Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Causation definition

What does Causation mean? Causation describes how the law links a person’s conduct to a harmful outcome, so as to establish liability in negligence and other torts/delicts, or guilt in criminal offences. - Factual causation: usually the ‘but for’ test—would the loss or injury have occurred but for the defendant’s act or omission? In limited circumstances, courts accept material contribution to harm or a material increase in risk (notably for indivisible diseases), and address multiple concurrent or successive causes. - Legal causation (scope of liability/remoteness): whether the kind of damage was reasonably foreseeable and whether any novus actus interveniens broke the chain of causation. The thin...

Proving HAVS/vibration white finger causation: diagnosis, claimant evidence and credibility, photographic proof, expert issues, apportionment of liability, and carpal tunnel syndrome

Published by a LexisNexis PI & Clinical Negligence expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note addresses the Causation issues that frequently arise in Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) claims, also known as vibration white finger (VWF). This Practice Note will refer to HAVS. It provides practical guidance on handling such claims, including a survey of the leading case law on causation, the difficulties around diagnosis, the value of photographic evidence and the claimant’s account of symptoms, apportionment of liability, and the overlap with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). For guidance on liability and quantum, including the significance of the defendant’s date of knowledge of the risk and limitation considerations, see Practice Note: Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) or vibration white finger (VWF)—liability and quantum.

Diagnosis

Causation is challenging because there is no definitive diagnostic protocol, and methodologies vary considerably between experts. The position is further complicated by the fact that individuals may exhibit similar vascular symptoms even without any exposure to vibration...

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Tom Pacey

12 King's Bench Walk

Thomas appears regularly in Fast Track matters and has conducted a number of Multi-Track cases through to trial. He has experience of acting in substantial High Court litigation as Junior Counsel and has appeared in the High Court in his own right on interlocutory matters. He has an extensive paperwork practice and is happy to advise on a CFA. Particular expertise includes road traffic accidents, employers' liability of all kinds, sports injuries and cases in which medical causation is disputed. Lexis®PSL Personal Injury About Lexis®PSL ...

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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