What Does “Causation” Mean in a Tempe Car Accident Injury Claim?

When you’re injured in a car accident in Tempe, proving someone else was careless isn’t enough. To win your injury case — or even to get a fair insurance settlement — you also have to prove causation.

In Arizona personal injury law, causation is the link between the at-fault party’s actions and your specific injuries. If that link breaks, your case can fall apart — no matter how reckless the other driver was.

Whether your crash happened near Escalante or in Downtown Tempe, a local car accident attorney can help you prove this critical legal element — and protect the value of your claim.

What Is Causation in a Tempe Injury Case?

In the legal world, causation answers two questions:

1. Did the other party’s actions actually cause your injuries?

2. Was it reasonably foreseeable that their actions could cause those injuries?

Both must be true to hold someone legally responsible in an Arizona car accident case.

For example, if a driver rear-ends you in South Tempe and you develop back pain immediately afterward, your attorney must show the crash directly caused that injury — not a prior medical issue or unrelated event.

The Two Types of Legal Causation

Arizona courts look at causation in two ways:

1. Actual (or “but-for”) causation

This asks: Would the injury have occurred “but for” the defendant’s action?
If the answer is no, then actual causation exists.

2. Proximate (legal) causation

This asks: Was the injury a foreseeable result of the defendant’s action?
Even if someone caused the event, they might not be liable if the injury was highly unexpected or outside the scope of normal consequences.

So, in a Tempe pedestrian accident, if the driver runs a red light and hits someone in the crosswalk, both actual and proximate cause likely exist — the driver caused the crash, and it was foreseeable someone would get hurt.

Why Causation Matters So Much

Causation is what connects the dots between the crash and:

• Your medical bills

• Your lost wages

• Your pain and suffering

• Your long-term disability

Without it, insurers and courts may argue:

• Your injuries were pre-existing

• You waited too long to seek treatment

• Something else caused your symptoms

In serious cases like spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries, causation is often the most contested issue — because the value of the claim is so high.

Common Tempe Crash Scenarios Where Causation Is Disputed

1. Low-speed collisions: The defense argues your injuries couldn’t have come from a minor impact

2. Delayed symptoms: You didn’t seek treatment for days or weeks

3. Pre-existing conditions: Your back pain existed before the accident

4. Multiple crashes: You were in more than one accident, and the insurer blames the other one

5. Complicated injuries: Like paralysis or neurological damage, which may have multiple contributing causes

In each case, the insurer will try to break the chain of causation. Your lawyer’s job is to restore and document that link.

How Lawyers Prove Causation in Arizona

Your Tempe car accident attorney will gather:

• Emergency room and primary care medical records

• Diagnostic tests (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans)

• Statements from treating physicians

• Expert medical opinions

• Photos of the crash scene and vehicle damage

• Your personal pain diary or testimony

In cases involving rideshare accidents or uninsured drivers, you’ll also need to connect causation across multiple insurance companies and providers.

What If You Had a Pre-Existing Condition?

Arizona law allows injured people to recover even if the crash aggravated an existing issue. This is known as the eggshell plaintiff rule — the defendant must take the victim as they are, even if they’re more fragile than the average person.

So if you had mild back issues before a Tempe T-bone crash, and now you need surgery, the driver can still be liable — as long as your lawyer proves the crash worsened your condition.

Final Thought

Causation is the invisible thread that ties your injuries to the crash. Without it, your case unravels. But with strong medical documentation, expert support, and skilled legal strategy, that thread becomes a rope — pulling you toward full compensation.

If you’ve been hurt in a Tempe accident, don’t let insurance companies tell you your injuries “weren’t caused” by the crash. Get the legal clarity you need — and the compensation you deserve.