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Torts • Negligence
TORT#046
Legal Definition
Actual cause refers to a cause or factor without which the event could not have occurred. The three methods to determine it are:
1. But For
2. Substantial Factor (Joint Causes)
3. Alternative Causes
1. But For
2. Substantial Factor (Joint Causes)
3. Alternative Causes
Plain English Explanation
Imagine a line of dominoes stretching as far as your eye can see. When you tip over the first domino, your actions are the actual cause for every domino that tips over in that line, as long as it was previously tipped over by a domino that can be traced to the one you pushed with your finger.
Hypothetical
Hypo 1: Sam accidentally leaves his hose laid across the sidewalk outside of his home. Bob trips over the hose and hurts his knee. He gets up and slowly walks towards the bus stop but misses his bus. He gets on the next bus, which crashes into a tree, causing Bob to hit his face against the window. Result: Sam is the actual cause for Bob hurting his knee, missing his bus, and hitting his face against the window. This may seem absurd because it is so far removed from Sam's initial mistake of leaving a hose out, but that's not the point. Actual causation is just the ability to connect dots and show some actual link between the defendant's actions and the plaintiff's damage. Deciding whether or not it is too absurd will be decided under proximate causation.
Visual Aids
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