Which of the following qualifies as a serious injury?

• A. A sprain lasting 5 days
• B. Fracture
• C. A mild bruise
• D. Temporary loss of taste for 2 days

Answer: (B)

In New York, “serious physical injury” means an injury that causes substantial impairment of health or protracted impairment of bodily function, or a serious permanent disfigurement, or a substantial risk of death. A fracture typically involves a break in a bone with significant pain and a recovery period that can impair function for an extended time, so it clearly meets the threshold for serious physical injury. A sprain lasting five days can be painful but usually doesn’t amount to protracted impairment unless it lasts much longer. A mild bruise is clearly minor, and temporary loss of taste for two days is a transient symptom with no lasting impairment. Therefore, the fracture is the best answer.