If a defendant's breach is one of several causes of damage, what must the claimant prove?

In situations where a defendant's breach is identified as one of several contributing factors to the damage incurred, the claimant must demonstrate that the defendant's breach was a substantial contributor to the resulting harm. This means showing that the impact of the defendant's actions was significant enough to be a determining factor in causing the damage, even if other factors were also at play.

This aligns with principles of causation in tort law, where multiple factors can jointly contribute to an outcome, and liability may still attach to a party if their role was considerable. By establishing that the defendant's breach played a crucial role, the claimant can solidify their case for liability, even in the presence of other possible contributing events or breaches.

In contrast, asserting that the defendant's breach was the sole cause of the damage is not necessary in such cases, nor is there a requirement to prove that the injury was preventable. Additionally, establishing that no other breaches occurred during the incident is not essential to claim compensation when multiple causes are involved. Thus, demonstrating that the breach was a significant factor is key to the claimant's ability to establish liability.