Military Injury Claims

The experts in military injury claims

If you have been injured while serving in the armed forces, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your damages.

At Oakwood Solicitors Ltd, we can assist you in pursuing a claim through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), which compensates those who have suffered injury, illness, or death during the UK Armed Forces service on or after 6 April 2005.

You can claim for any injury or illness which has been caused by service in the armed forces, during training or in active duty, from hearing loss, and arthritis to amputations or mental health issues.

With our team of legal experts, we strive to secure the compensation you deserve to help you with your recovery and future needs.

Types of military injuries

You may be entitled to claim compensation if you have an injury, illness or medical disorder caused or worsened by working in the UK Armed Forces Service. This includes accidents sustained in training exercises or active duty, resulting in physical or mental health conditions.

We have rounded up some common injuries that may be claimed for, however this list is not exhaustive:

Accidents involving road traffic
Injuries during military training exercises
Parachuting-related injuries
Injuries from fires and explosions
The harm caused by inadequate or faulty equipment and machinery
Injuries sustained during mountaineering activities
Injuries involving military vehicles
Injuries during sports and adventure training, including assault courses
Injuries from manual handling tasks
Falls from height
Injuries caused by the negligent discharge of firearms
Non-freezing cold injury (sometimes known as trench foot)
Freezing cold injury (also known as frostbite)

What do I need to do to make a claim?

If you have been hurt whilst working in the armed forces, here are some things you can do to make your military injury claim as strong as possible:

Seek medical treatment immediately and take photographs of your injuries if possible
Report your injury or illness to the military as soon as it occurs
Contact Oakwood Solicitors Ltd for expert, no-obligation legal advice
Collect the contact details of witnesses
Keep a record of any costs you incur because of your injury

Which armed services does the scheme cover?

The scheme covers all regular service personnel, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and members of the reserves for all three services. You can claim whether you still serve or have left HM Armed Forces.

Is there a time limit for making a claim?

Claims for these types of injuries or illnesses must be made within 7 years of the earliest of the following dates:

The date of the incident leading to the injury or illness
The date on which an injury or illness not caused by service was made worse by service
In the case of illness, the date of first seeking medical advice for that illness
The date of discharge

However, there are certain circumstances when a claim will be accepted outside the time limits above such as being prevented from claiming due to ill health or your illness occurring later.

How much compensation will I get?

Compensation is awarded via the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). This will be a financial award calculated regarding a tariff of injuries and their severity.

There are 2 main types of AFCS awards:

A tax-free lump sum payment for pain and suffering
A Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) which is a tax-free, index-linked monthly payment

The Scheme is designed to provide compensation, irrespective of fault, across the full range of circumstances in which illness, injury or death may arise as a result of service.

How do I claim military injury compensation?

Contact Oakwood Solicitors Ltd today for free, no-obligation legal advice. We will then be able to advise you on the best course of action and assist you if we believe you have a valid claim.

Civil Claims

As well as claiming through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, if your injury was caused due to your employer’s negligence, you also may be entitled to make a civil claim.

Although military service involves facing dangerous situations, your employer is required to ensure your safety by providing:

Safe Systems of Work: Implementing procedures and practices that reduce risks and ensure tasks are performed safely.
Appropriate Work Equipment: Supplying and maintaining safe equipment for use.
Sufficient Training: Offering adequate training so personnel can perform their duties safely and handle hazardous situations effectively.

If these responsibilities are not fulfilled, leading to an injury, you may have a valid compensation claim. This can cover various damages, including physical injuries, psychological effects, and financial losses.

Contact Oakwood Solicitors today to discuss your compensation claim and how we can help assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use Oakwood Solicitors to make my Employers' Liability claim?

Oakwood Solicitors has expertise in military injury and has over twenty years of experience in running and pursuing these cases.

We will ensure that we update you at every stage of the case and you will have a dedicated handler from the very beginning. It can be very stressful after an injury and our team can assist you by breaking down the legal jargon during the process and listening to you.

When you instruct us, you can expect a friendly, down-to-earth approach together with extensive knowledge of the field which will be used to fight tenaciously with the insurers to achieve the maximum level of compensation possible for you.

Thank you so much

Efficient case handling with regular clear communications. Easy to contact, quick response time and no delay when final outcome achieved.

- Satisfied Client

Got the job done

It goes without saying that we are extremely grateful for your tenacity and fantastic work in following this through for us. Honestly, I can't speak highly enough of what you have achieved for us. Thank you.

- Satisfied Client

Alex Singleton - Employers' and Public Liability Paralegal

Alex Singleton is a Paralegal in the Employers’ Liability and Public Liability department, where she ensures Claimants receive the best outcome in their claim for compensation. Alex has developed knowledge on low and high value accident claims, claims against Social Services and other responsible bodies and claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority arising out of abuse and assaults. She prides herself on being approachable and being able to handle sensitive matters, developing a good relationship with her clients.

0113 200 9720

enquiries@oakwoodsolicitors.co.uk

Have you been injured and it wasn’t your fault?

The experts in military injury claims

Types of military injuries

What do I need to do to make a claim?

Which armed services does the scheme cover?

Is there a time limit for making a claim?

How much compensation will I get?

How do I claim military injury compensation?

Civil Claims

Alex Singleton - Employers' and Public Liability Paralegal