The world spins as you regain consciousness. You remember the flash of headlights, the screeching tires, and then nothing. Now, doctors say you suffered a coup-contrecoup injury, which explains why you're experiencing memory problems, headaches, and difficulty concentrating weeks after your accident.
Coup-contrecoup injuries are among the most serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that can occur in truck and motorcycle accidents. These TBIs happen when the brain sustains damage both at the point of impact and on the opposite side where the brain strikes the interior of the skull. A Richmond brain injury lawyer can help you understand your rights to compensation if you've suffered this type of injury.
What Is a Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injury?
Coup-contrecoup injuries occur in a two-stage process during violent impacts, like vehicle crashes:
- The coup injury happens at the point where the head is struck or makes impact with another object.
- The contrecoup injury occurs when the force of impact sends the brain slamming into the opposite side of the skull.
For example, someone riding a motorcycle could suffer an injury when his motorcycle helmet strikes the pavement (coup), and then when his brain rebounds against the opposite side of his skull (contrecoup).
Coup-Countrecoup Injury Symptoms
This dual-impact mechanism often produces more widespread symptoms than single-site brain injuries, including:
- Physical symptoms. Persistent headaches and dizziness might make simple tasks like grocery shopping feel impossible. Your balance may be affected, making you unstable on your feet.
- Cognitive difficulties. Memory problems and difficulty concentrating might make returning to work challenging. You might find yourself struggling to follow conversations or forgetting appointments.
- Emotional changes. Mood swings, irritability, and personality changes can strain relationships with loved ones. Depression and anxiety frequently accompany these injuries.
- Sleep disturbances. Many TBI victims find their sleep patterns disrupted, experiencing either insomnia or excessive sleepiness.
- Sensory problems. Blurry vision, ringing in the ears, or sensitivity to light and sound can make everyday environments painful.
Coup-Contrecoup Injuries From Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents create perfect conditions for coup-contrecoup injuries due to the exposed nature of riders. Our Richmond motorcycle accident lawyer has seen these injuries result from riders being thrown from their bikes during crashes.
Consider a motorcyclist traveling on I-95 near Richmond who was struck by a car changing lanes. His head hit the pavement (coup injury) before rebounding inside his helmet (contrecoup injury). Despite wearing proper safety gear, he could suffer cognitive impairments that prevent him from returning to his job.
While Virginia law requires all motorcycle riders to wear helmets, these safety devices can't prevent all brain injuries. The physics of a motorcycle crash can generate forces that exceed the protective capabilities of even the best helmets.
How Coup-Contrecoup Injuries Happen in Truck Accidents
The massive size difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles makes truck accidents particularly dangerous for brain injuries. Our Virginia truck accident lawyer understands that these collisions create tremendous forces that can violently jar the brain.
Imagine a family traveling on I-64 west of Richmond whose sedan is rear-ended by a semi-truck. The driver might hit his head on the dashboard (coup) before his brain rebounds against the back of his skull (contrecoup). Two years later, he could still struggle with memory problems and mood swings.
Truck accidents often cause multiple injuries, which can lead medical professionals to miss the signs of coup-contrecoup injuries during initial treatment. Many TBI symptoms may not appear until days or weeks after the accident, underscoring the importance of thorough medical documentation.
Virginia Law and Your Compensation Rights After an Accident
Virginia follows a pure contributory negligence rule under Virginia Code § 8.01-34. If you are found even 1% responsible for the truck or motorcycle accident, you may be barred from recovering any compensation at all. This makes it crucial to work with an experienced lawyer who can build a strong case demonstrating that the other party was 100% at fault.
If your personal injury claim is successful, you may recover compensation for:
- Acute medical care, like surgery to relieve pressure on the brain or address bleeding
- Future care needs, including specialized care at rehabilitation facilities and ongoing therapy sessions
- Lost income during recovery and reduced future earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Taken together, recoverable damages from brain injury claims can be substantial, exceeding $1 million in some cases.
Proving Your Brain Injury Case
Coup-contrecoup brain injuries present unique challenges because many symptoms aren't obvious or visible. Your legal team will need to demonstrate the full extent of your injuries using:
- Diagnostic imaging, such as MRIs and CT scans, showing the physical damage to your brain
- Neuropsychological evaluations that document cognitive deficits and their impact on your daily functioning
- Expert testimony from neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, and life care planners who can explain your injuries and future needs to a jury.
- Day-in-the-life videos showing how your injury affects daily activities
- Testimony from family and friends about changes in your abilities and personality before and after the accident
The statute of limitations in Virginia gives you just two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. By contacting a qualified Richmond brain injury lawyer early in your recovery process, you give yourself the best chance of receiving fair compensation while you focus on your recovery.
