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Causation
Causation is the legal link that proves one person’s action directly led to another person’s harm or loss.
What it actually is
Causation has two parts: 'cause in fact' (the 'but-for' test—would the harm have happened without the action?) and 'proximate cause' (was the harm a reasonably foreseeable result of the action?). It appears in both criminal and civil cases, typically when the plaintiff or prosecutor must prove the defendant’s conduct actually caused the injury or crime.
Why it matters in your case
If you cannot prove causation, your case will likely be dismissed regardless of how wrongful the defendant’s behavior was. It is the essential bridge between what someone did and the harm you suffered.
The common misunderstanding
People often confuse causation with mere correlation—just because one event followed another does not mean the first caused the second. Also, many assume that if someone acted negligently, they automatically caused the harm, but the law requires a direct, unbroken chain of events.
Get the actual rule
Definitions are orientation; rules are authority
This page explains the concept. When it matters to your case, read the rule that governs it in your court — we hold Texas, federal and Washington court rules word for word, and every state's official resources are on the state pages. If someone cites a case at you, check that it exists first.
Related
Terms that travel with this one
General explanation, not legal advice, and not specific to any state — procedures and deadlines vary by jurisdiction and court. If you can get a lawyer or free legal aid, do: every real option.