Military Accident Compensation Claims

All employers in the United Kingdom are obligated to protect all its employees. The Ministry of Defence is no exception, as it is duty bound to protect all its employees wherever they may be stationed around the world. You may be entitled to make a military accident compensation claim if you are injured as a result of your employer’s negligence. Start your claim today by comparing military accident solicitors on our website.

Am I eligible to make a military accident compensation claim?

If you have been injured as a result of a military accident, you may be eligible to make a claim. Due to their profession, military personnel are inherently at higher risk. As your employer, the Ministry of Defence is responsible for ensuring that you have a safe environment to work in through training, supervision and safety inspected equipment, and through working with highly trained co-workers. The Ministry of Defence is generally only liable if you are injured in training based on their negligence. However, they do run the Veterans UK Criminal Injuries Compensation (Overseas) Scheme which pays compensation to armed forces personnel who were victims of a violent crime while abroad. Your solicitor can help you advise you on whether you fit the criteria for this and offer further information. Another pathway to receiving compensation if injured in combat is to make a claim to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). To be eligible for this, the relevant accident has to have happened after 5th April 2005. A Military Accident Compensation Claim can cover a range of different injuries, both physical and psychological including:

• Brain injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Amputations
• Accidents while training
• Noise induced hearing loss

The time it takes for a military accident compensation claim to be settled varies from case to case, depending on the severity of the injury. For more straightforward injuries, a claim could take anywhere from 18 months to two years. If your injuries are more complex, it could take longer to assess the full impact on your life, therefore prolonging the claim. That being said, our solicitors may be able to give you access to early compensation payments so you can cover any ongoing costs.

How do I make a military accident claim?

To make a claim against the Ministry of Defence, you will need to show that the accident or incident was at least partly caused by their negligence. There are a number of things you can do to help strengthen your claim, including:

• Seeking medical treatment immediately, and keeping any medical records or reports
• Taking photographs of your injury if possible
• Finding CCTV footage of the accident if possible
• Reporting your injury to the military as soon as it happens
• Collecting contact details of any witnesses
• Keeping receipts from any costs incurred due to your injury, e.g. travel costs to medical appointments

Your solicitor can then use that evidence to argue your case and get you the compensation you deserve. Having a solicitor represent you who has extensive military accident compensation experience can be very beneficial as they are well versed in the complexities of military injury claims. At Compare Compensation Claims, we can help you to find a specialist military accident solicitor who will support you throughout every step of the process.

Fees and compensation

When you make a military accident compensation claim, you don’t need to worry about paying what you can’t afford. Many solicitors operate on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis which essentially means that if your case is unsuccessful, you don’t pay. If it is successful, you pay a success fee which is a set percentage of your compensation payout, capped at 25%. The amount you receive for a military accident depends on many factors, including whether you choose to go through the ACFS or not. When calculating how much you deserve, your solicitor will consider the full extent of your injury on your life. They will take the following factors into account:

• How much time you’ve taken off work
• Future impacts on your ability to work
• Ongoing care from your loved ones
• The cost of medical treatment
• The impact this has had on your hobbies or interests

For an estimate of how much you could receive, you can use our personal injury claims calculator.

Time limits on making a claim

There is normally a three year time limit from the date of the injury for which to file your military accident claim when made against the Ministry of Defence. For claims through the ACFS, you have seven years from the date of the incident.

Find your military accident compensation solicitor today

With the right solicitor, the process of receiving compensation for your military accident claim will be much smoother. Compare and find an experienced solicitor today to make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your military injuries. If you have any further questions about the process, don’t hesitate to contact us.