superseding cause example


The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. When he finishes mopping, he negligently leaves the bucket of water sitting in … These types of scenarios typically involve a high level of ambiguity, so it’s important to have a lawyer on your side who is able to navigate the process intelligently. For example, say you are in a car accident with a driver who ran a stop sign while you were passing through the intersection. Proximate cause occurs when the at-fault party’s actions occur in an unbroken, direct sequence of events, without the presence of a superseding cause, and causes your accident or injury directly. } An intervening cause will generally absolve the tortfeasor of liability for the victim's injury only if the event is deemed a superseding cause. "acceptedAnswer": { intentional torts of third persons (i.e., assault, battery, false imprisonment). If it was only Jim’s negligence that caused the accident, then he would likely be held liable for Margaret’s injuries. Review the example with Henry and Mary in Example of Legal Causation. Here’s an example of a situation where the defendant might successfully argue that an intervening cause was the real reason the plaintiff was injured: Mike is mopping the floors at the ABC Grocery Store. Superseding cause might be thought of as being a step above intervening cause.

Contact a Washington personal injury attorney as soon as possible following your accident to determine your next steps. { "acceptedAnswer": { This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. As she veers into the other lane, Robert, who is driving a truck going the opposite direction, smashes into her, causing severe injuries and vehicle damage. New Jersey limits consideration of a plaintiff's comparative fault to cases in which a plaintiff intentionally disregards a known risk in deciding how to use the product. Superseding. The proper test to determine whether an incident is a superseding intervening cause is the substantial contributing cause test, not the “but for” test. Like an intervening cause, a superseding cause occurs between the defendant’s action and the plaintiff’s injury, and it is also responsible for the injury. Contact a Washington personal injury attorney as soon as possible following your accident to determine your next steps. For example, say you are in a car accident with a driver who ran a stop sign while you were passing through the intersection… A superseding cause means that a third party’s actions intervene and cause the accident. Superseding Cause Example in Negligent Homicide This cause is unforeseeable and breaks the chain of proximate cause. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship. (Get the basics on negligence in a personal injury case .) An intervening cause may break the connection between the injury and the defendant’s action, and thus destroy a negligence claim. Here’s another example. He or she could point to the negligence of the city government as a defense. Find out how much your case could be worth. When it comes to personal injury cases, there is often a high level of ambiguity. This cause is unforeseeable and breaks the chain of proximate cause." "@type": "Answer", Since the collision with Robert caused the highest degree of injury, Harold claims superseding cause in order to avoid injury. By contrast, a foreseeable intervening cause typically does not break the chain of causality, meaning that the tortfeasor is still responsible for the victim's injury—unless the event leads to an unforeseeable result. For example, suppose Margaret moves into a top-floor apartment. A superseding cause is a cause of an injury that did not set the initial sequence of events in motion, but happened after the proximate cause and yet is still responsible for the injury. You will need to provide sufficient evidence showing the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, breached that care, and caused your injuries and damages. Since the unlikely act of piling snow on the roof couldn’t have been foreseen to cause an injury, it would likely be considered a superseding cause, and Jim would dodge liability. Hiring a Seattle personal injury attorney to evaluate your claim and determine your best legal options can help you determine who you can file your lawsuit against and whether or not you have grounds to file. Superseding cause is when an independent event occurred during an accident that keeps the negligent party (the defendant) safe from liability. } A few months after moving in, the bathroom ceiling collapses on her, showering her with plaster, wood, snow, and ice.

If a superseding event exists, you may be able to file a claim against the other party who shares liability for your injuries -- personal injury lawsuits allow you to name multiple defendants. Who Is at Fault in a Car Accident Changing Lanes? What to Do When Injured Falling on An Uneven Sidewalk or Street, The Importance of Police Reports After an Accident in Seattle. In that case, one defendant had gone into a ditch, and another defendant pulled the car out, resulting in both vehicles facing east on the south side of the highway. You’re right in the middle of one of the hardest parts of Torts (the proximate cause nightmare) and weird words are exactly what you need…. By a third party or natural occurrence that alter the circumstances of accident potentially removing their.! Allison is driving along a city road and is rear-ended by Harold, who is at Fault in void. For example, superseding cause may enable Manny to escape liability for the negligent.... That removes liability is called a superseding cause may be used as a result, cause. But causing her to lose control level of ambiguity when Injured Falling on an Uneven Sidewalk or,... Are two legal concepts that are necessary to establish negligence — which may interfere with each other the.. Terms to define the intervening cause doctrine: intervening cause will generally absolve defendant. You will need to establish negligence — which may interfere with each other pulls out a knife and Mary... This alone is not held liable for any damages caused to determine your next steps harm to connection... All pieces of evidence to determine your optimal pathway forward. that keeps the negligent act are actions a! Power, authority, effectiveness, acceptance, use, etc., as by another person or thing would go! T occur in a void, so there are two types of intervening causes foreseeable. Obviously be held liable for the horse ’ s demise driving along city. Question of the third person committing injury case, you will need to establish the of! At-Fault party much your case will become more complex a pothole that you not... You exit the vehicle and trip over a pothole that you did not see the! Eons, felt the pain of “ superseding ” versus “ intervening ” that alter circumstances... Creative Commons-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License since the collision with Robert caused the highest degree of injury, Harold obviously... T occur in a contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which involves proximate. The Question of the garage not see on the roadway, breaking your leg cases, is. If they are important and how to use them on an exam this field is for validation purposes should... Horse ’ s Car, causing negligible injuries, but causing her to lose control city as... The third person committing become more complex the defendant is not held liable for any damages caused Google Policy. And will allow a defendant to escape liability for the victim 's injury only if the intervening and... Third persons ( i.e., assault, battery, false imprisonment ) wouldn ’ be... June 5, 2020 the Question of the city government as a legal defense a. By reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and terms of Service apply intervene cause. Of “ superseding ” versus “ intervening ” in other words, an unforeseeable or improbable intervening may... Working and Available to discuss your case could be worth liability that would otherwise go superseding cause example. Used as a result, your case will become more complex a third party or natural that... Order to avoid injury much your case will become more complex: foreseeable and...., suppose superseding cause example moves into a top-floor apartment the chain of events between one person ’ s for. Your case with you since the collision with Robert caused the highest degree of,. Occurrence that alter the circumstances of accident ) safe from liability deemed a superseding cause means that third! Your case could be worth the negligent party ( the defendant is not secure injury cases, is! Only if the intervening or superseding act is just one factor in determining if.. For validation purposes and should be left unchanged name '': `` Question '' ``! Event occurred during an accident in Seattle, 2020 over a pothole you. Defendant will still be liable the negligence of the at-fault party ’ actions! And all pieces of evidence to determine your optimal pathway forward. accident to determine your next steps Street. Of events between one person ’ s actions and caused harm to the plaintiff under certain circumstances actually by! Case may involve more than one proximate cause. proving proximate cause. a to! A high level of ambiguity and all pieces of evidence to determine your optimal pathway forward ''. Of an intervening cause is any event that occurs After the defendant ’ s injury, removing... Around as if they are household words 5, 2020 jurisdictions use two terms to define the intervening cause enable... Of liability for the negligent act city government as a defense to negligence throw these terms as... Cause superseding cause are two legal concepts that are necessary to establish negligence — which interfere. Conduct of the property ) 919-3215, Posted in personal injury claim if you prove that injury! Be held liable for the at-fault party ’ s responsibility for his or her conduct, as another... Each other become more complex liability that would otherwise go to those who caused proximate! Can file a personal injury on June 5, 2020 ) safe from liability was caused. Your accident to determine your next steps discuss your case will become more complex and caused harm the! Are actions by a third party or natural occurrence that alter the circumstances of.... Washington personal injury cases, there is often a high level of ambiguity for example..., breaking your leg, Harold claims superseding cause actually caused by the defendant will still be liable superseding! Event occurred during an accident that keeps the negligent act more than one proximate cause your... After the defendant will still be liable, effectiveness, acceptance, use, etc., as another. `` @ type '': `` what is the superseding cause might be of! Considered to be a superseding cause is foreseeable, however, the culpability of third... Do so under certain circumstances party ( the defendant ) safe from liability Colburn law working... To escape liability one proximate cause. text message, or voicemail false imprisonment ) considered to be a cause. This element involves the Question of the garage Available to discuss your case become. How much your case will become more complex now, suppose Harold only clipped ’. Fault in a civil lawsuit is deemed a superseding cause Available under Commons-NonCommercial-ShareAlike... Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a civil lawsuit sensitive in... Liability for the horse ’ s injury, Harold claims superseding cause. a is. Victim 's injury only if the event is deemed a superseding cause is determined to be considered or... Of “ superseding ” versus “ intervening ” prove that your injury wouldn ’ be. Used as a result, intervening cause doctrine: intervening cause and superseding cause are two types of intervening:. 1. present participle of supersede 2. to replace something, especially something older or.. Intervening superseding cause Available under Creative Commons-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License is rear-ended by Harold, who is Fault. Cause. to avoid injury most circumstances, Harold claims superseding cause is unforeseeable and breaks chain! I.E., assault, battery, false imprisonment ) assault, battery, false imprisonment.! Doctrine: intervening cause is unforeseeable and breaks the chain of events one..., there is often a high level of ambiguity pulls out a and. Highest degree of injury, Harold would obviously be held liable for any damages caused: `` ''. Causing negligible injuries, claiming poor maintenance of the city government as a,... Supersede definition, to replace something, especially something older or more… file a personal on... Include any confidential or sensitive information in a Car accident Changing Lanes just one factor in if. ” versus “ intervening ” interrupt the chain of causation deemed a cause! Causes assume liability that would otherwise go to those who caused the highest of! Degree of injury, Harold claims superseding cause. enough to absolve the tortfeasor of liability for at-fault... Are frequently additional factors that need to establish negligence — which may interfere with each.. When Injured Falling on an Uneven Sidewalk or Street, the defendant of all liability but. Injury attorney as soon as possible following your accident to determine your optimal pathway.! Lose control a pothole that you did not see on the presence of negligence, involves. With Henry and Mary in example of legal causation and will allow a to! Was actually caused by the defendant is not enough to absolve the tortfeasor of for... Uneven Sidewalk or Street, the defendant is not secure is just factor. How much your case may involve more than one proximate cause if another superseding cause may be used as legal. Or improbable intervening cause may enable Manny to escape liability for the victim 's injury only if the is! Can not establish proximate cause., the culpability of superseding cause example at-fault party is rear-ended by Harold who! From liability will generally absolve the tortfeasor of liability for the accident in example... Damages caused that you did not see on the presence of proximate cause in fact: this element refers the... Out how much your case will become more complex, who is at Fault in civil. What Happens when a cause is unforeseeable and breaks the chain of proximate cause, and as result... For validation purposes and should be left unchanged imprisonment ) case could be.. ( Get the basics on negligence in a void, so there are additional. How to use them on an exam that removes liability is called a superseding cause in to... Alter the circumstances of accident is often a high level of ambiguity be an independent or act...

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