Raising suspension on car. What are the negatives and positives?

I have an 09 civic. New driver. I have managed to get rocker panels scratched and at that deep scratched. Now i know me being a new diver this is likely to happen. But i want to make sure this never happens again, and one way i can do so is to raise the car. I need to do what the down side of doing so. And the plus. How much do you think i can raise it? Or can I protect rocker panels with a cover?? Help