Which type of injury is classified as a "serious injury" by the NTSB?

A "serious injury," as classified by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is defined in a way that emphasizes the severity of the condition and the potential for significant physical harm or long-term consequences. The classification is based on the type of injury that poses a serious risk of impairment or requires extensive medical attention and intervention.

In this context, severe tendon damage fits the criteria for a serious injury because it indicates that the injury is not only substantial in nature but also likely to lead to long recovery periods, rehabilitation, and possibly ongoing limitations in physical function. Tendons are crucial for movement, and significant damage can affect an individual's ability to perform basic activities or return to their prior level of function without intervention.

The other options, such as a bruise, a laceration requiring stitches, or a sprain, while they may involve pain or require some medical attention, typically do not reach the level of severity or long-term implications that would classify them as serious injuries according to the NTSB’s standards. For instance, a bruise generally represents minor injury, and although a laceration requiring stitches may be more serious than a bruise, it often does not involve the same depth of functional impairment or long-duration recovery as severe tendon