Have you ever experienced a closed head injury? Even if it looks like it’s healed, there’s always a chance that these kinds of bruises have caused more damage than you think. A coup-contrecoup brain injury is a specific type of head trauma with potentially devastating consequences.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. It’s also in your best interest to consult with a skilled attorney to protect your rights and get you all the money and benefits you’re entitled to.

The seasoned New York construction accident attorneys at Schwartzapfel Lawyers can help you better understand your options after a coup-contrecoup brain injury. For a free consultation and so much more, simply dial 516-342-2200 or schedule online today. But if you’d rather read up on the subject first, please continue reading.

What Is A Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injury?

In a coup-contrecoup injury, the brain sustains damage at two points. “Coup” refers to the initial site of impact — the spot where your head directly collides with something. “Contrecoup” describes the damage that occurs on the opposite side of the brain.

Here’s how it happens: When your head experiences a sudden, violent jolt (like hitting your head against the steering wheel or suffering a fall), your brain moves within the cerebrospinal fluid in the skull.

First, it slams against the skull upon initial impact, causing blunt force trauma to the front of the brain. Then, due to the force of the blow, the brain rebounds and strikes the opposite side of the skull, creating a second injury on the back of the brain. The severity of each point of impact can vary dramatically.

Common causes of coup-contrecoup brain damage include but are not limited to:

  • Car accidents or motorcycle accidents
  • Severe falls
  • Sports-related impacts
  • Physical assaults

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, please call Schwartzapfel Lawyers at 516-342-2200 for a free consultation and/or case evaluation.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Coup-Contrecoup Injury?

The symptoms of a coup-contrecoup brain injury can be complicated because this type of hemorrhage can affect multiple areas of your brain. The areas damaged determine the specific issues you might experience.

To assist in understanding, the potential effects can be outlined based on the specific brain region affected. To wit:

Frontal Lobe Damage

The frontal lobe is the largest part of your brain tissue, responsible for vital functions like thinking, decision-making, and personality. Damage to this area can dramatically change how you act and function, potentially resulting in:

  • Difficulty concentrating and focusing
  • Memory loss, especially in short-term memory
  • Significant changes in personality and behavior
  • Impulsivity and poor judgment
  • Trouble understanding and expressing language (aphasia)
  • Impaired motor control, potentially leading to weakness or even paralysis

Parietal Lobe Damage

Located behind the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe processes sensory information and helps you interact with the world around you. Damage here may cause:

  • Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations
  • Loss of coordination and difficulty with hand-eye coordination
  • Difficulty perceiving temperature or pain
  • Trouble understanding spatial relationships (knowing where things are around you)
  • Challenges with reading, writing, or performing mathematical calculations

Occipital Lobe Damage

The occipital lobe, located at the back part of the brain, primarily controls vision. Injury to this area can seriously disrupt your ability to see, potentially causing:

  • Partial or complete blindness in one or both eyes
  • Difficulty recognizing objects or faces
  • Visual distortions, hallucinations, or blurry vision
  • Word blindness (inability to recognize written text)

Temporal Lobe Damage

The temporal lobe, located by your temples, plays a major role in hearing, memory, and recognizing smells and sights. Here, a coup-contrecoup injury may lead to:

  • Hearing loss or difficulty understanding spoken language
  • Memory problems, particularly with long-term memory
  • Problems finding the right words to express yourself
  • Changes in emotional responses and behavior

Additional Symptoms

Since a coup-contrecoup injury is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI), other general symptoms might also be present, including but not limited to:

  • Severe and persistent headaches
  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light or sound
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Fatigue and difficulty staying awake
  • Confusion, disorientation, and agitation

If you suspect you or a loved one has a coup-contrecoup brain injury as the result of an accident, don’t wait until it’s too late — seek medical attention immediately. This is highly important as even seemingly mild symptoms can indicate serious damage that requires prompt treatment.

Also, consider contacting a qualified attorney to protect your legal rights, as brain injuries can have long-lasting consequences that might require extensive compensation. The seasoned team at Schwartzapfel Lawyers can provide you with the legal representation you deserve. For a free consultation, dial 516-342-2200 or schedule with us online today.

How Is A Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injury Treated?

Treating a coup-contrecoup brain injury is often difficult because the damage can affect multiple areas of the brain. You’ll likely need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans or a computed tomography (CT scan) to identify damage.

Since everyone’s situation is unique, doctors then tailor their treatment plans to target specific problems you might be facing. That said, there are several common interventions, not limited to:

Physical Therapy

If the injury has caused problems with movement, balance, or coordination, a physical therapist can guide you through exercises to regain strength and improve your range of motion. Additionally, they can help develop personalized treatment plans to address specific functional limitations and enhance overall mobility.

Occupational Therapy

An occupational therapist helps you relearn the skills you need to function in your everyday life. This form of treatment can include working on skills like bathing, dressing, self-care, and even returning to work or school.

Speech Therapy

Damage to the areas of the brain responsible for language and communication can lead to issues like difficulty speaking, understanding others, or finding the right words in conversation. Speech therapy can help improve these language skills and teach you strategies for successful communication.

Cognitive Training

Many survivors of coup-contrecoup brain injuries experience challenges with attention, memory, problem-solving, and other thinking skills. Cognitive training uses targeted exercises to help strengthen these abilities and improve mental function.

For more on this and related topics, call Schwartzapfel Lawyers now at 516-342-2200 or visit us online today. No matter your situation, it will be our honor and privilege to fight — and win! — for you.

What Technology Can Aid Recovery?

Beyond traditional therapies, innovative technological tools can enhance your recovery, especially in conjunction with regular therapy sessions. Such tools, when used alongside regular therapy sessions, can significantly boost your recovery. For instance:

Apps Like Constant Therapy

This app provides a large library of exercises designed specifically to improve cognitive abilities affected by brain injury. You can practice at home and target specific areas of difficulty, like memory, reasoning, or attention.

Devices Like FitMi

FitMi offers targeted exercises and games to help rebuild the connection between your brain and body after a traumatic brain injury. It’s a strong option for helping to improve motor control and coordination in the comfort of your own home.

Every coup-contrecoup brain injury is different, and so is every person’s recovery. Working closely with a team of medical and rehabilitation professionals is essential for maximizing your recovery potential.

Here, your doctors and therapists can create a treatment plan specifically for your needs, helping you regain lost abilities and relearn essential skills. In effect, they will monitor your progress closely and make adjustments to ensure the plan remains effective.

Why Is Skilled Legal Representation Important?

A coup-contrecoup brain injury can turn your life upside down. Beyond the immediate medical crisis, brain injuries often have long-term consequences that significantly affect your ability to work, provide for yourself, and participate in the activities you enjoy.

To manage the lasting effects of the injury, you may need ongoing medical care and other forms of support.

That’s where a skilled personal injury lawyer can prove invaluable. Filing a claim or lawsuit while managing a traumatic brain injury is incredibly overwhelming. Thankfully, with the assistance of a seasoned attorney, you’ll receive help where it matters, including but not limited to:

  • Financial Compensation: Insurance companies don’t always fairly reimburse you for your expenses. The right lawyer will assess your situation and fight for the maximum compensation that covers expenses like medical bills, lost income, future earning potential, pain and suffering, and more.
  • Complicated Paperwork: The legal process surrounding brain injuries involves strict deadlines. Your seasoned lawyer will take care of all the paperwork and manage the legal system for you, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
  • Standing Up to Powerful Interests: Construction sites and insurance companies have significant resources. The right lawyer will represent your interests and fight to get you a fair outcome.

If you or a loved one has suffered a coup-contrecoup brain injury, please don’t try to handle the legal battle on your own. The seasoned personal injury attorneys at Schwartzapfel Lawyers have extensive experience dealing with motor vehicle accidents, construction injuries, and more. To get the legal know-how you deserve, reach out by dialing 516-342-2200 or visiting us online today!

What Should You Expect On Your Road To Recovery?

Cerebral contusions are always serious, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. The human body has an incredible way of overcoming injuries, and the brain is no different. With the right support and time to heal, you could very well see significant improvements in your functions and quality of life.

Targeted treatment can be required to address your impairments, but recovery is absolutely possible. In the meantime, it’s vital that you have qualified legal counsel. That’s where the award-winning legal team of Schwartzapfel Lawyers comes in.

We will fight tirelessly to get you all the money and benefits you deserve. From dealing with insurance companies to fighting to make you whole, you can count on us for your every legal need. To that end, we invite you to speak with our skilled personal injury attorneys directly by dialing 516-342-2200 today.

Day or night, in or out of court, Schwartzapfel Lawyers is always fighting for you!

DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this page should be considered legal advice. You should seek the appropriate counsel your situation requires. For more information, call 516-342-2200 now!

Sources

Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C. | Fighting For You

Concussion | Traumatic Brain Injury | CDC Injury Center

Contrecoup Brain Injury – StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf

Can Cognitive Training Result in Long-Term Improvement? | VeryWell Mind

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | NIH

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