Legal Definitions - cause in fact

Definition: Cause in fact refers to the actual cause of an event or result. It is also known as but-for cause, which means that the event would not have occurred if the cause had not happened.

For example, if a person drives through a red light and hits another car, causing an accident, the cause in fact of the accident is the person driving through the red light. If the person had not driven through the red light, the accident would not have happened.

Understanding cause in fact is important in determining liability in legal cases. If a person's actions were the cause in fact of an injury or damage, they may be held responsible for it.