What does civil liability mean?

Civil liability refers to the legal responsibility an individual or entity has to compensate others for damages caused by their actions or negligence in a civil lawsuit. This typically involves the obligation to pay monetary damages to the injured party as a result of a wrongful act, whether that act was intentional or due to negligence.

In this context, civil liability is crucial for understanding how the legal system operates when it comes to disputes between private parties, as opposed to criminal liability, which involves prosecution by the government for violations of criminal law. Essentially, when someone is found to have caused harm, whether physically, emotionally, or financially, they may be ordered to pay damages to the affected party as a form of restitution. This mechanism serves to uphold justice and deter wrongful conduct by holding individuals accountable for their actions.