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Simple English definitions for legal terms
efficient cause
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A quick definition of efficient cause:
Efficient cause is something that makes something else happen. It is the reason why something occurs. For example, if a tree falls down, the efficient cause is the wind that blew it over. It is important in law because it helps determine who is responsible for an event or injury. Efficient cause can also be called proximate cause, actual cause, or but-for cause.A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Efficient cause is a term used in law to refer to the proximate cause or the immediate cause that produces an event or result. It is the cause that is legally sufficient to result in liability.
Example: If a person drives a car recklessly and causes an accident that injures someone, their reckless driving is the efficient cause of the accident. Without their reckless driving, the accident would not have occurred.
This example illustrates how efficient cause is the direct cause that produces an event or result. In this case, the reckless driving is the immediate cause of the accident and the resulting injuries.