Solicitors from Irwin Mitchell helped to reach a settlement for a soldier who lost the ability to hear in his left ear.
Liam Bell, from Morecambe, served with the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. Whilst on a training exercise at Catterick training range in October 2008, Mr Bell suffered damage to his hearing because of the Ministry of Defence’s failure to provide him with sufficient hearing protection.
The protection provided was normally fine, but on this occasion Mr Bell was given one ear plug and instructed to enter it into his right ear. As a new recruit, aged 17, Mr Bell did as instructed. He and his colleagues fired light machine guns and used grenades during the exercise. When a grenade was thrown over the top of the trench, everyone stood up and fired their rifles on the automatic setting. Due to the excessive noise exposure, Mr Bell immediately developed symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus.
Our team worked with Mr Bell to secure £40,000 in compensation. Nick Woods, who handled Mr Bell’s case, said: "I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to recover such a substantial sum in compensation for Mr Bell.
“Whilst this is obviously a large sum of money, the sad reality is that is does not do anything to give Mr Bell the quality of life he would have enjoyed had the Ministry of Defence given him sufficient hearing protection.
“Mr Bell is still only in his early twenties and now has to live with his hearing loss and tinnitus for the rest of his life.”
If you or a loved one has suffered from hearing damage such as acoustic shock, tinnitus, and noise-induced hearing loss while serving in the armed forces, our solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Industrial Disease Claims page for more information.
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