Page "Civil procedure" Paragraph 4

Evidence from a criminal trial is generally admissible as evidence in a civil action about the same matter.

For example, the victim of a road accident does not directly benefit if the driver who injured him is found guilty of the crime of careless driving.

He still has to prove his case in a civil action, unless the doctrine of collateral estoppel applies, as it does in most American jurisdictions.

In fact he may be able to prove his civil case even when the driver is found not guilty in the criminal trial, because the standard to determine guilt is higher than the standard to determine fault.

However, if a driver is found by a civil jury not to have been negligent, a prosecutor may be estopped from charging him criminally.