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At Regan Zambri Long, we’ve spent over 30 years representing injury victims in civil cases throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Our personal injury attorneys understand how criminal proceedings can affect your civil case, and how to maximize your compensation regardless of the criminal outcome.
The key to understanding criminal vs civil law lies in recognizing that these two systems serve different purposes and follow different rules. Criminal law protects society as a whole, while civil law resolves disputes between private parties. This fundamental distinction affects everything from who files the case to what evidence is required to win.
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The primary purpose of criminal law is to protect the public through punishment and deterrence. When someone is convicted of drunk driving, for example, they face jail time, fines, and license suspension not just to punish them, but to deter others from similar behavior. Criminal law covers offenses like DUI, assault, theft, murder, and countless other acts that society considers serious enough to require prosecution.
The primary purpose of civil law is to restore injured parties through monetary compensation. If that same drunk driver damages your car and injures you, a civil lawsuit would focus on recovering money for your medical bills, lost wages, car repairs, and pain and suffering. Civil law covers personal injury claims, contract disputes, property damage, and many other situations where one party believes another has caused them harm.
This is where experienced personal injury attorneys become essential. While criminal prosecutors handle the state’s case, Regan Zambri Long focuses exclusively on maximizing your civil recovery, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future damages that you typically can’t recover in criminal court.
The procedures in criminal and civil cases explain why these two systems can reach different conclusions about the same incident. Each system has its own timeline, evidence rules, and decision-making process.
Criminal cases begin when law enforcement investigates alleged crimes and gathers evidence. If prosecutors believe they have sufficient evidence, they file formal charges and the defendant is arrested or summoned to court. The arraignment represents the defendant’s first court appearance, where they learn about the charges and enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
If the case goes to trial, prosecutors must prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. They present evidence and witness testimony to convince the jury that the defendant committed the alleged crime. Defense attorneys challenge the prosecution’s evidence and may present their own witnesses or evidence to create a reasonable doubt.
Throughout the case, parties engage in settlement negotiations, often with the help of mediators or arbitrators. Many civil cases settle before trial, as both sides recognize the costs and uncertainties of going to court. Insurance companies, in particular, often prefer settling personal injury cases rather than risking large jury verdicts.
Civil cases that do go to trial follow a similar format to criminal trials, but with different evidence standards and jury instructions. Plaintiffs must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning they must show it’s more likely than not that defendants caused their harm.
Civil cases aim to restore plaintiffs through monetary compensation:
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.