Colorado legal term
Serious bodily injury in Colorado Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
In Colorado criminal law, “Serious bodily injury” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Colorado criminal code.
What does “Serious bodily injury” mean in Colorado criminal law?
"Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury that, either at the time of the actual injury or at a later time, involves a substantial risk of death; a substantial risk of serious permanent disfigurement; a substantial risk of protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body; or breaks, fractures, a penetrating knife or penetrating gunshot wound, or burns of the second or third degree. (C.R.S. § 18-1-901)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Fourth degree arson
- Child abuse
- Crimes against at-risk persons
- Cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals
- Assault during escape
- Assault in the first degree
- Assault in the second degree
- Careless driving
- Dispensing violent films to minors
- Duty to report accidents
- Endangering public transportation and utility transmission
- Intentionally setting wildfire
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.