Intervening cause

Definition

An intervening cause is an event that occurs after the initial act and contributes to the outcome of a situation, potentially breaking the chain of causation between the original act and the ultimate result. It can introduce new factors that affect the consequences, leading to a question of liability or culpability. Understanding intervening causes is crucial for analyzing how responsibility is assigned in legal contexts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intervening causes can be either foreseeable or unforeseeable, impacting how liability is determined in legal cases.
2. If an intervening cause is deemed superseding, it can absolve the original actor of liability for the resulting harm.
3. Courts often evaluate intervening causes to see if they break the causal link necessary for establishing legal responsibility.
4. Common examples of intervening causes include natural disasters, acts of third parties, or even victim actions that change the outcome of a situation.
5. Understanding the nature of an intervening cause can significantly influence the outcome of negligence claims in tort law.

Review Questions

• How does an intervening cause impact the determination of liability in negligence cases?
  • An intervening cause can significantly impact liability by either affirming or breaking the chain of causation established by the defendant's actions. If the intervening cause is deemed foreseeable, it may not absolve the defendant from liability. However, if it is classified as a superseding cause, it can cut off liability by demonstrating that a separate event led to the harm, thus shifting responsibility away from the original act.
• What is the difference between an intervening cause and a superseding cause in legal terms?
  • An intervening cause refers to any event occurring after an initial act that contributes to a result but does not necessarily absolve the original actor from liability. In contrast, a superseding cause completely interrupts the causal chain, rendering the original act non-liable for subsequent events. This distinction is crucial in legal cases because it determines whether liability remains with the initial actor or shifts to another party due to new circumstances.
• Evaluate how courts assess whether an intervening cause affects a defendant's liability and provide examples.
  • Courts assess whether an intervening cause affects a defendant's liability by analyzing whether it was foreseeable and whether it breaks the causal chain established by the defendant’s actions. For instance, if a driver hits a pedestrian and then a storm causes additional injuries, courts may consider whether such a storm was foreseeable. If so, the driver may still hold some liability; if not, it could be viewed as a superseding cause, relieving them of further responsibility. Each case is unique and heavily relies on specific details and circumstances surrounding both the initial act and intervening events.

Related terms

proximate cause: The primary cause that directly leads to a result in a chain of events, establishing a legal connection between the defendant's actions and the plaintiff's injury.

superseding cause: A cause that replaces or overrides the original cause, effectively cutting off liability for the initial act and placing responsibility on the new event.

but-for test: A method used to determine causation by asking whether the result would have occurred 'but for' the defendant's actions.