Intervening Causes

Intervening causes refer to events or factors that occur after an initial cause and significantly change the outcome of a situation. In legal or causal contexts, these causes can break the chain of events, potentially absolving the original party of responsibility. For example, if a driver hits a pedestrian due to running a red light, but then a medical emergency occurs that complicates the pedestrian’s injuries, that medical emergency can be seen as an intervening cause. It highlights how unforeseen circumstances can influence results, leading to different interpretations of responsibility or liability.