When you’re hit by another driver, your body will absorb some of that impact. Depending on the angle of the impact as well as the force behind it, you could be jostled lightly or whipped harshly around inside your vehicle.
What you may be interested in learning is that you could have a traumatic brain injury following a crash even if the crash didn’t seem that serious. If you are hit and suffer from whiplash or from a sudden stop, then it’s possible that your brain may have impacted your skull and suffered damage even if you didn’t actually hit your head.
Understanding coupe-contracoupe injuries
Coupe-contracoupe injuries occur when a person’s head whips back and forth or side to side suddenly during a collision. The brain may bounce around inside the skull, hitting the bone if the force is hard enough.
With coupe-contracoupe injuries, the brain usually hits one area of the skull before bouncing back and hitting the opposite side. This leads to a number of symptoms that may vary between patients.
Some of the common signs of a brain injury include:
- A loss of consciousness
- A loss of memory (amnesia)
- Disorientation
- Trouble concentrating
- Muscle weakness
- Changes in speech
- Changes in vision
Remember that brain injuries can be mild, moderate or severe.
What should you do after a car crash?
After a crash, it’s important for you to seek out medical care, even if you did not hit your head. If you are starting to develop symptoms such as a headache or trouble concentrating, there is a chance that you could have a traumatic brain injury.
Remember that these personal injuries aren’t always obvious. Sometimes, traumatic brain injuries develop over time and have a delayed onset. This is why it’s smart to go to the hospital after a crash even if you think you’re fine. With imaging tests, the medical team can make sure that you don’t have any bleeding on the brain or swelling that hasn’t yet produced symptoms. If a brain injury is identified, the medical team can help you by starting a treatment plan as soon as possible to minimize the complications of the injury.