lobes, controlling the following functions:
- Frontal lobe – controlling higher cognitive functions
- Parietal lobe – processing sensory information
- Occipital lobe – primarily responsible for visual stimuli
- Temporal lobe – Processing auditory information and interpreting sight and smell
Most coup-contrecoup brain injuries require therapy
Diagnosing coup-contrecoup brain injuries can be difficult because of the variety of symptoms that ay be present. However, once doctors have made a definitive diagnosis for this personal injury, victims can go through rehabilitative therapies to treat their symptoms and return to as normal life as possible. Therapies can include:
- Physical
- Occupational
- Speech
- Cognitive training
If you or a loved one have suffered a coup-countercoup brain injury due to the negligence of another, you have the right to file a lawsuit. Compensation that you receive from a successful lawsuit can help pay for therapy, living expenses and more.