Proximate Cause

The last negligent act which contributes to an injury. A person generally is liable only if an injury was proximately caused by his or her action or by his or her failure to act when he or she had a duty to act.

Source: U.S. Courts

Something that in a natural and continuous sequence, unbroken by any independent cause, produces an event without which an injury would not have occurred.

Source: California Courts.

Last reviewed October 2022