Civil Lawsuits: Demanding Justice & Fair Compensation

Civil lawsuits seek monetary compensation for someone who has been been physically or emotionally harmed or their property has been damaged. If the offender, the person or group causing the harm, is found guilty, they are responsible for paying the damages.

In a civil lawsuit, you can seek compensation for:

  • Bills and expenses related to injuries and damages
  • Punitive damages (used to deter the offender from continuing harmful actions)
  • Attorneys fees
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Mental and emotional pain

Reasons People File Civil Lawsuits

Everyone has the right to file a civil lawsuit. If you suffered injury or property damage due to the actions of another person or company, you can take action by filing a civil lawsuit.  The outcomes of civil lawsuits are not tied to any criminal cases. In fact, you can press civil charges even if there are no criminal charges.

Below are some examples of situations why someone might decide to file a personal injury civil lawsuit:

  • Someone damaged your property and you want him or her to pay for the cost of repair or replacement
  • Someone physically or emotionally harmed you and you want to seek compensation for your pain
  • A business caused you physical or emotional pain and you want to seek monetary compensation
  • You were injured because of another person's criminal act and you want to be paid for your emotion and/or physical damages

If you've been injured, consider talking to a personal injury lawyer today. There are statutes of limitations, so it's important to act quickly in the wake of your injury. A personal injury lawyer can help you deal with insurance companies, corporations or individuals. Even if they caused damages, the offenders may not want to pay.

Victims of Crime Filing Civil Lawsuits

Victims of crime often file civil lawsuits. Civil lawsuits are separate from criminal prosecutions. Even if an offender was found to be "not guilty" in a criminal case, the victim can still file a civil lawsuit against the offender and other responsible parties.

In criminal lawsuits, a jury of 12 must all decide upon a unanimous decision of guilt, which can be difficult to accomplish. But in civil lawsuits, not all jurors need to agree on a decision.

In a personal injury civil lawsuit, the case must be proved by a "preponderance of the evidence." This standard is generally easier to satisfy than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" criterion used in criminal court cases.

To prove the case by a preponderance of the evidence, you and your personal injury attorney must provide enough evidence to show that it's more than likely that your injury claims are indeed real and were indeed caused by the offender you are suing.

Perhaps the most well-known example of the difference between civil and criminal trials are two cases involving former football star O.J. Simpson.

O.J. and the Media-Frenzied Civil Lawsuit

Think back to the O.J. Simpson murder case: In 1995, Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in a criminal case.

However, when the families of the victims sued Simpson in a personal injury civil lawsuit, the jury found that there was a "preponderance of evidence" to find Simpson liable for damages in the wrongful death of Goldman and battery of Brown. The victims' families were awarded a $33.5 million civil injury settlement.

Your Personal Injury Lawyer

A personal injury lawyer makes sure that all of your bases are covered. Laws differ from state to state, which is why Total Injury will connect you with a local civil lawyer who knows your state's specific laws.

If you're considering filing a civil lawsuit, or have questions about other types of personal injury lawsuits, call toll free 877-288-7564 or fill out our free personal injury evaluation to connect with a local personal injury lawyer today.

The above summary of civil lawsuits is by no means all-inclusive and is not legal advice. Laws may have changed since our last update. For current information about civil lawsuits, contact a personal injury attorney in your area.