Concept
Concept
Proximate cause is a legal concept used to establish the primary cause of an injury in tort law, determining liability by linking an act to its consequences. It requires that the harm was a foreseeable result of the defendant's actions, ensuring that liability is not extended to remote or indirect causes.
Concept
Causation in law refers to the causal relationship between an action and its effect, which is a fundamental element in establishing liability in both criminal and civil cases. It requires proving that the defendant's conduct was the actual cause (cause in fact) and proximate cause (legal cause) of the harm suffered by the plaintiff or victim.
Concept
Remoteness of damage is a legal principle used to determine the extent to which a defendant can be held liable for the consequences of their actions, focusing on whether the damages were a foreseeable result of the breach. It serves to limit liability to those damages that have a sufficient causal connection to the wrongful act, ensuring that defendants are not unfairly burdened with unforeseeable consequences.
Concept
A superseding cause is an unforeseeable, intervening event that breaks the causal connection between a defendant's act and the ultimate harm, potentially absolving the defendant of liability. It must be extraordinary and not a natural consequence of the original act to be considered a valid defense in negligence claims.
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