In negligence cases, which situation might prevent a plaintiff from recovering damages?

In negligence cases, an intervening event can significantly impact a plaintiff's ability to recover damages. An intervening event refers to an unforeseen occurrence that happens after the original act of negligence and contributes to the harm suffered by the plaintiff. If this event is deemed to be a superseding cause, it can break the chain of causation between the defendant's actions and the plaintiff's injury. As a result, the defendant may no longer be held liable for the damages because the intervening event is considered an independent event that caused harm.

For example, if a driver negligently causes an accident, but then a severe weather event occurs that significantly worsens the situation and leads to further injuries to the plaintiff, the court may find that the weather event intervened in a way that relieves the driver of liability for those additional injuries. Thus, the presence of an intervening event can preclude recovery for the plaintiff, as it alters the direct responsibility that might have existed solely based on the defendant's negligence.