What is Causation?
Causation in simple terms is just the action or process of causing something to happen. In the legal realm, the term takes on more weight. As a legal concept, causation is the link between one party’s actions and another party’s injury or harm.
In many legal cases, a plaintiff needs to prove causation. They need to show that a defendant’s actions directly caused the plaintiff’s damages. In a negligence case, the plaintiff must demonstrate that their injury directly resulted from something that the defendant did or failed to do. In cases like that, it must also be shown that the defendant owed a certain duty to the plaintiff in the first place.
There are two distinct types of causation. Firstly, there is factual causation which establishes that a defendant is a cause of the chain of events that led to a plaintiff’s harm. Then there is proximate (or legal) causation, which allows for a defendant to be held legally responsible for a plaintiff’s harm as long as it was a direct, foreseeable result of the defendant’s actions. As long as there are no interfering causes that make a harm unforeseeable or somehow make a defendant’s actions more reasonable, a defendant who is found to be the main cause of a plaintiff’s damages is likely to be found liable to paying those damages in court.
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Personal Injury Glossary Terms
This glossary provides a quick-access resource for looking up definitions of terms you will likely encounter while seeking compensation.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W
A
Accident Report — A detailed official record of an incident created on-site by an authority figure such as a police officer or hospital staff member.
Act of God — An unforeseen event caused by natural forces without human involvement that couldn’t have been prevented with reasonable care, […]
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Pittsburgh Premises Liability Lawyer
If You Were Injured at Someone’s Home, Business or Property in Pittsburgh, Take Action with a Liability Claim
To get the compensation you deserve, contact a leading Pittsburgh premises liability lawyer today. Under Pennsylvania law, property and business owners must make their premises safe for customers and visitors. However, every year, millions of Americans slip, fall, or suffer other injuries because of unsafe conditions on other people’s properties. If you or someone you love suffered injuries from an accident at a home, store, or business, you need an award-winning Pittsburgh personal injury lawyer. You need Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. If you are ready to let a Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys lawyer fight for MAXIMUM COMPENSATION for your injuries, schedule your FREE consultation today.
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we are an award-winning law firm with deep Pennsylvania roots
In 1959, […]
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Pittsburgh Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Get a Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyer who will fight for you
When we put our lives in the hands of a doctor or medical professional, we trust they will do their best. Unfortunately, medical errors happen too often in Pittsburgh. Many times, a mistake is just that — a mistake. However, if the medical malpractice was caused by a negligent doctor, nurse, or other medical professional which resulted in further harm to you or a loved one, you have the right to take legal action. To take the first step towards getting your life back, schedule a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer at Munley Law today.
We know a lot of medical lawyers talk the talk, but there is only one law firm that wins the way we do. Our firm was founded in 1959 with a simple mission: to fight for justice for all accident victims and never back down against the “big guys.” For the last 60 years, […]
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Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyer
Now more than ever, construction sites are popping up around Philadelphia. While that is good news for the City’s development, it also comes with risks. Almost 1,000 construction workers died on the job in 2021, and in 2020, there were 213.3 nonfatal accidents per 10,000 construction workers. Indeed, construction workers have one of the top ten most dangerous jobs in the United States. Be it a fall, falling object, electrocution, or an accident involving workplace tools, construction sites are dangerous.
If you or a loved one has been injured on a construction site, you should contact an experienced Philadelphia construction accident attorney about your options. Together, we can make sure you recover the financial compensation necessary to move forward.
What About Workers’ Compensation?
Working on a construction site, you’ve likely heard about workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation generally provides the only remedy against an employer or coworker when you are injured in the course and scope of your employment. […]
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Philadelphia Premises Liability Lawyers
If You Were Injured on Someone Else’s Property in Philadelphia, You May Be Entitled to Compensation.
Under Pennsylvania law, it is the property owner’s job to keep their guests and visitors from getting hurt. By filing a premises liability claim, people who get hurt can get money for their injuries and other losses. “Premises liability” is a type of personal injury lawsuit against the owner of a property where someone was injured.
As the injured victim, you will need to prove that the property owner was negligent. This is where a Philadelphia premises liability lawyer can help. If you were hurt on someone else’s property or place of business, contact a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation.