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Simple English definitions for legal terms
independent intervening cause
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A quick definition of independent intervening cause:
An independent intervening cause is something that happens in between an initial event and the end result, but it was not caused by the initial event. It can change what would have happened and affect who is responsible for the outcome. For example, if someone is driving and a tree falls on their car, that is an independent intervening cause because the driver did not cause the tree to fall. It can be different from a dependent intervening cause, which is caused by the initial event.A more thorough explanation:
An independent intervening cause is an event that occurs between the initial event and the end result, which alters the natural course of events that might have connected a wrongful act to an injury. It operates on a condition produced by an antecedent cause but in no way resulted from that cause.
For example, if a person is driving recklessly and hits a pedestrian, but then a lightning bolt strikes the pedestrian, killing them, the lightning bolt would be considered an independent intervening cause. The reckless driving was the antecedent cause, but the lightning bolt was not a result of it.
Another example could be if a person is walking down the street and suddenly has a heart attack, causing them to fall and hit their head on the pavement. The heart attack would be considered an independent intervening cause because it was not a result of anything that happened before.
Overall, an independent intervening cause is an event that occurs independently of the initial cause and alters the natural course of events, making it difficult to attribute liability to the initial cause.