Which of the following best defines the term 'substantial cause' in the context of violent acts?

• A. 35 to 40%
• B. 10 to 20%
• C. 40 to 50%
• D. 20 to 30%

Answer: (A)

Substantial cause means the violent act must contribute a material, nontrivial portion to the injury—that factor isn’t just incidental. In this context, a contribution in the ballpark of one-third to two-fifths of the total causation is considered substantial. The range 35-40% best matches that level of meaningful contribution, showing the violent act played a significant role without needing to be the sole cause. The smaller ranges aren’t large enough to be seen as substantial, while a higher range would imply an even larger share of causation beyond what this standard targets. That’s why 35 to 40 percent is the correct choice.