Causation is the legal bridge between a defendant's wrongful conduct and the harm suffered by the plaintiff. Courts typically require proof of both cause-in-fact (but-for causation: the injury would not have occurred without the defendant's actions) and proximate cause (the harm was a foreseeable consequence of the wrongful conduct). In PI cases, causation is frequently the most contested element, especially in cases with pre-existing conditions, multiple potential causes, or complex medical histories. Defense attorneys commonly argue that injuries or complications resulted from unrelated factors rather than the incident at issue. Establishing robust causation requires medical expert testimony, detailed treatment records, and sometimes accident reconstruction or forensic analysis. Without clear causation, even a sympathetic client with significant damages cannot recover.
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Causation
The causal link between a defendant's breach of duty and the client's injuries, requiring both cause-in-fact and proximate cause.