For a driver who crashes into another parked vehicle, what usually constitutes the proximate cause of subsequent damage?

The initial impact at the time of the crash is typically seen as the proximate cause of any subsequent damage that occurs as a result of that crash. In legal terms, proximate cause refers to the primary event that set off a chain of events leading to damage or injury. In this scenario, the crash itself is the triggering incident, meaning that it directly caused further damage or consequences, such as damage to the parked vehicle or any ensuing accidents that occurred as a result of the impact.

The other factors, such as the action of the driver exiting the vehicle, the condition of the parked car, or the reaction of bystanders, may be relevant in the broader context of the accident but do not serve as the primary cause of the damage that follows the impact. The immediate effect of the crash is usually the defining action that precipitates all subsequent outcomes, which is why it is considered the proximate cause in this situation.