In our Staff Spotlight series, we take a look at key members of our team and find out about their area of expertise.
Today we meet Paul McMullan, one of our senior Personal Injury Paralegals.
Paul has taken the time to answer some commonly-asked questions regarding personal injury during military service, including how long you have to make a claim, whether it will affect your career, and how the claims process works. Read on to find out more.
Name
Paul McMullan
Job title
Paralegal in the EL/PL Department
Personal or family background
Whilst I have no direct link to the forces, I have family and friends who have served long periods in the armed forces.
Most commonly asked question(s) about legal claims relating to your field
For injuries relating to a one off incident causing injury, the application to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme must be submitted within 7 years of the date of injury.
- What is the process of a Military Injury Claim?
Once we receive your enquiry, we would like to have a brief telephone conversation to obtain all the relevant details we need and assess the prospects of the claim.
Once this information is received, we will make a quick decision, and if we can proceed with your claim, we will get things underway and a claim will be submitted to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
We will continue to liaise with you and the AFCS until a decision is made and the right level of compensation received.
- Will I have to go to Court?
No. A claim through the AFCS will not require you to attend court. These awards are full and final and not subject to continuing review. However, there are on occasions reasons whereby the decision and award made might not be accurate, and advice will be given on whether a review should be considered.
- How long will my claim take?
The AFCS is designed to make awards as soon as possible after the claim. However, this is taken on a case-by-case basis to ensure that all the evidence is obtained before a decision is made.
- How much compensation will I get?
In every case, all relevant evidence and information will be gathered, and all relevant facts are carefully considered in the assessment of the claim in order to make a reasonable, well-documented decision.
This ensures that the award is comprehensive, accurate and equitable from the outset. It should properly reflect the injury or injuries which have been caused by service.
Debunking a common myth about the claims process
Making a claim will have will not prejudice your experience or progression in the armed forces.
The armed forces themselves will often sign post-injured service personnel to the AFCS to recover damages for injury, losses and any future losses you may have.
Further reading
Military legal advice and support – Oakwood Solicitors
Staff Spotlight – Liam Hill
Staff Spotlight – Christina Taylor
Staff Spotlight – Jonathan Miles
Staff Spotlight – Jade Glover
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
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