Members of the Armed Forces have the right to claim compensation if they had an accident during combat and suffered subsequent injuries due to negligence by The Ministry of Defence (MOD). As an employer, the MOD has a duty of care to ensure that its employees use fully working equipment in combat.
How do armed forces combat accidents occur?
When engaged in military combat on the battlefield, armed forces professionals may suffer physical injuries and psychological trauma as a result of using unsuitable or defective equipment, or after receiving insufficient supervision or training. Ultimately, this can result in a loss of earnings, pensions and career prospects; not to mention the distress it may cause the affected individual and their family. At Garratts, our personal injury solicitors are highly experienced in dealing with these sensitive matters professionally and discretely.
Can I claim compensation under The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)?
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme allows you to claim compensation if you suffered a military combat injury on or after 6th April 2005 and is irrespective of fault. You will need to have served in the armed forces, i.e. the Army, Royal Navy (RN), Royal Air Force (RAF), Army Reserve or the Ministry of Defence (MOD) at the time of injury. Should your claim be successful, you will be awarded one of the following AFCS awards:
- Tax-free lump sum for pain and suffering
- Tax-free linked payment paid monthly, also known as Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) (source: Gov.uk)
How do I claim for an Armed Forces combat injury?
You can make a claim for compensation up to 3 years from the date of your military training injury. The first step is to call our personal injury team on 0161 665 3502.
