Military Injury Claims

Thompsons Solicitors’ Armed Forces team has significant expertise in dealing with army injury compensation claims for those injured during the course of their service with the Army, Navy and RAF.

Serving personnel can make civil claims for damages against the MoD if they believe they have been harmed as a result of negligence and should not delay seeking legal advice. It is your right – as with other workers – to be offered the safest possible environment in which to undertake your duties. We will work with you to establish the facts of the case and navigate the complex issue of combat immunity.

Our specialist military injury claim solicitors understand the complex nature of cases involving military personnel and have significant expertise winning civil cases against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and helping serving personnel to navigate the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).

Our experience with military injury claims

We offer independent legal advice to military personnel on a variety of personal injury matters and help them pursue asbestos claims, cold injury claims – including trench foot, hypothermia and frostbite, injuries sustained during training exercises; serious injuries caused by the negligent discharge of firearms, falls from height, crush injuries or military vehicle collisions.

Our military lawyers combine an unrivalled understanding of this very specialist area of law with a deep understanding of the impact these types of injuries have on members of the armed forces, and their families. We are proud to have representation on the Royal British Legion Solicitors’ Group and to regularly provide assistance to injured service personnel attending Headley Court.

Have you suffered a military injury? Our experts can help you secure army injury compensation. Contact us today to begin your military injury claim.

Frequently asked questions about military injury claims

1. What is a military injury?

A military injury is an injury suffered during the course of a person’s service with the Army, Navy or RAF. This includes an injury suffered with any Reserve Forces.

Military injuries can include injuries suffered during training exercises, serious injuries caused by the negligent discharge of firearms, cold injuries, hypothermia and frostbite, falls from height, crush injuries or collisions involving military vehicles.

2. What is a military injury claim?

A military injury claim is a legal process whereby a member of the armed forces begins a claim against the Ministry of Defence after suffering injury during his or her service. Succeeding in a military injury claim with expert lawyers like Thompsons Solicitors enables you to access financial compensation and often rehabilitative support after suffering an injury as a result of military service.

If you’ve suffered a military injury that you believe wasn’t your fault, contact Thompsons Solicitors’ military injury experts today to discuss your options for making a claim. Call 0800 0 224 224, request a callback or fill in our free online claim form.

3. What experience does Thompsons Solicitors have in military injury claims?

Thompsons Solicitors has more experience of winning personal injury claims than any other law firm. Each year we secure hundreds of millions of pounds in damages and help put clients in touch with specialist services that can support them through a difficult period in their lives, including rehabilitation services. We are proud to only ever act for the injured and never for insurance firms or employers.

Our lawyers have significant expertise in winning military injury claims against the Ministry of Defence and regularly help serving personnel to navigate the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). Combining their unrivalled knowledge of this specialist area of law with a deep understanding of the impact these types of injuries have on members of the armed forces and their families, Thompsons Solicitors’ military injury claims specialists provide an impeccable legal service to clients.

As a firm, we are proud to also have representation in the Royal British Legion Solicitors’ Group and to regularly provide advice to clients who are receiving treatment at Headley Court rehabilitation centre.

4. I’ve suffered an injury while serving in the Armed Forces - can Thompsons Solicitors help me make a military injury claim?

Yes. If you are a serving or former member of the military and believe that you have been harmed as a result of someone else’s negligence, our experts can help determine whether you can make a military injury claim for damages against the Ministry of Defence. We recommend that you contact Thompsons Solicitors without delay in order that we can work with you to establish the facts of the case and provide legal advice accordingly.

5. How much does it cost to make a military injury claim?

There are various ways to fund a military injury claim. If you or a family member are part of a trade union, you can make a claim through your union’s legal service.

If you are not a trade union member, Thompsons Solicitors’ experts can help you on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, which means you only make a limited contribution to our costs if you win and pay nothing if your claim is unsuccessful. Find out more information on our Fees and Payment page.

Thompsons Solicitors is always honest and upfront about legal fees – you will not incur any hidden costs when pursuing any type of personal injury claim with us.

6. Is there a time limit for making a military injury claim?

Yes. Personal injury compensation claims through the civil courts must be started within three years of sustaining an injury. Please note the position is different if pursuing only a claim through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (see below), whereby a military injury claim following an accident must be made within seven years of the date of an accident or, where there is latent damage, within three years of the date of knowledge.

7. What is the difference between a military injury claim for compensation and a claim under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, and can I bring both claims?

A civil claim for compensation arising from military service looks at whether the Ministry of Defence was at fault for your injuries, whereas the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme is a ‘non-fault’ system and pays compensation principally on a tariff system providing you have been injured as a result of your military service. A civil claim is not constrained by such a tariff and will consider the full impact of your injuries in every aspect of your life; from our experience, civil claims tend to attract higher awards of compensation, often significantly so. It is often advisable to progress both claims initially, but you are not able to be compensated twice for the same injuries and will have to give any credit in a civil claim for any compensation received from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

8. Do I have to wait until I leave military service before I submit a military injury claim?

This is a myth which has blighted service personnel for years. Owing to the time limits discussed above, it is important that injured service personnel seek legal advice as soon as possible following an injury, to progress military injury claims within the time limits. You should not wait until you have left military service to obtain legal advice and bring your case.

9. How much compensation will I get if I make a military injury claim?

Compensation amounts vary from case to case. Generally, the more severe and life-changing the injury is, the more compensation you can expect to receive. Thompsons Solicitors’ military lawyers will be able to give you a good idea of how much compensation you could secure after reviewing the details of your military injury case. Speak to one of our personal injury lawyers today to begin your claim.

Beginning your military injury claim with Thompsons Solicitors is quick and simple – you can call 0800 0 224 224, ask one of our experts to call you back or fill in our free no obligation claim form.