What constitutes bodily injury according to Pennsylvania law?

In Pennsylvania law, bodily injury is defined primarily as an impairment of a person's physical condition or substantial pain. This definition encompasses a range of physical harms that may not always manifest as visible injuries but still significantly affect a person's physical abilities or cause notable discomfort.

The term "impairment" indicates that there is a deterioration in the ability to perform normal physical tasks or participate in everyday activities, while "substantial pain" refers to discomfort that is more than minimal or fleeting. The emphasis on both impairment and substantial pain highlights that bodily injury is meant to capture injuries with a serious impact on an individual's health and well-being.

Other options, such as significant loss of function, might be seen as closely related but do not fully encapsulate the broader definition provided by the law. Temporary discomfort, while it might imply some level of pain, does not meet the threshold of "substantial pain" necessary for a definition of bodily injury. Mental distress, although it can be serious, falls outside the legal definition of bodily injury as it does not pertain to physical conditions. Therefore, the selection aligns perfectly with legal standards in Pennsylvania concerning bodily injury.