Off Duty Military Accident Claims

If you were involved in an accident that wasn't your fault while you were off duty, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

There are different rules for military personnel who are injured while on duty, but if you were off duty at the time, you will generally have the same rights as a civilian to make a claim.

The only difference may be if you were on a base, but off duty, when your accident happened. In this case, it may be that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is liable for your compensation, depending on the circumstances of your accident. In this case, you may also be able to claim under the AFCS, but there’s nothing stopping you from making a civil claim, too.

If you were off base at the time of your accident, you can make a claim if someone else was responsible for your injuries, whether it was an accident caused by another party's negligence, or a criminal assault.

We have helped people like you claim in many circumstances for many types of injuries, including:

• Soft tissue injuries
• Broken bones
• Serious injuries
• Fatal injuries
• Psychological trauma.

However, these lists are by no means exhaustive. No matter your circumstances, if you believe that someone else was responsible for your injuries, you may have a claim. For more information, contact us for a free initial consultation.

As a member of the armed forces, you have the same right as civilians to make a compensation claim for an accident or injury caused by negligence.

If you are claiming for an accident that occurred during your service, the claim will be brought against the MoD. If the accident occurred while you were off duty, we will determine the party liable for your compensation during the claims process.

Since 1979, the MoD has operated the Criminal Injuries (Overseas) Compensation Scheme, which mirrors the UK Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme. This allows service personnel deployed abroad (and their families) to claim compensation if subjected to a violent crime.

You normally have two years from the date of the assault abroad to claim through the Criminal Injuries (Overseas) Compensation Scheme. If you have experienced criminal violence after being stationed overseas, it’s important to contact us as soon as possible so we can begin investigating your claim.

Yes, if you have developed multiple myeloma after flying in Sea King helicopters during RAF service, our military solicitors could help you to make a compensation claim.

Multiple myeloma is a type of bone marrow cancer that's been linked to exposure to aircraft fuel and the fumes from aircraft motors. If you have flown in a Sea King helicopter, it’s possible that you were exposed to these fumes, putting you at risk of the disease.

We believe that exposure to dangerous fumes can happen when the helicopter’s propeller drives fumes from the engine down through the open cargo door of the Sea King helicopter.

The MoD has a duty to protect servicepeople from risks of injury and disease and should have taken all reasonable steps to avoid this sort of unnecessary danger. Where it has failed in this duty, as appears to be the case for some service personnel, there could be a right to compensation.

The RAF used Sea King helicopters between 1969 and September 2018. They are no longer flying, but you may be affected if you flew in one—the symptoms of multiple myeloma can take 10-20 years to appear.

We may be able to help you claim compensation if you:

• Served as aircrew in a Sea King helicopter between 15 May 1987 and 30 September 2018, whether in a combat situation or not
• Received a diagnosis of myeloma or other blood-related cancer.

Sea King helicopters included asbestos around the engines, gearboxes, heating, and ventilation systems, where it was used for heat resistance or insulation. The MoD replaced all major components containing asbestos by 2006 but left components that they considered “low risk” because they weren’t routinely disassembled.

However, later investigations found that there was still asbestos in some helicopters in 2018.

You may have been exposed to this asbestos if you worked on the maintenance or upkeep of Sea King helicopters between 1969 and 2018. If you have since developed an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, pleural thickening, or asbestosis, you might be able to claim compensation.

Learn more about making asbestos and mesothelioma claims.