Assault is a criminal offense that has serious consequences for the victim and the perpetrator. Based on the circumstances and jurisdiction, assault can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, with different degrees of severity and penalties.

That’s why it is necessary to understand the different types of assault charges. You can also refer to legal advice from assault lawyers at The Fulgham Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys or other reputable firms.

In this blog post, we are going to talk about five types of assault charges and their possible consequences.

Five of the most common types of assault charges include:

  • Domestic Violence

  • Aggravated Assault

  • Verbal Assault

  • Sexual Assault

  • Vehicular Assault

Domestic Violence

This is a form of assault that occurs between people who have a domestic relationship. This includes spouses, children, parents, or relatives. Domestic violence takes many forms. Some of the more common ones include:

Domestic violence is often treated as a separate category of assault, with specific laws and protection for the victims. Depending on the severity of the incident and the history of abuse, domestic violence can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault is a serious type of crime that involves the use of force or a deadly weapon to cause serious bodily injury to the victim. This type of assault is usually charged as a felony, with harsher penalties than simple assault.

Aggravated assault can lead to serious consequences like, 

  • Hefty fines

  • Imprisonment

  • A criminal record

  • The loss of a gun or certain civil rights

Verbal Assault

Verbal assault is a type of mental or psychological assault that uses words to hurt, control, or manipulate another person. It is also known as emotional abuse. Here are some examples of verbal assault:

  • Name-calling: Calling someone names like stupid, ugly, worthless, etc.

  • Gaslighting: Making someone doubt their own memory, perception, or sanity.

  • Yelling or screaming: Raising one’s voice to intimidate or frighten someone.

  • Criticizing: Constantly finding fault with someone’s appearance, behavior, choices, etc.

  • Threatening: Making statements that imply harm or danger to someone or their loved ones.

  • Blaming: Making someone feel responsible for the abuser’s actions or problems.

  • Mocking: Making fun of someone’s beliefs, feelings, opinions, etc.

It can have a serious impact on a person’s mental health and self-esteem.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault involves forcing or coercing another individual to engage in sexual activity without their consent. Here are certain things included in sexual assault:

  • Rape

  • Groping

  • Fondling

  • Any other unwanted sexual contact

This serious crime can have lasting physical and psychological effects on the victim. Depending on the degree of force, the age of the victim, and the relationship between the parties, it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.

Vehicular Assault

Vehicular assault involves causing harm to another person with a vehicle. Based on the driver’s conduct, injuries, and culpability, it can also be charged as a misdemeanor or felony.

Some states define vehicular assault as a person who drives without a license or is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causes serious bodily injury to another individual.

For example, a driver who drives too fast and carelessly and hurts another person with their vehicle can be held accountable for their actions.

Final Thoughts

We hope our blog post helped you become aware of the types of assault charges. Remember, walking around with a criminal charge will be detrimental to all aspects of your life. If you are accused of assault, you should consult a seasoned criminal defense lawyer to help you tackle your charges and get your life back on track.