This is one crime stat that I'll never fully understand the logic behind it.

I keeps getting +1 assault in my crime record for helping The Companions battling a giant outside Whiterun.
At first I thought I accidentally hit one of The Companions. So, I reloaded and tried again. I still got +1 assault.
After trying a few times, it became clear that I got the assult charge once I hit the giant with my weapon.

My other characters have a lot of assault charges since I ran into many wild creatures in the wood.
It's understandable that hitting a non-hostile creatures can be a crime.

But, why does attacking a hostile enemy considered a crime?

Could anyone explain to me what actions/situations could trigger assault charges?

Never got an assault charge for hitting that Giant. Try to eliminate all witnesses.

I swear I don't attack something first but I have more than 50 assaults. I didn't understand this stat in Oblivion and I don't get it in Skryim either. I'm with you....hope there's an answer.

Wait, kill a fox, get an Assault Charge? That does not make sense.

Anyway, do you have to help the companions? Can you just stay back and let them fight it?

More often than not they kill it before I can get close enough to help,

Never had that problem with the giant, nope.

I know that it does not make much sense. That's why I ask if anyone know the reason for these assault charges.

I don't have to but I just want to role-play a bit. A worrior should be brave, right.

The only non-hostile creature that does not gives me assault-things is th rabbit. Instead, it gives me "Bunnies murdered" points. Well...

You don't have to help the companions. You can just watch. All what happens is Aela mad at you saying a true warrior don't lose the oportunity for a fight. But nothing changes at all in questline matters.

some assaults may be glitches, but most come from stupid stuff like a guard being in the way of you using a shout on a dragon, that counts as a assault. Another good way to get one is in fights with large groups of friendly's around wild swings hitting them counts as a assault

Actually, this is the first time I got assult charge for helping The Companions. My other characters can kill that giant without getting any charge.
I wonder whether it relates to today patch...

Most people will get assaults by attacking sleeping daugr. You know they're enemies and you know they're going to attack you at any moment, but if you attack them before they rise and turn hostile, it will count as an assault. I've also received assaults for attacking bandits, bears and spiders. Basically, if for any reason an enemy isn't registered as hostile, it will count as assault. I know this because I've been trying to go through the game with zero crimes in my stats and I've had to reload on numerous occasions.

So I have as much assaults as attacks! I role a Stealth Assassin. That does not make much sense. Alright, I kill innocents and stuff, but the hostiles.. wth?

Most players can avoid these assaults by interacting with their targets before you attack. The sleeping draugr, for instance. If you keep interacting with them, they'll immediately start to rise, but as soon as they become a red dot on the compass, you're free to attack them without worry. Same goes for bandits. However, some animals will never turn hostile, even aggressive ones like bears and spiders. You'll have to be careful before you run through dungeons killing things.

So, NPCs have to be shown as red-dots, otherwise it'll be a crime to attack them?
That explains why my sneaky archer have so many assult charges.

Still, it makes absolutely no sense. I hope Beth would fix this.