A woman hits her boyfriend, he falls, hits his head, and is knocked unconscious. What crime occurred?

• A. Simple battery
• B. Battery causing/inflicting serious bodily injury
• C. Domestic violence
• D. Assault with a deadly weapon

Answer: (B)

Battery is the intentional application of force to another person, and the level of charge rises with how seriously the victim is harmed. If the injury is minor, it’s simple battery; if the act results in serious bodily injury, the offense is battery causing/inflicting serious bodily injury. Here, striking the boyfriend caused a head injury and unconsciousness, which constitutes serious bodily harm. There was no weapon used, so it doesn’t fit assault with a deadly weapon. Domestic violence refers to the relationship context, not the specific offense in this scenario. Therefore, the appropriate charge is battery causing/inflicting serious bodily injury.