Attorneys often use the eggshell skull rule when an at-fault drivers negligence aggravates a victims pre-existing injury or condition. Free resources to assist you with your legal studies! All Rights Reserved. The eggshell skull rule applies even if the resulting injuries would inevitably have occurred sooner or later regardless of the defendants negligence. The impact of the collision clearly caused their fractures. The following scenario is an example of how the eggshell skull rule can come into play: Suppose Becky is involved in a minor vehicle accident caused by Samantha. If the person with OI is hit from behind in a motor vehicle collision and suffers medical damages (such as clavicle fracture), it would not be a valid defense to state that the osteogenesis imperfecta was the cause of the fracture. The rule states that, in a tort case, the unexpected frailty of the injured person is not a valid defense to the seriousness of any injury caused to them. The attorneys at Universal Law Group are expert problem solvers with extensive experience in personal injury law. Getting blamed for [], One of the first questions many people have an injury is, How long do I have to make a personal injury claim? While thats an extremely important piece of information to know, it can also be misleadingand in some ways, the wrong question to ask. Nowadays, [], If youve suffered a personal injury that wasnt your fault and you need to file a civil lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve, sooner or later you will likely have to provide your personal testimony in a deposition. The eggshell skull rule is a common-law principle that states that a person whose negligence harms another person cannot use that person's vulnerability to dodge responsibility. 2020). If your personal injury case goes to trial, the judge or jury will base their decision on the evidence and the attorneys arguments. The "eggshell skull" rule is named after the example frequently used in law schools. The eggshell skull rulealso called the thin skull rulesays that you take your victim as you find them. 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 the result of an accident is that a ten year old boy reacts to his parents concern over his injuries and develops an hysterical condition, no reason of justice, morality or entrenched principle appears to me to prevent his recovery of compensation.". In Benn v. Thomas, the appellate court determined that the eggshell rule should have been applied to a case in which a man had a heart attack and died after being bruised in the chest during a rear-end car accident. The eggshell skull rule, or "eggshell doctrine" to some, applies to accident victims who have either pre-existing medical conditions or physical limitations. Wis. 1983)]. In simple terms, the rule says you must take the victim as you find them and cannot speculate about what might have happened if the victim did not have a condition that predisposed them to a severe injury. See Dulieu v. White & Sons, (1901) 2 K.B. In short, the defendant is responsible for whatever adverse consequences the plaintiff sufferswhether they are foreseeable or not. It can be difficult to pinpoint where a pre-existing condition ends and a new injury begins, and they may intertwine. Youll need to collect all your medical records and imaging studies, retain the right experts, and carefully build your trial presentation to educate the jury. If a court finds that the owner of the building was responsible for causing their injuries, the building owner will be fully responsible for damages resulting from both the death of the hemophiliac and the minor injuries suffered by the friend. Luckily, the seatbelt lock engaged and held you in place, so you did not hit your head on the steering wheel or the back of your seat. P.J.C. The principle that a defendant is liable for a plaintiff's unforeseeable and uncommon reactions to the defendant's negligent or intentional act. Richman, 512 F.3d at 879. During the transport to a hospital, the ambulance collides with another vehicle. In essence, this instruction . The contentprovided here isfor informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject. Who Decides Whether the Eggshell Doctrine Applies to My Case? Without an attorneys legal expertise and guidance, you probably wont know how to fight back. Contact our firm today to schedule a confidential and free case evaluation. Don't be fooled. Imagine driving down the road on a beautiful sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. Schedule a free consultation with our legal team today to learn more about your case. Being accused of causing a car crash that wasnt your fault can make you feel helpless and angry, especially when no one else is around to support your story. Retrieved from https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth639249/m1/375/. You suffered damages, like wage loss, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Oftentimes, this comes in the form of medical evidence or a testimony from a doctor. The "eggshell skull" rule famously stipulates that the tortfeasor takes his victim as he finds him, which means in practical terms that the defendant remains liable for all injuries that he caused in a susceptible plaintiff who had preexisting vulnerabilities. While there was a difference in medical opinions in respect of how long such a soft tissue injury like the one sustained by the Plaintiff would be expected to last, this case demonstrates the application of the "eggshell skull" rule, which provides that a tortfeasor is liable for the consequences of his negligent actions, even if the victim . The judge held that as long as the initial injury was foreseeable, the defendant was liable for all the harm. For more information about how we can help, dont wait to contact or call us today. [8] Duty to warn susceptible persons However, this argument is inconsistent with an established doctrine of tort lawthe 'eggshell skull' rule. The eggshell skull rule is a longtime common law legal doctrine that holds that a wrongdoer takes the victim in the condition he/she finds him. A tortfeasor must take his victim as he finds him (Smith v Leech Brain & Co Ltd [1962] 2 QB 405). The answer is a simple no. This breaks the chain of causation that ties injuries to the accident. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The Importance Of The Eggshell Skull Rule, An Experienced Indiana Personal Injury Attorney Is Here to Help. Your doctor says you need a fusion surgery and will be unable to work for at least a couple of months. Also called the "Eggshell Skull" Rule, the theory is that a person with an especially fragile skull who suffers a blow to the head should be able to recover for the full extent of the injury even if someone with a thicker skull might not have been so badly injured. Richman, 512 F.3d at 884. From: Can Owners Be Held Liable for the Negligent Handling of Animals? Nothing on this website should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This legal doctrine does not shift the burden of proof to the defendant, because under this doctrine the eggshell plaintiff still must prove the nature and probable duration of the injuries sustained. It becomes more difficult to show what damages relate to the injury that made the basis of your personal injury claim. 2d 943, 944 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988). [4] It may also take into account the family and cultural environment. Copyright 2003 - 2023 - LawTeacher is a trading name of Business Bliss Consultants FZE, a company registered in United Arab Emirates. The receipt or the viewing of this website does not create any attorney-client relationship. It was held that there was no novus actus as a result of medical treatment of injuries caused by the defendants negligence, unless such treatment is inexcusably bad or completely outside the bounds of what a reputable medical practitioner might prescribe.[12]. The eggshell skull rule is a legal doctrine that argues that at-fault parties are not only liable for the injuries they cause, but the injuries that they worsen. Additionally, a defendant will be prevented from limiting his liability to the extent of injury that his actions would have "normally" caused a healthier person. Chain of Causation - Manslaughter - Novus Actus Interveniens - Victim's Own Act - Egg shell Skull Rule. The courts do not want the defendant or accused to rely on the victim's own vulnerability to avoid liability. 2d 943 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988), [a]s a result of what the jury found was the negligent application of a permanent wave by the [defendants] employeenotwithstanding that Ms. Stein informed the beautician that she was adversely susceptible to the chemical solution requiredMs. The victim sustains a more severe concussion. The question of liability was whether the defendant could reasonable foresee the injury. That is the ' eggshell skull ' rule, which like most principles of the common law of torts is applicable to a constitutional tort case brought under 42 U.S.C. Under the law, . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Cite This Work This is particularly difficult when a victim received treatment for the same injuries or a similar one. 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 Importance Of The Eggshell Skull Rule If you have a pre-existing condition that is exacerbated by injuries you sustain in an accident, the at-fault party may be responsible for your related losses. Workers' Compensation Attorneys | Personal Injury Lawyers 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. How the justice system lets down victims of sexual assault Being raped was the first of countless challenges I faced as a victim of sexual assault. He developed a rare psychological condition known as Ganser Syndrome. If you've suffered personal injuries and are worried about your potential recovery because you have been diagnosed with a medical condition that makes you more vulnerable to injury, you should contact a personal injury attorney. Whist the victim was admitted to hospital she required medical treatment which involved a blood transfusion. The Court stated [b]ecause of his infirmities, Richman did not have a normal life expectancy. The claimant suffered from severe cerebral palsy due to mismanagement of his birth. As a result, the medical bills are far more substantial for the mans treatment. *You can also browse our support articles here >. The eggshell skull rule helps protect victims from something that they don't have any control over. The principle states that victims should receive full compensation for their losses, even if the damages stemming from a pre-existing condition are . 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. The eggshell skull rule says that the frailty, weakness, sensitivity, or feebleness of a victim cannot be used as a defense in a personal injury claim. The tortfeasor takes his victim as he finds him. See 2 Stein on Personal Injury Damages Treatise 11:1 (3d ed.) The name comes from the analogy of a plaintiff having a skull as . in an accident, you can seek compensation for the losses you experience through a, . The Eggshell Skull Rule is a doctrine that deals with accident victims who sustain injuries that are uncommonly serious because of pre-existing conditions. Moreover, we fight to ensure you receive the medical care you need as well as the compensation you deserve. Eggshell skull refers to a legal doctrine, which holds that a defendants liability in a tort claim is not mitigated by a plaintiffs unforeseeable, pre-existing susceptibility to injury. This means that particular vulnerabilities or frailties of a victim cannot be considered when determining the liability of the defendant. For example, in Richman, deputy sheriffs were sued for violating the federal constitutional rights of the plaintiffs son who died resisting arrest. Our legal team knows how to apply courtroom experience and legal expertise to combat the insurers unfair tactics.. Gulisano Law, PLLC. 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. While a normal person might only experience headaches and some bruising, the impact fractures your delicate skull. However, the Court held the nature and extent of the sons injury was irrelevant to their liability for damages. 28.9. The same duty of care . Have a question about your specific case? The eggshell skull rule is also called "thin skull rule" which says that the frailty of a person to whom the injury is caused shall not be taken as a defense to reduce the liability on the defendant. The doctrine says that a negligent defendant takes the victim as he or she finds the victim-even a victim that is as fragile or delicate as an eggshell. Be held liable for all the harm liability was Whether the defendant is for. Only experience headaches and some bruising, the defendant or accused to rely on evidence! Importance of the eggshell skull rule when an at-fault drivers negligence aggravates a pre-existing! Of pre-existing conditions 3d DCA 1988 ) Handling of Animals analogy of a plaintiff having a skull as the to! Of causation that ties injuries to the injury that made the basis of personal... 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