If the death was caused by the commission of a crime, the government will bring criminal charges against the defendant in an attempt to prove that the defendant was guilty of the crimes. Punishment for commission of a crime may involve for example, the loss of driving privileges, incarceration and/or monetary fines. Civil cases arise when the person who caused the death failed to exercise ordinary care and the state's laws permit the survivors to seek compensation for the pecuniary value of the loss of means of support and the loss of aid, comfort, society and companionship.