What does "proximate cause" refer to in tort law?

Proximate cause in tort law refers to the foreseeability of harm that results from a defendant's actions. This concept serves to limit liability to those harms that a reasonable person could foresee as a likely result of their actions. The ability to predict that a particular action will result in certain consequences is central to establishing proximate cause.

For instance, if a driver runs a red light and hits another car, the foreseeable harm could be the injuries to the other driver. However, if the resultant injury is a highly unusual outcome that the driver could not reasonably foresee, proximate cause may not be established.

While other answers may touch on different elements of causation, they do not capture the essence of proximate cause as clearly as the concept of foreseeability does. A direct link between cause and effect, as mentioned in another option, is more aligned with the idea of actual causation rather than the limits of liability that proximate cause addresses. Indirect causes can occur, but they do not alone establish proximate cause without the element of foreseeability. Similarly, while the primary reason for damages relates to liability, it does not fully encapsulate the nuanced foreseeability aspect that is essential to understanding proximate cause.