A contributing factor is something that plays a role in causing or influencing an event, situation or outcome. It can be either positive or negative and may not necessarily be the main cause but it has had some impact on what happened. In law, a contributing factor is often used to describe circumstances that contribute to an accident or injury, even if they are not entirely responsible for it. For example, in a car accident, speeding might have been a contributing factor, even though another driver's reckless behavior was the main cause of the crash. In insurance claims, a contributing factor can be used as a defense to reduce liability or to argue for a lower payout.