causante

Causante is a term used in several Romance languages to denote the person or entity that causes a given event or result. As a noun, it refers to the actor responsible for an action or outcome, such as damage, injury, or a fault. As an adjective, it can describe something that causes or is the source of a particular effect, as in a causa or factor causante.

Etymology and usage notes: the word derives from the Latin causans, the present participle of causare, meaning “to cause.” It has been adopted in various Romance languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian, with related forms and a similar basic sense of responsibility for a result. In everyday language, causante may appear in legal, insurance, medical, or rhetorical contexts to identify the source of a consequence.

Legal and procedural context: in civil liability and tort law, the causante is the party whose conduct or action caused damage or injury. Identifying the causante is central to determining responsibility, liability allocation, and indemnification. The term is often found in phrases such as “causante del daño” or “factor causal,” emphasizing the link between action and result. In insurance and compensation procedures, establishing who is the causante helps determine coverage and fault.

See also: responsibility, liability, causal link, at fault, responsible party.

Example: El causante del accidente fue identificado como el otro conductor, y se iniciaron las gestiones de indemnización.