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Darts Player Wins £3,000 Compensation.

The other year I reported on the fact that Phil Taylor, the greatest darts player that has ever lived, insured his hand for £1 million and I commented that it was quite understandable as his very substantial income and lifestyle was totally dependent on his hands. (See Article) I also commented that my hands as an ordinary pub player would not be worth anything. However, it seems that I was wrong, not because my hands are valuable, but because an ordinary darts player, not a professional, or even semi pro, managed to claim £3,000 in damages as compensation for loss of prize money due to a cut finger.

The darts player was in fact a postman who caught his finger on a letter-box and cut it so badly that he needed 3 stitches. The Yorkshire postie was off work for 6 weeks and could not throw his darts for some 4 months preventing him from entering many local darts competitions. Although the post office might have taken action the postman decided to hire a “no win, no fee” solicitor to make a claim on his behalf.

The householder received a letter advising him of the claim for financial compensation for the ‘loss of opportunity to obtain prize money from darts competitions.’ Initially £500 was offered, but the man feared the possible legal costs of a full-blown court case so raised the offer to £3,000 in an out of court settlement.

After the postman had recovered a few months later he entered a prestigious local darts competition with ranking points and a £750 first prize. Although he didn’t reach the final it is said that he put in a good performance and took a few scalps in the process.

When I joke about not doing any hard work in case I hurt my hands and it stops me from playing darts perhaps it’s not such a joke after all!