Indiana legal term
Serious bodily injury in Indiana Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Indiana legislative session
In Indiana 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 Indiana criminal code.
What does “Serious bodily injury” mean in Indiana criminal law?
"Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes: (1) serious permanent disfigurement; (2) unconsciousness; (3) extreme pain; (4) permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ; or (5) loss of a fetus. (Ind. Code § 35-31.5-2-292)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.