Types of Lawsuits: Civil vs. Criminal and Common Categories
When people say "I want to sue someone," they're almost always talking about a civil case, not a criminal one. Understanding the difference — and which broad category your situation falls into — is the first step to figuring out what to do next.
Civil vs. criminal, in plain English
Criminal cases are brought by the government (a prosecutor) against someone accused of breaking a criminal law. The possible outcomes are things like fines, probation, or jail time. You don't "sue" someone criminally — you can report a crime to police or a prosecutor, but the decision to charge and try the case belongs to the state.
Civil cases are brought by one private party (the plaintiff) against another (the defendant), asking a court to award money damages or order specific action. This is what most lawsuit information sites — including this one — are built around.
Common categories of civil lawsuits
Personal Injury
Car accidents, slip-and-falls, defective products, and other situations where someone's negligence caused physical harm.
Employment
Wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour violations, and retaliation claims.
Contract Disputes
One party failed to hold up their end of a written or verbal agreement, causing financial loss.
Consumer Protection
Deceptive business practices, fraud, defective products, and unfair billing or lending practices.
Class Action
A large group of people harmed the same way by the same company join together in a single case.
Small Claims
Lower-dollar disputes handled in a simplified court process, often without lawyers.
Why the category matters
The type of claim you have affects everything downstream — which court hears it, how long you have to file (the statute of limitations), whether you need an attorney, and how a potential settlement is typically calculated. That's why the first real step in "should I sue" is usually just identifying which bucket your situation falls into.
Key takeaway
Civil lawsuits are between private parties seeking compensation or a fix; criminal cases are the government prosecuting a crime. Most people asking "do I have a case" are asking about a civil claim.