Which scenario constitutes serious bodily injury?

Which scenario constitutes serious bodily injury?

• A. A broken bone of a child who is twelve years of age or less
• B. A mild bruise
• C. A slight cut
• D. Protracted or temporary numbness

Answer: (A)

Serious bodily injury covers injuries that cause long-lasting impairment or pose a significant risk to the person. In this scenario, a broken bone in a child who is twelve years old or younger clearly meets that standard. A fracture in a developing, young body typically requires medical treatment and can lead to protracted impairment or complications, making it a serious injury under the rules used in this course. The other options describe injuries that are most often minor or temporary in nature—a mild bruise or a slight cut generally does not rise to the level of serious bodily injury. The numbness option could be serious if it is protracted, but the scenario specifies both protracted or temporary numbness, and the safest, most clearly SBI example here is the broken bone in a young child.

Serious bodily injury covers injuries that cause long-lasting impairment or pose a significant risk to the person. In this scenario, a broken bone in a child who is twelve years old or younger clearly meets that standard. A fracture in a developing, young body typically requires medical treatment and can lead to protracted impairment or complications, making it a serious injury under the rules used in this course.

The other options describe injuries that are most often minor or temporary in nature—a mild bruise or a slight cut generally does not rise to the level of serious bodily injury. The numbness option could be serious if it is protracted, but the scenario specifies both protracted or temporary numbness, and the safest, most clearly SBI example here is the broken bone in a young child.