Torts
Proximate Cause
The legal limit on causation, asking whether the harm is closely enough connected to the defendant’s conduct to justify liability.
Plain-English definition
Proximate cause is not just factual cause. It asks whether the law treats the connection between conduct and injury as close enough, foreseeable enough, or direct enough for liability. Courts use it to cut off chains of events that stretch too far.
How it works
Proximate cause appears in motions to dismiss, summary judgment, jury instructions, and appeals. The exact framing varies by jurisdiction and claim.
Why it matters
Causation is often the battleground after a plaintiff proves something went wrong. Without proximate cause, negligence does not become liability.
Related terms
More in Torts
Comparative Negligence
A fault-allocation rule reducing or sometimes barring recovery based on the plaintiff’s share of responsibility.
Damages
Money awarded to compensate for loss, punish misconduct, or otherwise remedy a legal wrong.
Negligence
A civil wrong based on failing to use reasonable care, causing legally recognized harm to another person.
Punitive Damages
Money damages awarded to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct, beyond the plaintiff's actual losses.
Not legal advice. Definitions are for general reference. Consult an attorney before relying on any term in a real case.