Direct And Proximate Cause Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Direct And Proximate Cause.

Direct And Proximate Cause (noun)

A 'Direct and Proximate Cause' is the immediate and primary event that leads to an injury or damage. It is a specific type of cause in the legal system. This cause must be closely related to the result in both time and location, meaning it cannot be far-off or indirectly linked. It must be the main reason why the damage occurred without another force coming into play.

For instance, if a person's negligent behavior directly resulted in someone else getting hurt, that person's actions would be considered a 'Direct and Proximate Cause' of the injury. This is usually critical in cases of negligence, to ascertain who is legally responsible for the harm caused.

For example, "The defendant's actions were a direct and proximate cause of the plaintiff's injuries."

Example: "Because of Bob's failure to fix the railing, it broke and caused Alice to fall down the stairs. Bob's negligence was a direct and proximate cause of Alice's injuries."