What does the thin-skull rule state regarding damages?

The thin-skull rule, also known as the "take your victim as you find him" principle, asserts that a defendant is liable for the full extent of a plaintiff's injuries, regardless of whether the defendant could have predicted the severity of those injuries. This means that if a plaintiff has a pre-existing condition or vulnerability that exacerbates the injuries caused by the defendant's actions, the defendant cannot argue that they should only be responsible for a lesser amount of harm that might be typical for an ordinary individual.

Under this rule, the defendant is responsible for the injuries they caused, and they cannot escape liability just because the damages turned out to be more severe than they anticipated or could foresee. This principle ensures that defendants cannot avoid responsibility by claiming ignorance of the individual circumstances that may lead to a more significant impact on a particular plaintiff.

In the context of the other options, predicting the extent of damages in advance is not required for liability to be established. Also, foreseeability does not limit the defendant's liability to a certain extent of damage; rather, the thin-skull rule ensures full liability. Therefore, the essence of the thin-skull rule is that the defendant remains accountable for all damages that ensue from their negligent actions, regardless of the unforeseen vulnerabilities