Which of the following describes an indirect cause?

An indirect cause is defined as a factor that contributes to an injury but does not occur as an immediate result of the defendant's actions. In the context of tort law, an indirect cause involves a situation where there is a lapse of time or additional events that occur between the defendant's tortious act and the plaintiff's injury.

When considering this definition, the choice that indicates an event occurring after the defendant's act but before the plaintiff's injury aligns well with the concept of an indirect cause. This option acknowledges that while the defendant's actions set off a chain of events, the actual injury may not occur instantaneously and instead involves other factors that occur in between. This understanding is vital in tort cases, particularly when establishing causation, as it helps clarify how a specific act can lead to an indirect chain of events culminating in injury.

Additionally, the other options suggest misunderstandings of the concept. For example, referring to an indirect cause as a direct consequence or as something that allows a bypass of proving causation does not accurately capture the essence of indirect causes in tort law. Understanding that indirect causes involve intermediary steps between the act and the injury is crucial when analyzing tort cases for liability.