One needs to hire a lawyer who will represent his or her interests well. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The plaintiff might suffer from a detrimental position, pre-existent to the occurrence of the present tort. The eggshell skull rule is by and large what refers to a plaintiff that has a pre-existing condition. An eggshell plaintiff rule, also known as the eggshell skull rule, thin-skull rule, special-sensitivity rule or old soldiers rule, comes to play in tort law. Blame can be removed from the defendant. There is no allowance for an already weakened state of the injured party. If the defendant commits a tort against the plaintiff without a complete defense, the defendant becomes liable for any injury that is magnified by the plaintiff's peculiar characteristics. The Eggshell Skull Rule is a legal doctrine that states that any individual who causes harm to another cannot use the frailty of the injured individual as a legit defense. The eggshell skull rule is a legal doctrine that says the wrongdoer takes the victim in the condition he/she finds him. 85204 In short, the law provides a safe haven for the victim’s susceptibility. The "eggshell skull" rule makes the tortfeasor take his/her victim as s/he finds him. The Eggshell Skull rule deals with plaintiffs that have pre-existing medical conditions. He died three years later from cancer triggered by the injury. However, it is difficult to prove intentional torts, especially in felony crimes. The ball of contention has always been whether accident victims should be compensated if the incident aggravates a pre-existing condition. Eggshell plaintiff comes from the idea that even if a victim has a sensitive skull like a delicate eggshell, the defendant still is responsible for injuries that they cause. Under strict liability, the following categories apply: On matters of personal injury and accident, the eggshell skull rule states that the defendant cannot use the frailty of the injured person for defense. The eggshell skull rule is often also called thin skull rule. The defendant only takes liability for the initial injuries. Lawyers usually invoke this legal doctrine in cases where there is negligence. In such cases, an individual is injured due to the negligence or recklessness of another party and seeks compensation through the court. However, the plaintiff can still seek compensation for damages. This group is vulnerable to injury due to their existing conditions. Eggshell Skull Rule. What this means is that even in cases where the injuries were worse that one normally would have expected, the negligent party is still legally … Eggshell Skull Rule. For a plaintiff to be compensated as deserved, there is the need for the victim to have experienced lawyers. Doctrine that makes a defendant liable for the plaintiff's unforeseeable and uncommon reactions to the defendant's negligent or intentional tort. Such a situation can arise when a plaintiff puts himself in a position where he is likely to be harmed. The eggshell skull rule states that a defendant will be liable for the damages afflicted on a victim as-is, even if that victim had a pre-existing condition that made the injuries worse than they likely would have been for someone else. 2d 181; 2006 Va. LEXIS 71, as holding that a negligent defendant “takes the plaintiff as he finds him” both with regard to pre-existing phys- ical as well as emotional or mental conditions (i.e., the “eggshell skull” rule also includes an “eggshell psy- che”). Please don’t More specifically, cases of comparative negligence. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. ( Log Out /  The information on this website is for general information purposes only. In cases of an intervening cause, the initial injury can cause further damage. For this reason, this rule is sometimes referred to as the “eggshell skull” rule as well. This is, in essence, the eggshell plaintiff rule. If a defendant negligently injures someone, the defendant is responsible for all the consequences, whether they were foreseeable or not. The issue is not whether the accident would have injured a healthy person, but whether the event hurt the actual plaintiff. An individual is held accountable for what happens from an activity even where there is no fault. In this example, the older man’s heart attack was caused by the accident, and he deserves to be compensated by the responsible driver. This information is not intended to create, and receipt Mesa, AZ 85204. Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Accidents, individual who isn’t paying attention rear ends, The Eggshell Skull Rule and How It Applies to Personal Injury. PRE-EXISTING CONDITION LAW “EGGSHELL SKULL” RULE CHRISTIAN-ATTORNEY.NET. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The position should be much better compared to what they were in before the current situation.Beyond Physical Injuries. The eggshell skull rule—also called the thin skull rule—says that you take your victim as you find them. In the world of personal injury law, this is referred to as the “Eggshell” Plaintiff or Eggshell Skull rule. Suppose this person is involved in a car accident. AZ case or situation. While the crash might only leave an average person with only minor bump on the head, the same collision might leave this plaintiff with a significant skull fracture or other major injury. through in-person consultations, video chat, phone, or email. Let’s say an injury is caused by a completely unrelated situation. The eggshell skull rule, also known as the thin skull rule, says that the frailty, weakness, sensitivity, or feebleness of a victim cannot be used as a defense in a personal injury claim. Knowing what is on the defendant’s mind is a challenge because they do not reveal it in public. Aggravation of preexisting conditions are compensable under the eggshell skull rule. For example, if A slaps B and B falls down and dies instantly due to some already existing condition, it is no defence that B wouldn’t have died if he was a ‘normal human being’ because a tortfeasor must take his victim as he finds him. The eggshell skull rule should not be mistaken for the crumbling skull rule. A Plaintiff means that you are suing somebody; you have a claim for damages. *The eggshell rule is an exception to the test of foreseeability which states that a tortfeasor is only liable for damages which are reasonably foreseeable and not too remote. The eggshell skull rule applies to accident victims with pre-existing medical conditions or physical limitations. 414 East Southern Ave. Eggshell Skull Rule of Law in Personal Injury Cases. In a pet-friendly state like Arizona, you’d be surprised to learn that we have some of the strictest animal laws in the country. The rule is applied in tort and criminal cases involving a plaintiff in a vulnerable, weakened state or suffering from a medical condition. An eggshell is often used as a visual metaphor for the thin skull rule. Kerdasha, 629 S.E. What Is The Eggshell Skull Rule? Compared to negligent torts, damages for intentional torts are always broader in size. Posted in Personal Injury on August 24, 2020 If you or somebody you love has been injured in an accident caused by the negligence actions of another party, you should be able to recover compensation for your losses. In this case, the victim should be treated as he/she was unable to prevent what had occurred. An intentional tort occurs when civil wrongdoing is declared an intentional act. The eggshell skull rule was named after a common example frequently used to describe a situation where the plaintiff would be able to recover when their damages are worse than expected. The rule obtains its name from a common example used in law school. On the other side, the application of the eggshell skull rule can be complicated by many things. The defendant is liable for the victim’s damages even if they did not intend to injure that person, such as in a car accident. Additionally, the eggshell rule is also applicable in strict liability cases. Insurance providers still try to fight claims that contain pre-existing conditions, even when they were the insurer. hesitate to The court can dismiss resulting injuries on the grounds that they were not foreseen. For example, if I threw a tennis ball at force at your head, you might suffer a slight bruise or some discomfort. The individual who caused harm will take responsibility for placing the plaintiff in a better position. For example, say that someone has a very thin and fragile skull – like an eggshell. While each case is different and depends on the facts, it is a well-known legal tenet that a defendant takes the plaintiff as he finds him. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. It is used to hold a tortfeasor liable for his his victim’s unforeseeable damages or injury arising from his tortious act, even where the victim suffered a graver degree of injury or damage due to an inherent weakness or pre-existing vulnerability. There are a few basic rules every Arizona driver should abide by: Follow the speed limit, wear your seatbelt, and most ... 414 East Southern Ave. The eggshell rule is not applied in all cases. The eggshell skull rule will not apply in all cases. Map & Directions [+]. It is used to hold a tortfeasor liable for his his victim’s unforeseeable damages or injury arising from his tortious act, even where the victim suffered a graver degree of injury or damage due to an inherent weakness or pre-existing vulnerability. However, it is not the role of the defendant to offer a higher duty of care when the incident involves an eggshell victim. In cases where the plaintiff, is vulnerable due to a past traumatic event, the rule will apply. An individual who undergoes a heightened psychological reaction to a tortuous event, then he or she is open for compensation. In legalese, tort law is a type of law that holds a person legally liable for any damages he or she has caused intentionally or negligently. One day, this person gets into an altercation with another person, who punches him or her in the head. contact us if you have any questions! The original offender will not be liable for the new injuries. It is easier to compensate for cases where damages are physical. Thus, in the English case of Smith v. Leech Brain & Co (1962) 2 QB 405, an employee in a factory was splashed with a molten metal. ... the negligent party is liable for such injuries, because of the "egg-shell skull" rule (“thin-skull” rule). The eggshell or thin skull rule is a common law principle applicable in tort law, which states that ‘you must take your victim as you find him’. The negligent party is responsible for injuries suffered by the injured individual regardless of any preexisting conditions. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual If a single punch kills someone because of their thin skull, that victim's weakness cannot mitigate the seriousness of the crime. A rebuttal to the eggshell skull rule is the crumbling skull rule. It means that a defendant is liable for any damages resulting from the injury they caused the claimant. The accused party will likely be required to compensate the victim via monetary rewards and will likely be responsible for footing all resulting medical bills. The eggshell skull doctrine makes a defendant liable for the plaintiff’s unforeseeable reactions to the defendant’s negligent act. EGGSHELL SKULL: A well-established legal doctrine that a defendant must 'take their victim as they find them'. The “eggshell plaintiff” theory imagines a person who has a very thin (or “eggshell”) skull. Before applying the eggshell skull rule, the following factors are first enacted into consideration that makes the plaintiff vulnerable to harm: The Eggshell Skull Rule is a legal doctrine that states that any individual who causes harm to another cannot use the frailty of the injured individual as a legit defense. Justia - California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) (2020) 3928. The defendant is responsible regardless of the plaintiff’s health condition. Application of eggshell skull rule beyond physical injuries has remained debatable. For example, when the plaintiff suffers from excessive bleeding due to thickened blood as a result of alcohol, the compensation will be lowered by a certain percentage. ( Log Out /  Unusually Susceptible Plaintiff - Free Legal Information - Laws, Blogs, Legal Services and More If a tortfeasor inflicts a graver loss on his victim than one would have expected because the victim had some pre-existing vulnerability, that is the tortfeasor's … Such lawyers will also represent them accordingly when dealing with insurance companies. Before applying the eggshell skull rule, the following factors are first enacted into consideration that makes the plaintiff vulnerable to harm: Many law schools will use the example of a person with a very fragile skull like an “eggshell.” This person appears normal to the outside world but unfortunately is extremely feeble and frail. What Is The ‘Eggshell Skull’ Rule? Attorneys often use the eggshell skull rule when an at-fault driver’s negligence aggravates a victim’s pre-existing injury or condition. Imagine this scenario: you and your co-worker both have exactly the same accident at work – say a bump to the head. Invisible wounds cannot be measured hence not liable for a specific amount of compensation. In this example, there is an imaginary person with a skull that is as fragile as an eggshell. Your colleague gets little more than a bruise and shrugs it off within a couple of days. Under the crumbling skull rule, the prior condition can only be put into consideration if it can be distinguished from the new injury. The law is mostly applicable when dealing with elderly and disabled individuals. ( Log Out /  or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The eggshell or thin skull rule is a common law principle applicable in tort law, which states that ‘you must take your victim as you find him’. Understanding this Rule and how it applies to no-fault claims in Florida is a bit complex. ... Filing a lawsuit is never the first step when it comes to resolving a dispute. The eggshell rule can also be applied when an intentional tort occurs. ( Log Out /  Similarly, when the injured is in the hands of negligent medical personnel, the hospital takes the blame for resulting consequences. But what if it also works the other way? The “Eggshell Skull” Rule This legal concept is a descriptive term for the idea that you take your plaintiff as you find him. When it comes to psychological damages, the rule might apply partially. Eggshell skull rule is a principle of trots law that a defendant is liable for a plaintiff's unforeseeable and uncommon reactions to the defendant's negligent or intentional act. The eggshell skull rule comes from an example often used to explain the concept to law students. The eggshell rule states that it is fair for a defendant to compensate an injured person for the harm he caused, regardless of whether the injured person had a prior condition that made him more susceptible. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The eggshell skull rule is an important idea related to causation in Tort law. Most people are familiar with the concept behind a personal injury case. This is to enable apportioning of damages. Learning The Law... *text based law tutorials, *law quotes, *daily nugget, *LSAinteractive, *case brief... Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). The Eggshell Plaintiff rule says that you take your victim as you find him or her. The person dies because of being hit on the head. The metal burned him on his lip, which happened to be premalignant tissue. Such injuries can be treated but traumatic outcomes cannot be healed because they are invisible. For example, an injured individual is involved in an accident while in anambulance. The eggshell skull rule says that the person who hit the eggshell skulled person will be responsible for the extreme consequences that the person with the eggshell skull suffered, not just the amount of harm a normal person would have suffered. Change ). In the event that a large individual who isn’t paying attention rear ends this individual in their vehicle and they die as a result of their injuries, the eggshell rule (or thin skull rule) states that the person who caused the death is responsible for the resulting damage. For you, the effects are more serious. The eggshell skull doctrine protects those in cases where the injuries are worse or amplified because of a pre-existing condition. Essentially, the frailty of the person who was injured cannot be used as a defense to limit the liability of the at-fault party. If a tortfeasor (negligent party) inflicts injury on a victim and the ultimate harm is worse than what would normally be expected because the victim was more vulnerable due to some pre-existing injury, then the tortfeasor is still responsible for the whole harm suffered. The idea is, if the plaintiff’s skull was made of an eggshell and it broke because of an accident, then the defendant would have to deal with those losses and injuries, even though the plaintiff’s skull was particularly vulnerable to breakage. In this case, the state of health is not put into consideration. The term implies that if a person had a skull as delicate as that of the shell of an egg, and a tortfeasor who was unaware of the condition, injured that person’s head, causing the skull unexpectedly to break, the defendant would be held liable for all damages resulting from the wrongful act, even if the tortfeasor (the defendant) did not intend to cause such a severe injury. *The eggshell rule is also applicable in criminal law. Even though the final decision lies with the court, the compensation amount can (in some cases) be lowered. If the negligence of the defendant aggravates a plaintiff’s existing condition, the rule is applied. Mesa, During the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain available to our clients, including It was held that the defendant was liable for all the harm even though he didn’t know that his victim had such pre-existing condition on his lip. 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