Which statement about penalties for a collision involving great bodily injury is true?

Which statement about penalties for a collision involving great bodily injury is true?

• A. It is a misdemeanor
• B. It is a civil penalty only
• C. It is a felony with a sentence ranging from 5 years to life
• D. It is a felony with a sentence ranging from 30 days to 10 years

Answer: (D)

When a collision results in great bodily injury, the offense moves from a simple mishap into a criminal charge that reflects serious harm. That level of harm makes it a felony rather than a misdemeanor, so prison time becomes possible instead of only fines or civil penalties. The typical range for a base felony in this scenario is from about 30 days up to 10 years in prison, which captures both the need to hold someone accountable for significant injury and the seriousness without heading into life-imprisonment territory. Enhanced penalties can apply if there's aggravating factors (like driving under the influence), but the standard framework described aligns with a felony and a capped term like 30 days to 10 years. The other options mischaracterize the situation: a misdemeanor would be inappropriate given the severity of injury, civil penalties alone do not involve criminal imprisonment, and a range like 5 years to life is not typical for this level of injury unless there are additional, far more severe factors.

When a collision results in great bodily injury, the offense moves from a simple mishap into a criminal charge that reflects serious harm. That level of harm makes it a felony rather than a misdemeanor, so prison time becomes possible instead of only fines or civil penalties. The typical range for a base felony in this scenario is from about 30 days up to 10 years in prison, which captures both the need to hold someone accountable for significant injury and the seriousness without heading into life-imprisonment territory. Enhanced penalties can apply if there's aggravating factors (like driving under the influence), but the standard framework described aligns with a felony and a capped term like 30 days to 10 years. The other options mischaracterize the situation: a misdemeanor would be inappropriate given the severity of injury, civil penalties alone do not involve criminal imprisonment, and a range like 5 years to life is not typical for this level of injury unless there are additional, far more severe factors.