ABSTRACT
Civil proceedings cannot begin until the conclusion of any criminal proceedings. Civil liability is automatically taken into consideration by the criminal court. The claimant has the alternative of opting out of the criminal proceedings to have his claim for civil damages evaluated by the civil court. As the damages awarded will be the same, one type of proceedings is not preferable over the other. In order to participate in the criminal proceedings, the claimant is generally invited formally by the judge.18
