Legal Definitions - proximate consequence

Definition: A proximate consequence is a result that follows in an unbroken sequence from some event, especially a negligent one.

Example 1: A driver who is texting while driving hits a pedestrian. The proximate consequence of the driver's negligence is the pedestrian's injuries.

Example 2: A company fails to properly label a hazardous chemical, and an employee is injured as a result. The proximate consequence of the company's negligence is the employee's injury.

These examples illustrate how a proximate consequence is a direct result of an event, particularly one that is negligent or careless. In both cases, the negligent actions of one party led to harm or injury to another party, and the harm was a direct consequence of the negligence.