Junk mail personal injury claim is no joke

A 44-year-old father of two is facing a potentially lengthy personal injury claim from a woman who claims to have had her right index fingertip severed while delivering junk mail to his house.

She has contacted no win, no fee solicitors to make a personal injury claim for both the injury and the loss of earnings she alleges she has incurred as a result.

The 44-year-old defendant's immediate reaction news of the claim was that it must be a "joke".

The letter he received from the claimant's solicitor read, "We understand that the circumstances of the accident are that our client was delivering a leaflet to your house when your letterbox snapped back on to her right index finger.

"As a result of this, our client suffered from personal injury and loss."

This produced an incredulous reaction from the homeowner, with him commenting, "When I received a solicitor's letter I thought someone was having a laugh. I actually told them they had sent it early - April Fool's Day is still six weeks away.

"I just cannot believe someone who came on to my property uninvited, to put junk mail through my door that I didn't want, can now sue me because she hurt herself.

"I do not even know what the woman posted to me. I never read my junk mail. When I get junk mail I usually just scoop it all up and throw it in the bin."

The claimant, who is usually a cake decorator by trade, refused to comment on her claim, only saying, "It is in the hands of my solicitors."

One blogger responding to the news story on a newspaper's internet message board offered the following tongue-in-cheek advice to the personal injury claim defendant, "Pop round her house and slam your finger in her letterbox when delivering a reply. Then hand deliver a copy to her solicitor and slam another finger in their letterbox and, hey presto, you're 2-1 up!"