Howard Finkelstein 7 News Legal Expert.

Is it legal to punch someone who coughs on you. However the situation might not be so cut-and-dry. People dont have to wait until theyve actually been struck to act in self-defense. Even as the first person to use force its possible to act in self-defense.

What you SHOULD do is get that stuff off your body as quickly as possible. Someone has just groped you and you punch them. For PlayStation 4 on the PlayStation 4 a GameFAQs message board topic titled If someone Spits on you are you Legally allowed to Punch them in the face - Page 17.

However self defense is a defense to an assault charge. You dont have to wait for someone to hit you but you cant sucker-punch someone because you want more space in a mosh pit. Is an assault and battery.

I hate to be the one to break it to you but theres a lot of stuff in the movies thats entertaining but bears no resemblance to real life. You might be tempted to throw the largest heaviest punch you can because you want to finish off your attacker quickly and get out of there but Pete Carvill a boxer and boxing instructor says. Second you can only punch someone if theyve already taken a swing at you or if you believe youre about to be hit.

No1 you cant strike first. Someone is actively groping you and you punch them. The courts are likely to say that you had a duty to scramble out of the way or to step back.

If a reasonable person would think that physical harm is in the immediate offing the defendant can typically use reasonable force to prevent the attack. Kevin Godlington is a former member of the SAS and is currently on the board of The Book of Man. A punch to the throat can crush the larynx cutting.