direct and proximate cause

Direct and proximate cause refer to the two types of legal cause used to determine a defendant’s guilt, fault, or responsibility for an injury. Direct and proximate cause are most often used together in tort law to establish a party’s liability for a harm; however, they do have different meanings. Direct cause means the actual/literal reason that led to the injury. On the other hand, proximate cause may be more indirect through a chain of actions, but when taken into account with other factors like foreseeability, still establishes legal responsibility.  

[Last reviewed in March of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]

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