Which injury qualifies as a "serious physical injury"?

A "serious physical injury" is defined in legal contexts as an injury that poses a significant and substantial threat to a person's life or bodily integrity. The key characteristic of such an injury is that it creates a substantial risk of death or results in severe impairment to bodily functions or disfigurement.

Focusing on why this definition fits: the option that states a physical injury creates a substantial risk of death directly aligns with this standard. This indicates a more severe level of harm and the potential for life-threatening consequences, which are hallmarks of what constitutes a serious injury in many legal frameworks.

In contrast, the other options involve injuries that are minor in nature. A bruise, scrape, temporary discomfort, or a minor injury that necessitates little or no medical attention does not reach the threshold of severity that would categorize an injury as "serious" under legal definitions. These types of injuries are generally regarded as not putting a person’s life at risk or resulting in lasting consequences.