---
title: "What counts as serious bodily injury under Rhode Island law?"
description: "Serious bodily injury is injury that creates a substantial risk of death, causes long-term loss or impairment of a body part, or results in permanent disfigurement. Broken bones, deep lacerations,..."
url: https://bankandmunns.com/faq-items/what-counts-as-serious-bodily-injury-under-rhode-island-law/
date: 2026-08-20
modified: 2026-08-20
author: "Bank and Munns"
type: avada_faq
lang: en
---

# What counts as serious bodily injury under Rhode Island law?

Serious bodily injury is injury that creates a substantial risk of death, causes long-term loss or impairment of a body part, or results in permanent disfigurement. Broken bones, deep lacerations, severe burns, and head trauma often meet the definition. Whether an injury qualifies is frequently the line between a misdemeanor simple assault and a felony charge, which makes it a central issue in many cases.