While assault and battery are two of the most common crimes in America, there is still a lot of confusion about these charges. The biggest misunderstanding most people have lies in the definition of the words themselves. While common usage suggests that assault and battery are words that can be used interchangeably, each word has a distinct meaning.
Assault is defined as the attempt, paired with the ability, to injure someone illegally. Battery is the actual use of force or violence on someone. If you attempt to throw a punch at someone, but miss, you can be charged with assault, even if there was no physical contact. If the punch ended up hitting someone else, you could be charged with assaulting your intended target and battering the actual victim.
Because police in these cases often act based on the testimony of witnesses, you could be charged with battery even when you did not actually make physical contact with anyone. That is why it is so important to work with a skilled Vista violent crimes lawyer who can help show your side of the story is the accurate explanation of events.
If you have any questions about an assault or battery charge, Peter M. Liss can help. Call (760) 643-4050 today to schedule a free consultation.
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