Civil liability refers to the legal responsibility of an individual or organization to compensate another party for harm or loss caused by their actions or negligence. This can arise in various situations, such as accidents, breaches of contract, or violations of rights. The affected party can seek damages through a civil lawsuit to recover their losses. In civil cases, the burden of proof is typically on the plaintiff, who must demonstrate that the defendant's actions directly caused the harm. Unlike criminal liability, which involves punishment by the state, civil liability focuses on providing restitution to the injured party, often involving monetary compensation.