Causation

Causation in tort law refers to the relationship between a defendant's actions and the harm suffered by the plaintiff. It is typically divided into two components:

1. Cause in Fact: This establishes whether the defendant's conduct was a necessary condition for the occurrence of the harm (often assessed using the "but-for" test).

2. Proximate Cause: This determines whether the harm was a foreseeable result of the defendant's actions, limiting liability to consequences that are closely connected to the conduct.

Both elements must be proven for a successful tort claim.