Define: Legal Cause

Legal cause refers to the connection between a person’s actions or omissions and the resulting harm or injury. It is a crucial element in determining liability in a legal case.

Legal cause is established by proving that the defendant’s actions or omissions were the direct cause of the harm or injury suffered by the plaintiff. This can be done by showing that the harm would not have occurred if not for the defendant’s actions.

Legal cause and proximate cause are often used interchangeably. Proximate cause refers to the cause that is legally sufficient to result in liability, while legal cause encompasses the broader concept of causation in the legal context.

Yes, legal cause can still be established even if there are intervening factors. However, the defendant’s actions must still be a substantial factor in causing the harm, and the intervening factors should not break the chain of causation.

In most cases, legal cause requires the harm to be reasonably foreseeable. If the harm is not reasonably foreseeable, it may be challenging to establish legal cause.

Yes, legal cause can still be established even if the plaintiff contributed to their own harm. However, the concept of contributory negligence or comparative negligence may reduce the defendant’s liability based on the degree of the plaintiff’s contribution.

Yes, legal cause can be established in cases of strict liability. Strict liability imposes liability on the defendant regardless of fault, as long as the harm was caused by the defendant’s actions or product.

Yes, legal cause can be established in cases of negligence. Negligence requires proving that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and that breach directly caused the harm suffered by the plaintiff.

Yes, legal cause can be established in cases of intentional torts. Intentional torts require proving that the defendant intentionally committed an act that caused harm to the plaintiff.

Yes, legal cause can be established in cases of strict liability for defective products. If a defective product causes harm to a consumer, the manufacturer or seller can be held liable for the resulting injuries, regardless of fault.