Virginia legal term
Serious bodily injury or disease in Virginia Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session
In Virginia criminal law, “Serious bodily injury or disease” 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 Virginia criminal code.
What does “Serious bodily injury or disease” mean in Virginia criminal law?
"Serious bodily injury or disease" includes but is not limited to (i) disfigurement, (ii) a fracture, (iii) a severe burn or laceration, (iv) mutilation, (v) maiming, or (vi) life-threatening internal injuries or conditions, whether or not caused by trauma. (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-369)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.