About Eggshell skull rule:
- It is a common law principle applied in civil litigation. It states that all victims should be fully compensated for their losses, even in situations where the victim was more-susceptible to injury due to a predisposing condition or preexisting injury.
- It ensures that a defendant (the person being sued) cannot escape liability for exacerbating a pre-existing condition due to their negligence.
- The eggshell skull doctrine is named after a hypothetical situation where a person with a fragile skull, akin to an eggshell, suffers a head injury.
- If the victim’s skull fractures more easily than the average person, the defendant is still fully liable for all resulting damages, despite the victim’s unusual vulnerability.
- Despite its name, the eggshell skull rule applies to all types of injuries, including physical, emotional, and psychological harm.
- The rule is applied for claiming an enhanced compensation — for damage that is more than what could have been ordinarily anticipated to be caused by the defendant.
- The eggshell skull rule has consequently also been referred to as the ‘thin skull rule’ in many of the cases.
- Origin: The origins of the eggshell skull rule are most often traced back to an 1891 Vosburg v. Putney case in Wisconsin, US.
