Legal Definitions - sole cause

Definition: Sole cause refers to the only factor that legally produces an event or injury. It is the dominant cause that receives juridical recognition for a particular case. If something other than the defendant's act was the sole cause of the harm, there is no further inquiry required for the defendant.

Example: A driver who runs a red light and hits a pedestrian who was crossing the street is the sole cause of the pedestrian's injuries. In this case, the driver's act was the only factor that led to the pedestrian's harm, and there is no need to investigate any other contributing factors.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the driver's action was the sole cause of the pedestrian's injuries. The driver's act of running a red light was the only factor that led to the accident, and there is no need to investigate any other contributing factors. The driver is solely responsible for the harm caused to the pedestrian.