Where one is dealing with a single cause for the damage, the test that must be satisfied is to show that ‘but for’ the defendant’s breach of duty the claimant would not have suffered the loss. See Cork v Kirby Maclean Ltd [1952] 2 All ER 402. Even where the situation is more complex, the ‘but for’ test should always be the starting point for trying to establish what kind of situation is present. It may also help to identify whether an alternative test is necessary and, if so, which one.