There are several different aspects of a civil lawsuit, including the aspect of standard of proof that must be shown by the preponderance of the evidence that the individual was at some level at fault for the damages. In addition most plaintiffs of a civil action lawsuit also want to know what damages can be determined and what compensation they are eligible for. Although most people believe all issues in a civil suit can result in a full compensation lawsuit, this is not always the case. In some specific types of compensation lawsuit claims the victim may only be eligible for a percentage of the damages, especially if the judge or jury finds that the victim had some negligence or fault in the accident or event themselves. Compensation can also be awarded over and above the damages to punish the offending individual for his or her behavior. These types of damages are known as punitive damages and can, in some cases, be very substantial. Typically punitive damages are reserved for gross negligence or high percentage of fault types of cases.