Difference Between Mild, Moderate, and Severe Brain Injuries

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Difference Between Mild, Moderate, and Severe Brain Injuries

The team of Arizona brain injury attorneys at Sargon Law Group have seen head injuries can occur in a wide variety of ways. The severity of a brain injury depends on several factors, including the intensity of the initial blow to the head or body as well as the success of any medical treatments after the injury occurs. Here, our Phoenix personal injury attorneys examine the difference between mild, moderate, and severe brain injuries. As we examine the difference between these types of injuries, our discussion will center around the symptoms that a person experiences and the amount of time it takes to recover.


What is a Mild Brain Injury?

Mild traumatic brain injuries are often referred to as concussions. These are the most common types of brain injuries that occur across the country. When a person experiences a concussion, there are various symptoms that they may or may not suffer from, including:

  • Loss of consciousness for a few seconds
  • A state of disorientation or confusion
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fatigue or drowsiness
  • Issues with speech
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Dizziness or loss of balance
  • Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
  • Memory or concentration problems


What is a Moderate or Severe Brain Injury?

A moderate to severe brain injury is substantially worse than a mild brain injury. Some of these signs and symptoms of a moderate traumatic brain injury can include the same symptoms as a mild brain injury as well as the following:

  • Loss of consciousness for several minutes to hours
  • Persistent headache that worsens
  • Repeated nausea and vomiting
  • Pupil dilation
  • Clear fluid draining from the nose or ears
  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Inability to wake up
  • Weakness or numbness in the toes and fingers
  • Extreme confusion
  • Loss of coordination
  • Combativeness, agitation, or other unusual behavior
  • Slurred speech


When a person sustains a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury diagnosis, this is worrying. The brain is a complex system in the human body, and it is often difficult for doctors to understand the full extent of an injury and whether or not any damage will be permanent. It is crucial for individuals to receive immediate medical care after sustaining a brain injury of any kind.


It is not uncommon for individuals who sustain mild traumatic brain injuries to make a full recovery within a week or so after the incident occurs. However, moderate to severe brain injury victims face a longer road to making a full recovery, if a full recovery is even possible.


Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries occur in a wide variety of ways. The mechanism of injury for a mild traumatic brain injury is often the same as the mechanism of injury for a mild to severe traumatic brain injury. Some of the most common causes of brain injuries in Arizona include the following:


If you or somebody you care about sustains a brain injury caused by the actions of another individual, company, or entity, you need to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. A skilled Phoenix brain injury lawyer at Sargon Law Group can handle every aspect of the case on behalf of an injury victim and their family members. They will investigate the incident, gather any evidence that can help prove liability, and handle all negotiations with the other parties involved. Contact us for a free case evaluation today.