Definition in English: Proximate cause is the cause that, in a natural and continuous sequence unbroken by an efficient intervening cause, produces the injury and without which the result would not have occurred. It connects negligent conduct to legally recoverable harm.
Paliwanag sa Filipino: Legal na tuwiran at mabisang sanhi — Sanhing sa natural at tuloy-tuloy na pagkakasunod-sunod ay nagbubunga ng pinsala, nang walang mabisang intervening cause.
Legal basis
Civil Code Article 2176 and Supreme Court negligence jurisprudence. The rule must be read together with applicable amendments and controlling Supreme Court decisions.
What this term means
- Negligence alone is insufficient when it did not legally cause the claimed injury.
- An efficient intervening cause may break the causal chain.
- When a claimant’s own negligence contributes to the injury, the rules on contributory negligence may affect recovery.
Example
A store leaves a dangerous spill unmarked and a customer immediately slips and is injured. The uncorrected hazard may be the proximate cause if no independent event breaks the sequence.
Related civil law terms
Quasi Delict · Fortuitous Event · Default Or Delay
What to read next
How negligence and causation are proven · Browse liability content · Return to the Civil Law Glossary
Important note
This glossary entry is an educational explanation of Philippine civil law. The English definition states the primary legal concept. The Filipino explanation is provided to make the concept easier to understand and is not an official translation of the Civil Code, Rules of Court or Supreme Court decisions. Consult the controlling legal text and qualified counsel for a specific dispute.
Jurisdiction: Philippines
Last reviewed: September 2026