Can I claim for a military accident?

Serving personnel have just as much right to claim compensation for injuries sustained in accidents - or as the result of negligence - as anyone else. We have considerable experience of claiming compensation against the MoD and other organisations for accidents suffered by military personnel, including serving members of the RAF, Army, Navy and Reserve Forces, as well as for retired military personnel and their families.

Over the years, we've helped clients bring claims for injuries caused by everything from defective equipment and military training accidents to road traffic accidents. Whether the consequences of a military accident are relatively mild or totally catastrophic, you deserve a prompt and understanding service to obtain your rightful compensation as quickly as possible.

What sort of military injuries can I claim for?

There are various circumstances in which military personnel can bring a claim for compensation as a result of a military accident or injury, including:

• Training accidents and unsafe working practices
• Injury caused by unsafe or defective military equipment
• Injury from unsafe or defective military accommodation
• Noise induced hearing loss (deafness)
• Fatal accidents
• Road traffic accidents during manoeuvres
• Clinical negligence
• PTSD

We can also help with claims where rehabilitation is needed.

However your military accident - or that of a loved one - occurred, our military compensation claims specialists are ready and waiting to talk to you.

What are the time limits for a military claim?

For most claims in the UK, there is a strict time limit of three years in which to begin your claim, so you should ask for legal advice as soon as possible after an accident or after becoming aware of health problems resulting from your military service.

Please note however that there are exceptions to this rule. It's therefore best practice to speak to a specialist military accident solicitor as soon as practically possible.

How much is my military accident claim worth?

As you would expect, every military accident compensation claim is different, with the final figure for compensation dependent upon the seriousness of the injury as well as the extent of recovery that may be possible.

Yet our expertise is not just in winning significant compensation for our clients, it's also in understanding the need for rehabilitation and the support that you and your family will need right away, and perhaps for the rest of your lives.

That's why we take the majority of military injury cases on a No Win No Fee basis, and why obtaining interim payments to help you avoid hardship is often central to our approach.

The law and injury claims against the MoD

Since 1987, the Crown Proceedings (Armed Force) Act 1987, has allowed military personnel to claim for personal injuries sustained during service, where the MoD failed in its legal duty of care or health and safety duties.

So while injuries sustained during an active operation or ongoing combat can't be claimed for, as they're covered by 'combat immunity', circumstances surrounding injuries you are able to claim for can be complex. That's why you should feel free to talk to our military compensation solicitors whenever you feel that negligence may have played a part in any military injury.

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)

There are a number of Government compensation schemes for injured forces personnel, which are administered by Veterans UK. Slater and Gordon have military experts who specialise in making AFCS claims on behalf of those who have suffered injury or illness as a result of their military service.

Inquests for military personnel

We can represent and support the families of deceased military personnel at Inquests, to help you understand all of the circumstances surrounding the loss of a loved one.

As an example, we represented families at a week-long inquest into the events surrounding the death of four soldiers who were killed in a Snatch Land Rover in Afghanistan.

Begin a military accident compensation claim

Slater and Gordon will provide a sympathetic, professional and honest approach to people who come to us with military injuries.

When you've suffered an military accident, you need specialists you can talk to and trust. Speak to an expert about a military accident compensation claim on 0330 041 5869 or online here.