The legal system within the United States allows for two different forms of trials: civil and criminal. A civil case focuses on one person or group suing another, seeking financial compensation for wrongdoing. A criminal trial is based on the legal system charging someone with breaking the law. Criminal trials face punishment from the state or national government, not a monetary collection. The following are four things to know about a civil case and trial.
1. A Civil Case Needs Less Evidence
When you work with a civil trial lawyer Birmingham AL to discuss a case, you’ll find out that a civil trial relies on less proof than a criminal court. In a criminal case, lawyers must prove their case without reasonable doubt. However, a civil case doesn’t follow the same rules.
2. You Can File for Various Injustices
You don’t have to base your case on a specific law. Based on a grievance, your lawyers may file that someone or a business did something wrong. This could focus on medical issues, work violations or environmental harm.
3. People Aren’t Going To Jail in a Civil Case
Civil cases allow a party to seek justice, but they do not put people behind bars. A jury or judge listens to the evidence and determines whether a party is guilty. If the plaintiff wins, the defendant is found guilty and typically pays a fine to cover the grief, loss or future costs.
4. Jury Selection Matters
In a civil trial, the jury often determines the outcome, similar to a criminal one. Lawyers and judges choose who sits, and they may excuse people for not fitting their interests. Each party wants representatives sympathetic to their side.
The United States government focuses on freedom and justice. The civil court system assists in helping people seek reparation for ills others commit.