According to at least one popular media. Or a violent death.
A serious injury generally refers to any injury that causes significant harm to a person’s health or body, often resulting in long-term impairment, hospitalization, or substantial medical treatment.
Here’s how it’s typically defined in different contexts:
Medical definition:
An injury that poses a substantial risk of death, causes permanent disfigurement, or leads to long-term loss or impairment of a body part or organ (e.g., brain injury, spinal cord damage, severe burns, major fractures).Legal definition (varies by jurisdiction):
An injury that results in prolonged unconsciousness, substantial risk of death, or lasting disfigurement/impairment. For example, U.S. federal law often uses the phrase “serious bodily injury” to mean one that:Involves a substantial risk of death
Causes extreme physical pain
Results in obvious disfigurement
Involves loss or impairment of a bodily function or organ
Emergency response or traffic safety context:
Any injury that requires immediate hospital care and prevents the person from continuing normal activities (e.g., broken bones, internal bleeding, major lacerations).