Intervening Cause

What Is an Intervening Cause?

An intervening cause is an event that occurs after the initial act of negligence or wrongdoing and contributes to or exacerbates the harm experienced by the plaintiff. In legal terms, an intervening cause may affect liability if it breaks the causal link between the defendant’s actions and the plaintiff’s injury.

For example, if a driver causes a car accident and a subsequent natural disaster worsens the injuries, the natural disaster could be considered an intervening cause. Courts evaluate whether the intervening cause was foreseeable and whether it significantly altered the chain of events leading to the harm.

Understanding intervening causes is essential for determining liability and assigning fault in legal cases.

Why Is Intervening Cause Important?

Intervening causes are significant because they can limit or absolve a defendant’s liability in a lawsuit. If the intervening event is deemed unforeseeable or entirely independent of the defendant’s actions, the defendant may not be held responsible for the resulting harm.

In legal disputes, analyzing intervening causes helps clarify the extent of liability and ensures fair outcomes. It also emphasizes the importance of foreseeability in determining the scope of responsibility.

Intervening causes are a critical aspect of tort law that underscores the complexity of causation in legal cases.

Additional Considerations

• Superseding Cause: If the intervening cause is so significant that it overrides the defendant’s actions, it is referred to as a superseding cause.
• Foreseeability: Courts often assess whether the intervening cause was predictable based on the circumstances.
• Multiple Defendants: Intervening causes can complicate cases with multiple parties, requiring detailed evaluation of each party’s role.

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