Legal Definitions - causa proxima

Definition: Causa proxima refers to the immediate or latest cause of an event or situation. It is the cause that directly led to the outcome.

Example: A car accident occurred because the driver was texting while driving. The causa proxima of the accident was the driver's distraction due to texting.

Another example could be a fire that broke out in a building due to faulty wiring. The causa proxima of the fire was the faulty wiring that caused the spark.

These examples illustrate how causa proxima refers to the direct cause of an event or situation. It is important in determining liability and responsibility for the outcome.