How does proximate causation limit tort liability?

Proximate causation plays a pivotal role in tort law by focusing on the concept of foreseeability in establishing a link between a defendant's actions and the resulting harm. By considering only foreseeable risks, the law aims to ensure that defendants are not held liable for every possible consequence of their actions, but rather for those consequences that are reasonably predictable.

This means that for a plaintiff to recover damages, it must be shown that the harm suffered was a foreseeable result of the defendant's actions. If the harm goes beyond what a reasonable person might anticipate, then the causal connection is considered too remote, and liability may be limited or even denied. Therefore, proximate causation acts as a filter that restricts liability to those harms that can be linked in a direct and logical manner to the defendant's conduct, ensuring that liability is fair and reasonable based on the circumstances of the case.