Washington legal term
Substantial bodily harm in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Substantial bodily harm” 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 Washington criminal code.
What does “Substantial bodily harm” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Substantial bodily harm" means bodily injury which involves a temporary but substantial disfigurement, or which causes a temporary but substantial loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part or organ, or which causes a fracture of any bodily part; (c) "Great bodily harm" means bodily injury which creates a probability of death, or which causes significant serious permanent disfigurement, or which causes a significant permanent loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part or organ; (5) "Building," in addition to its ordinary meaning, includes any dwelling, fenced area, vehic (RCW 9A.04.110)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Abandonment of a dependent person in the second degree
- Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree
- Assault in the second degree
- Assault of a child in the first degree
- Criminal mistreatment in the second degree
- Criminal mistreatment in the third degree
- Dropping load, other materials
- Duty of witness of offense against child or any violent offense
- False reporting
- Vehicular assault
- Negligent driving
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.