<P> An intervening cause is an event that occurs after a tortfeasor 's initial act of negligence and causes injury / harm to a victim . An intervening cause will generally absolve the tortfeasor of liability for the victim 's injury only if the event is deemed a superseding cause . A superseding cause is an unforeseeable intervening cause . 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 . </P>
<P> An intervening cause is an event that occurs after a tortfeasor 's initial act of negligence and causes injury / harm to a victim . An intervening cause will generally absolve the tortfeasor of liability for the victim 's injury only if the event is deemed a superseding cause . A superseding cause is an unforeseeable intervening cause . 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 . </P>
when may an intervening cause absolve a defendant of criminal responsibility
when may an intervening cause absolve a defendant of criminal responsibility
only if the event is deemed a superseding cause
only if the event is deemed a superseding cause