A Level Law Practice Exam

Under what circumstances might a victim's actions break the chain of causation?

1. If the victim acts recklessly

2. If the victim's actions are unreasonable to a reasonable person

3. If the victim had prior knowledge of the risk

4. Victim's actions never break the chain of causation

The correct answer is: If the victim's actions are unreasonable to a reasonable person

The situation where a victim's actions can break the chain of causation often revolves around how those actions demonstrate a deviation from what is considered reasonable behavior. When a victim acts in an unreasonable manner, especially in response to a situation created by the defendant, it can sever the link between the defendant's conduct and the resulting harm. This principle asserts that if a reasonable person would have acted differently to mitigate the harm or avoid further injury, the victim's unreasonable actions can be deemed a new intervening act. This can lead to the conclusion that the responsibility for the consequences does not rest solely with the initial actor (the defendant), as the victim's response has altered the outcome. Other choices touch on related concepts but do not fully encapsulate the legal principle surrounding the breaking of the chain of causation. Recklessness may be a factor but does not automatically mean that causation is broken. Prior knowledge of risk can illustrate contributory behavior but does not always disconnect the causal chain. The assertion that a victim's actions never break the chain of causation does not align with established legal principles. Therefore, the recognition of unreasonableness in the victim's actions is key to understanding when causation may be interrupted.