What is Eggshell Skull Rule?

What is the eggshell skull rule in personal injury law?

The eggshell skull rule is a legal principle stating that a defendant must take their victim as they find them. If a victim has a pre-existing condition or vulnerability that makes an injury worse, the defendant is still fully responsible for all resulting harm — even if it’s far greater than what would happen to a healthier person.

• Defendant takes victim as they are.
  
  
• Pre-existing conditions don’t reduce liability.
  
  
• Covers unforeseen extent of injuries.
  
  
• Applies widely in personal injury law.
  
  

Why is the eggshell skull rule important?

Without it, defendants could escape full responsibility simply because their victim was unusually fragile. This rule ensures fairness by requiring wrongdoers to compensate for all harm actually caused, regardless of the victim’s physical condition.

• Prevents unfair reduction of damages.
  
  
• Protects vulnerable injury victims.
  
  
• Promotes full accountability.
  
  
• Reinforces fairness in the legal system.
  
  

How does the rule work in real cases?

If someone with brittle bone disease is in a car accident and suffers severe fractures from a crash that might only bruise a healthy person, the defendant is responsible for those severe injuries. The vulnerability of the victim is not a legal defense.

• Applies even when harm is unexpectedly severe.
  
  
• Common in car accident and assault cases.
  
  
• Focuses on actual injury outcome, not averages.
  
  
• Victim’s fragility is legally irrelevant.
  
  

Are there limits to the eggshell skull rule?

Yes. The defendant is only liable for harm actually caused by their actions — not for unrelated health problems. Plaintiffs must still prove the defendant’s conduct caused the injury.

• Must prove causation.
  
  
• Doesn’t cover unrelated conditions.
  
  
• Rule applies only to injury consequences.
  
  
• Evidence is key.
  
  

Conclusion:
The eggshell skull rule ensures defendants fully compensate victims, even when pre-existing vulnerabilities make injuries worse than expected.