What does the term 'proximate cause' refer to in negligence?

The term 'proximate cause' in negligence refers to the relationship between the breach of duty and the harm caused. This legal concept is essential in determining liability in negligence claims. It establishes that for a defendant to be held responsible for negligence, there must be a direct connection between their actions (or lack of action) and the resulting damage or injury to the plaintiff. In other words, the harm must be a foreseeable consequence of the defendant's breach of duty.

When analyzing proximate cause, courts often consider whether the harm was a natural and probable result of the defendant's actions and whether the specific injury suffered by the plaintiff was a foreseeable outcome of those actions. This ensures that defendants are only held liable for consequences that are closely tied to their breach of duty, thus protecting them from being held responsible for any and all possible outcomes resulting from their conduct.