Brain injury is most commonly caused by a direct blow to the head such as in
car accidents,
truck accidents, or
pedestrian accidents. Many times, these impacts can lead to a coup contre-coup injury. During an impact, the skull is temporarily bent inward, and impacts the brain. This is known as the coup injury. When the skull bends inward, it may set the brain into motion, causing
it to collide with the skull opposite side and resulting in a
contrecoup injury. The coup contre-coup brain injury often results in a contusion to the brain or bleeding.
Another type of brain injury is called acquired brain injury and results from depletion of oxygen to the brain. This causes the brain cells to die.
For more information on what causes brain injury, visit our
Resources page.