Most instances of assault and/or battery can be the subject of both a personal injury lawsuit (in civil court) and a criminal prosecution. As the subject of personal injury law cases, assault and battery are know as "intentional torts," meaning that they are personal injuries that are purposefully inflicted on one person by another. Click on the links below for in-depth information on assault and battery as intentional torts, and differences between criminal and civil cases arising from assault and battery. (Note: For information on criminal cases involving assault and battery, visit the Crimes A to Z: Assault/Battery section of FindLaw's Criminal Law Center.)

Assault
• Assault Basics
• Elements of Assault

Battery
• Battery Basics
• Elements of a Battery
• Battery in Special Situations

Related Content in FindLaw's Criminal Law Center:
• Crimes A to Z: Child Abuse
• Crimes A to Z: Assault and Battery
• Crimes A to Z: Domestic Violence