Why Moderate Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Still Lead to Multi-Million Dollar Recoveries

When people hear the term “traumatic brain injury,” they often imagine the most severe cases—victims left in a coma or with catastrophic physical impairments. However, many brain injuries fall into what is often called the “moderate” or “mid-grade” category. These injuries may not result in total disability, but they still cause profound, lasting changes in a person’s life. What many people don’t realize is that moderate TBIs can and often do result in settlements or verdicts in the millions.

A moderate TBI typically involves a loss of consciousness that lasts from 30 seconds to several minutes, quantifiable abnormalities on diagnostic tests (such as MRI with diffusion tensor imaging), and ongoing cognitive or emotional symptoms that persist well beyond the initial trauma. The victim may be able to walk, speak, and manage basic tasks, but their mental sharpness, emotional regulation, or memory may be permanently impaired.

These changes are often invisible to the outside world but deeply felt by victims and their families. A person with a mid-grade TBI might struggle with executive function—planning, organizing, and making sound judgments. They might experience mood swings, depression, or irritability that alters their relationships and personal identity. Even if they can return to work, they may not be able to perform at the same level or may be limited in their potentialy for future career advancement.

In legal terms, these cases are highly complex because the losses are both tangible and intangible. On the tangible side, victims may lose hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in future earnings, especially if they were employed in high-responsibility or cognitively demanding roles before the injury. They may also require ongoing medical care, therapy, and accommodations that add to the financial toll. On the intangible side, the emotional suffering, loss of independence, and damage to personal relationships can dramatically increase the value of a claim.

Because these injuries result in a permanent loss of cognitive or emotional function, it is common for mid-grade TBI cases to result in recoveries starting in the low seven figures. Cases regularly resolve for several million dollars, particularly where the victim is relatively young, has significant wage loss, or faces a substantial decline in quality of life. Juries and insurance carriers recognize that even without catastrophic physical disabilities, the life changes associated with these injuries are serious and deserving of substantial compensation.

Another key factor in driving value is the cost of future care. Many moderate TBI victims require lifelong support, including neuropsychological therapy, medications, vocational rehabilitation, and assistance with daily tasks. Life care plans and expert testimony from medical providers and economists are critical to showing how these costs will accumulate over decades, further supporting claims for multi-million dollar recoveries.

In short, a moderate TBI is anything but minor. These injuries can permanently derail careers, strain families, and diminish the most basic aspects of living. While they may not involve total physical incapacity, they fundamentally alter how a person interacts with the world—and that is something our legal system recognizes when awarding damages.

At Phillips & Associates, we understand the hidden toll of moderate brain injuries and have the experience necessary to present these cases in a way that fully captures their life-changing impact. If you or a loved one is living with a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, we are here to fight for the recovery you deserve.

Call us at (818) 348-9515 for a free consultation today.