Seizure disorders can range in severity from extreme to slight. They may be caused by genetic inheritance, as a secondary aspect of a traumatic brain injury or a secondary aspect of an illness. Epilepsy is the most prevalent cause of seizures. A chronic condition caused by a proliferation of neurological activity in the brain which then stimulates the muscles to move uncontrollably, the seizures caused by epilepsy can be barely noticeable to those nearby or extreme, where the uncontrolled actions of the victim's body pose a danger to themselves and others.

Epileptic seizures have several classifications. Generalized seizures are atonic seizures, which cause the afflicted to go completely limp and tonic-clonic seizures which begin with a tonic phase of severe contraction of the muscles what causes the sufferer to stop breathing, become incontinent and lose consciousness that is followed by the clonic phase of rapid jerky contractions. Myoclonic seizures involve brief muscular contractions of the muscles of the extremities, while clonic seizures are simply several myoclonic seizures repeating 2 to 3 times a second. Finally, absent seizures manifest as unresponsiveness of up to 30 seconds where the sufferer loses consciousness. Continuous seizures are the most dangerous type of seizures as they occur continuously and without break and are also referred to as status epilepticus

Non-epileptic seizures may often appear similar to the different types of epileptic seizures listed above but they differ in that they are not due to heightened electrical activity in the neural pathways of the brain but are secondary to other injuries or conditions. Non-epileptic seizures may be caused by brain tumors, certain medications, high fevers, idiopathic heart conditions or traumatic injuries to the brain.

Seizures that are due to an injury or illness could potentially have been prevented, therefore it is possible that someone can be legally held liable for damages, and the injured persons suffering from the secondary seizures can receive financial compensation. Some instances where seizure disorders are secondary to a traumatic accident or injury are a car accident with brain trauma or injury, a slip-and-fall incident where the victim's fall leads to a head injury or an accident involving defective machinery or equipment which may have landed on or near the victims head, causing a brain injury. Secondary seizures can also be caused by negligence or error on the part of a physician, in which case in medical malpractice claim may be appropriate.