What is defined as physical abuse in legal terms?

Physical abuse, in legal terms, is recognized as non-accidental injuries inflicted upon an individual, which often manifest as visible signs of harm such as bruises, fractures, or other types of physical injuries. This definition encompasses actions where there is intent to cause bodily harm, making it distinctly a matter of physical confrontation or aggression.

In legal frameworks, it is essential to differentiate physical abuse from other forms of maltreatment, such as emotional distress or financial exploitation. Emotional distress pertains to psychological harm rather than physical injury, while threatening behavior, despite being serious, does not involve actual physical contact. Financial exploitation refers to the misuse of an individual's financial resources and does not relate directly to physical harm. Therefore, the correct understanding of physical abuse is strictly aligned with the presence of physical injuries that are non-accidental in nature.