{"id":2675,"date":"2026-08-13T02:02:04","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T02:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/34-74-180-255.nip.io\/traumatic-brain-injury-guide\/tbi-severity-levels-explained\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T21:05:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T21:05:54","slug":"tbi-severity-levels-explained","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/traumatic-brain-injury-guide\/tbi-severity-levels-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"TBI Severity Levels: Mild, Moderate &#038; Severe Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-dark\" style=\"min-height:460px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-secondary-background-color has-background-dim-60 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background\" alt=\"Barefoot person in a hospital gown sitting in a wheelchair in a dim hallway.\" src=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/barefoot-person-in-a-hospital-gown-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-i-photo-7.jpg\" width=\"1880\" height=\"1253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/barefoot-person-in-a-hospital-gown-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-i-photo-7-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/barefoot-person-in-a-hospital-gown-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-i-photo-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/barefoot-person-in-a-hospital-gown-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-i-photo-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/barefoot-person-in-a-hospital-gown-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-i-photo-7-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/barefoot-person-in-a-hospital-gown-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-i-photo-7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/barefoot-person-in-a-hospital-gown-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-i-photo-7.jpg 1880w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1880px) 100vw, 1880px\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"chg-eyebrow has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\">Traumatic Brain Injury \u00b7 Florida<\/p><h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">TBI Severity Levels: Mild, Moderate &amp; Severe Explained<\/h1><p class=\"has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.625), 1.25rem);\">A traumatic brain injury can change everything in an instant. Here is how doctors classify TBI severity in plain language \u2014 and why that classification matters for your recovery and your claim.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Request a Free Case Evaluation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Request a Free Case Evaluation<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.5rem\">By CHG Lawyers \u00b7 Published August 02, 2026<\/p>\n\n<article lang=\"en\">\n\n<h2>Mild, Moderate, and Severe TBI: How Brain Injury Severity Is Classified<\/h2>\n<p>Doctors classify a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as <strong>mild, moderate, or severe<\/strong>. They base this on how a person looks and responds in the first hours after the injury. They use three main tools: the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, how long the person was knocked out, and how long their memory stayed foggy afterward.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe a doctor used the words &#8220;mild,&#8221; &#8220;moderate,&#8221; or &#8220;severe&#8221; TBI. This page explains what those words mean in plain language. It is written for injured people and families trying to understand a diagnosis after a serious crash or attack.<\/p>\n<p>We will also correct a dangerous myth. &#8220;Mild&#8221; is a medical label about the first few hours. It is <strong>not<\/strong> a promise that the effects will be small or short-lived.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img src=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/physical-therapist-assisting-a-young-adult-in-a-wheelchair-d-photo-15-1024x572.jpg\" alt=\"Physical therapist assisting a young adult in a wheelchair during rehabilitation gym session.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/physical-therapist-assisting-a-young-adult-in-a-wheelchair-d-photo-15-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/physical-therapist-assisting-a-young-adult-in-a-wheelchair-d-photo-15-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/physical-therapist-assisting-a-young-adult-in-a-wheelchair-d-photo-15-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/physical-therapist-assisting-a-young-adult-in-a-wheelchair-d-photo-15-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/physical-therapist-assisting-a-young-adult-in-a-wheelchair-d-photo-15.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1376px) 100vw, 1376px\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,#900000);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>How doctors classify TBI severity: the short answer<\/h2>\n<p>Doctors sort TBI into three levels. They base the level on the person&#8217;s condition right after the injury. They rely on three measures (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK98986\/table\/introduction.t1\">NIH\/NCBI<\/a>):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)<\/strong> \u2014 a bedside score from 3 to 15.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Loss of consciousness (LOC)<\/strong> \u2014 how long the person was &#8220;knocked out.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA)<\/strong> \u2014 how long the person couldn&#8217;t form steady new memories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here is a quick guide to the three TBI severity levels \u2014 mild, moderate, and severe:<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Level<\/th>\n<th>GCS score<\/th>\n<th>Loss of consciousness<\/th>\n<th>Imaging (CT\/MRI)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Mild<\/td>\n<td>13\u201315<\/td>\n<td>Less than 30 minutes<\/td>\n<td>Usually normal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Moderate<\/td>\n<td>9\u201312<\/td>\n<td>30 minutes to 24 hours<\/td>\n<td>Normal or abnormal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Severe<\/td>\n<td>3\u20138<\/td>\n<td>More than 24 hours<\/td>\n<td>Normal or abnormal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/figure>\n\n<p>These cutoffs come from widely used medical criteria (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK98986\/table\/introduction.t1\">NIH\/NCBI<\/a>). Keep one thing in mind from the start. The label describes the first injury. It does not fully predict how the person will do long-term.<\/p>\n<h2>The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS): the number you may have heard in the ER<\/h2>\n<p>The Glasgow Coma Scale is a quick bedside score. Doctors use it to measure how awake and responsive someone is after a head injury. It adds up three checks: eye opening, verbal response, and movement. The total runs from 3 (deep coma) to 15 (fully alert).<\/p>\n<p>The score matches severity like this (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2352396425004451\">ScienceDirect, Nelson 2025<\/a>):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>13\u201315<\/strong> = mild TBI<\/li>\n<li><strong>9\u201312<\/strong> = moderate TBI<\/li>\n<li><strong>3\u20138<\/strong> = severe TBI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A lower GCS usually points to a more serious injury. But the score is only a snapshot in time. Sedation, alcohol, or a breathing tube can lower it for reasons that have nothing to do with the brain injury. That is why doctors treat GCS as one piece of the picture, not the whole story.<\/p>\n<p>Our attorneys handle catastrophic brain-injury cases. In those cases, the GCS number recorded by paramedics and the ER often becomes a key part of the medical record later.<\/p>\n<h2>Loss of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia<\/h2>\n<p>Two more clues help doctors sort severity. First, how long you were unconscious. Second, how long your memory stayed unreliable afterward.<\/p>\n<p>Loss of consciousness matches severity this way (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK98986\/table\/introduction.t1\">NIH\/NCBI<\/a>):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mild:<\/strong> none, up to about 30 minutes<\/li>\n<li><strong>Moderate:<\/strong> 30 minutes to 24 hours<\/li>\n<li><strong>Severe:<\/strong> more than 24 hours<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is the time after the injury when a person can&#8217;t form steady new memories. They may be awake and talking. But they can&#8217;t recall what happened minutes ago. The longer PTA lasts, the more serious the injury tends to be. In one classification, moderate-to-severe TBI includes PTA that lasts more than 24 hours (<a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s40141-025-00504-7\">Springer, Marino 2025<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>These measures matter after real events. Maybe your loved one was unconscious at the scene of a truck crash. Maybe they were found dazed and confused after an attack in a parking lot. These details help doctors \u2014 and later, investigators \u2014 understand how hard the brain was hit.<\/p>\n<h2>What imaging (CT and MRI) adds to the picture<\/h2>\n<p>CT and MRI scans let doctors see inside the skull. They look for bleeding, swelling, bruising, or torn tissue. These images can confirm a serious injury and guide emergency care.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a detail many pages skip. A person can have a GCS in the &#8220;mild&#8221; range but still show damage on a scan. Doctors call this a <strong>complicated mild TBI<\/strong>. The label says mild, but the imaging shows real damage to the brain&#8217;s structure.<\/p>\n<p>The other side is just as important. A &#8220;normal&#8221; scan does <strong>not<\/strong> always mean &#8220;no injury.&#8221; Some serious injuries don&#8217;t show up clearly on early scans. One example is diffuse axonal injury. This is a widespread tearing of nerve fibers that standard imaging can miss at first. You can learn more on our page about diffuse axonal injury. If symptoms are getting worse, trust the symptoms \u2014 not a clean scan.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,#900000);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Have questions about what happened?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask our team directly. The first conversation is free, confidential, and there is no obligation to continue.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Talk to our team<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Talk to our team<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>&#8216;Mild&#8217; TBI does not always mean minor effects<\/h2>\n<p>This is the biggest myth about brain injuries. &#8220;Mild&#8221; does not mean &#8220;no big deal.&#8221; The word describes the first medical picture, not the size of the long-term effects.<\/p>\n<p>A concussion is a form of mild TBI. Most people recover well. But even mild TBIs can cause serious, long-lasting problems for some people (<a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/8874-traumatic-brain-injury\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a>). In fact, more than 75% of all TBIs are classified as mild. Yet many still leave people with headaches, memory trouble, mood changes, or trouble concentrating (<a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/8874-traumatic-brain-injury\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Some warning signs need urgent medical attention. Symptoms can appear right away or days to weeks later (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/spinal-cord-injury\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20377890\">Mayo Clinic<\/a>). Get help fast if you notice:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A headache that keeps getting worse<\/li>\n<li>Repeated vomiting<\/li>\n<li>Seizures<\/li>\n<li>Growing confusion or unusual drowsiness<\/li>\n<li>Slurred speech or weakness on one side<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This page is educational. It is not medical advice. It can&#8217;t replace an exam by a doctor.<\/p>\n<h2>Why classification does not equal prognosis<\/h2>\n<p>The severity label tells you about the injury. It does not lock in how someone will recover. Two people with the same &#8220;moderate&#8221; label can follow very different paths.<\/p>\n<p>Outcomes depend on many things. These include the person&#8217;s age, where in the brain the injury sits, how fast treatment started, past head injuries, and overall health. Experts say moderate-to-severe TBI covers a broad range of possible outcomes (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirecc.va.gov\/visn19\/tbi_toolkit\/tbi-101.asp\">VA MIRECC<\/a>). Recovery also unfolds over time. The severity at injury doesn&#8217;t fully predict the road ahead (<a href=\"https:\/\/healthcare.utah.edu\/healthfeed\/2025\/07\/10-levels-of-tbi-recovery\">University of Utah Health<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Numbers show why severe injuries are so serious. One clinical reference reports a death rate of about 0.1% for mild TBI, 10% for moderate, and 40% for severe (<a href=\"https:\/\/bestpractice.bmj.com\/topics\/en-us\/515\">BMJ Best Practice<\/a>). The most catastrophic injuries can lead to a long coma or a vegetative state. If your family faces that, you are not alone. You have options to understand your next steps.<\/p>\n<h2>Note on evolving classification systems<\/h2>\n<p>The mild\/moderate\/severe system is a helpful shorthand. But experts now agree it is too simple. In 2025, the Brain Injury Association of America announced work toward a new, more precise system. They noted the old three-tier labels have been criticized as outdated (<a href=\"https:\/\/biausa.org\/public-affairs\/public-awareness\/news\/new-tbi-classification-system-announced\">Brain Injury Association of America<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>For now, though, the three-tier system is still the language you will hear in the hospital. So it helps to understand these terms, even as medicine moves toward more detailed approaches.<\/p>\n<h2>When a TBI was caused by someone else&#8217;s negligence<\/h2>\n<p>Many catastrophic brain injuries aren&#8217;t accidents in the everyday sense. They happen because someone else was careless. A truck driver runs a light. Or a property owner ignores broken locks, dead lights, or missing security cameras \u2014 and a violent attack follows.<\/p>\n<p>That second situation has a legal name: <strong>negligent security<\/strong>. In plain terms, here is what it means. Say you were assaulted, shot, robbed, or attacked on someone else&#8217;s property \u2014 an apartment complex, parking garage, hotel, gas station, or store. If it happened partly because the owner failed to provide reasonable safety measures, you may have a claim against that owner. You can learn more on our negligent security page and our <a href=\"\/resources\/truck-accidents\/\">truck accidents<\/a> page.<\/p>\n<p>If you are pursuing a claim, documenting severity matters. The GCS score, the diagnosis, the imaging, and the treatment records all help show how serious the injury really is. When a brain injury takes a life, the family may be able to bring a wrongful-death claim. We handle those cases with care and respect for what your family is going through.<\/p>\n<p>Florida has firm deadlines. Most negligence claims that arose on or after March 24, 2023 must be filed within two years (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0000-0099\/0095\/Sections\/0095.11.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a795.11<\/a>). Florida also follows a modified comparative-negligence rule. So a person found more than 50% at fault generally can&#8217;t recover damages (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0700-0799\/0768\/Sections\/0768.81.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a7768.81<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>We can&#8217;t promise any specific result. But a licensed attorney can explain your rights. To learn more, read our full <a href=\"\/resources\/traumatic-brain-injury\/\">traumatic brain injury guide<\/a> or request a <a href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">free case evaluation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img src=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/family-member-tenderly-supporting-a-loved-one-using-a-power-photo-6-1024x572.jpg\" alt=\"Family member tenderly supporting a loved one using a power wheelchair at home.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/family-member-tenderly-supporting-a-loved-one-using-a-power-photo-6-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/family-member-tenderly-supporting-a-loved-one-using-a-power-photo-6-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/family-member-tenderly-supporting-a-loved-one-using-a-power-photo-6-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/family-member-tenderly-supporting-a-loved-one-using-a-power-photo-6-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/family-member-tenderly-supporting-a-loved-one-using-a-power-photo-6.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1376px) 100vw, 1376px\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,#900000);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Want to know where you stand?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tell us what happened and our team will walk you through the options available to you, at no cost.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Get a free review<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Get a free review<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>How is TBI severity classified as mild, moderate, or severe?<\/summary><p>Doctors use three things: the Glasgow Coma Scale score, how long the person lost consciousness, and how long memory stayed impaired after the injury.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What Glasgow Coma Scale score means mild, moderate, or severe?<\/summary><p>A GCS of 13\u201315 usually means mild TBI. A score of 9\u201312 means moderate. A score of 3\u20138 means severe. Lower scores generally mean a more serious injury.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Does a &#8220;mild&#8221; TBI mean the injury isn&#8217;t serious?<\/summary><p>No. &#8220;Mild&#8221; describes the first few hours after injury, not the long-term effects. Even mild TBIs can cause lasting problems for some people.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Can a CT or MRI scan look normal after a serious brain injury?<\/summary><p>Yes. Some injuries, like diffuse axonal injury, may not show clearly on early scans. A normal scan doesn&#8217;t always rule out a real injury.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>How long do I have to file a TBI claim in Florida?<\/summary><p>Most negligence claims arising on or after March 24, 2023 must be filed within two years under <a href=\"http:\/\/www.leg.state.fl.us\/statutes\/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;URL=0000-0099\/0095\/Sections\/0095.11.html\">Fla. Stat. \u00a795.11<\/a>. Talk to a licensed attorney about your deadline.<\/p><\/details><\/article>\n<footer class=\"disclaimer\"><em>This is attorney advertising. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.<\/em><\/footer>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-surface-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">The Three Levels of TBI at a Glance<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mild TBI<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Often shown by a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13\u201315, brief or no loss of consciousness, and short-term memory disruption. Even a &#x27;mild&#x27; brain injury can carry lasting effects and should never be dismissed without medical evaluation.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Moderate TBI<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Typically a GCS score of 9\u201312, with loss of consciousness that can last minutes to hours and memory impairment persisting longer after the injury. Moderate TBIs frequently require hospitalization and ongoing therapy.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Severe TBI<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A GCS score of 3\u20138, extended loss of consciousness, and prolonged memory impairment. Severe TBIs often cause permanent, life-altering impairment and demand long-term, sometimes lifetime, care.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">How Doctors Measure TBI Severity<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--info\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A bedside score that measures eye, verbal, and motor responses. Higher scores suggest less severe injury; lower scores point to more serious brain trauma.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--clock\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Loss of Consciousness<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How long the person was unconscious. Seconds may indicate mild injury; hours or longer often signals a severe TBI.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--lightbulb\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Post-Traumatic Amnesia<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How long memory stayed impaired after the injury. A longer period of confusion and memory loss generally reflects a more serious brain injury.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">A &#x27;Mild&#x27; Label Does Not Mean &#x27;Minor&#x27;<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Severity classifications describe the injury at diagnosis \u2014 not how it will affect the rest of your life. Symptoms can worsen over time, and a diagnosis labeled &#x27;mild&#x27; may still involve serious, lasting consequences. Keep every medical record and follow up with your doctors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Talk to a Licensed Attorney<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Talk to a Licensed Attorney<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4d466591 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color\">Catastrophic Injury Advocacy You Can Rely On<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--shield chg-stat-ico\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center chg-stat has-base-color has-text-color\">Florida Bar<\/h3><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Admitted, licensed attorneys<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--location chg-stat-ico\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center chg-stat has-base-color has-text-color\">Nationwide<\/h3><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Cases accepted across the U.S.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--chat chg-stat-ico\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center chg-stat has-base-color has-text-color\">EN \/ ES<\/h3><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Bilingual client resources<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--phone chg-stat-ico\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center chg-stat has-base-color has-text-color\">Free<\/h3><p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Case evaluations<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4d466591 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color\">Living with a brain injury after someone else&#x27;s negligence? Let us help you understand your options.<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+17867514283\">Request a Free Case Evaluation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/contact-us\/\">Request a Free Case Evaluation<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related practice areas<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"\/resources\/traumatic-brain-injury-guide\/\">Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) After a Serious Accident: A Complete Guide for Victims and Families<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/traumatic-brain-injury-guide\/tbi-coma-vegetative-state-families\/\">When a TBI Leaves a Loved One in a Coma or Vegetative State: What to Know<\/a><\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how doctors classify TBI severity as mild, moderate, or severe using the Glasgow Coma Scale, loss of consciousness, and imaging.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":165,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"chg_canonical":"","chg_lang":"","chg_hreflang":"[{\"hreflang\": \"en\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/traumatic-brain-injury-guide\/tbi-severity-levels-explained\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"es\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/es\/guia-lesion-cerebral-traumatica\/niveles-severidad-tbi-explicados\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"x-default\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/traumatic-brain-injury-guide\/tbi-severity-levels-explained\/\"}]","chg_jsonld":"[{\"about\": [{\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Traumatic brain injury\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Traumatic_brain_injury\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Premises liability\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Premises_liability\"}], \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"headline\": \"Mild, Moderate, and Severe TBI: How Brain Injury Severity Is Classified\", \"keywords\": \"tbi severity levels mild moderate severe, glasgow coma scale tbi, tbi classification system, post-traumatic amnesia tbi, loss of consciousness tbi severity\", \"speakable\": {\"@type\": \"SpeakableSpecification\", \"cssSelector\": [\"article > p:first-of-type\", \".wp-block-details p\", \"article > h1\"]}, \"disclaimer\": \"This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. It is not a substitute for evaluation by a qualified medical professional.\", \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\", \"description\": \"A plain-language explainer on how doctors classify traumatic brain injury severity as mild, moderate, or severe using the Glasgow Coma Scale, loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia, and imaging\u2014and why a 'mild' label does not promise a minor outcome.\", \"articleSection\": [\"How doctors classify TBI severity: the short answer\", \"The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)\", \"Loss of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia\", \"What imaging (CT and MRI) adds\", \"'Mild' TBI does not always mean minor effects\", \"Why classification does not equal prognosis\", \"Evolving classification systems\", \"When a TBI was caused by someone else's negligence\"], \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\"@type\": \"WebPage\"}, \"isAccessibleForFree\": true, \"mentions\": [{\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Traumatic brain injury (TBI)\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q64680643\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Mild TBI\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q66394158\"}], \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Igor Hernandez\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/attorneys\/igor-hernandez\/\", \"jobTitle\": \"Attorney\", \"sameAs\": [\"https:\/\/www.floridabar.org\/directories\/find-mbr\/profile\/?num=106386\", \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/igorh\/\", \"https:\/\/profiles.superlawyers.com\/florida\/miami\/lawyer\/igor-hernandez\/cd5f52fd-6cf1-4c47-8c6e-5e8f339a380d.html\"]}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"CHG Personal Injury Lawyers\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/\"}, \"reviewedBy\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Igor Hernandez\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/attorneys\/igor-hernandez\/\", \"jobTitle\": \"Attorney\", \"sameAs\": [\"https:\/\/www.floridabar.org\/directories\/find-mbr\/profile\/?num=106386\", \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/igorh\/\", \"https:\/\/profiles.superlawyers.com\/florida\/miami\/lawyer\/igor-hernandez\/cd5f52fd-6cf1-4c47-8c6e-5e8f339a380d.html\"]}, \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How is TBI severity classified as mild, moderate, or severe?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Doctors use three things: the Glasgow Coma Scale score, how long the person lost consciousness, and how long memory stayed impaired after the injury.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What Glasgow Coma Scale score means mild, moderate, or severe?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"A GCS of 13\u201315 usually means mild TBI. 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Stat. \u00a795.11. Talk to a licensed attorney about your deadline.\"}}], \"image\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/barefoot-person-in-a-hospital-gown-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-i-photo.jpg\", \"@type\": [\"Article\", \"FAQPage\"]}, {\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\", \"itemListElement\": [{\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"name\": \"Home\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"name\": \"Traumatic Brain Injury Guide\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/traumatic-brain-injury-guide\/\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 3, \"name\": \"Tbi Severity Levels Explained\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/traumatic-brain-injury-guide\/tbi-severity-levels-explained\/\"}]}]","chg_meta_description":"Learn how doctors classify TBI severity as mild, moderate, or severe using the Glasgow Coma Scale, loss of consciousness, and imaging.","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2675","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2675"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25273,"href":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2675\/revisions\/25273"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}