Årsaldsloven

Årsaldsloven, meaning "Law of Causality" in Danish, is a fundamental principle in many legal systems, particularly those influenced by Scandinavian legal traditions. It establishes that for a party to be held liable for damages, a causal link must exist between their actions or omissions and the resulting harm. This means that the damage would not have occurred, or would have occurred in a different manner, had the defendant's conduct been absent.

The concept of causality is typically divided into two main aspects: factual causality (conditio sine qua non) and legal causality. Factual causality asks whether the defendant's act was a necessary condition for the damage. If the damage would have occurred regardless of the defendant's actions, then factual causality is not established. Legal causality, on the other hand, involves a more complex assessment of whether the causal link is sufficiently direct and foreseeable to justify holding the defendant responsible. This often involves considerations of proximate cause and the extent to which the defendant's conduct was a substantial factor in bringing about the harm.

In practice, proving causality can be challenging, especially in complex cases involving multiple contributing factors. Courts will examine the evidence presented to determine if the plaintiff has met the burden of proof regarding both factual and legal causality. The specific application and interpretation of Årsaldsloven can vary between different jurisdictions and individual cases, but its core principle remains central to establishing legal responsibility.