Military Inquests and Fatal Claims

If your loved one died because of an accident while serving in the armed forces, you may be able to claim compensation, and this should typically be done within three years of their passing.

It doesn't matter what branch of the service your loved one was in—we have made successful claims for service personnel in the Army, RAF and Royal Navy, including specialist units.

We have also made successful claims following a range of fatal incidents, including accidents during training exercises, while travelling, or in combat.

Claims for fatal injuries that occurred while in combat can be more complicated due to what's known as the “Combat Immunity” defence. This means that the MoD isn’t under a duty to maintain a safe system of work for service personnel engaged with an enemy during combat.

However, if we can prove that your loved one's death was caused by negligence on the part of the MoD, whether through friendly fire, inadequate/poorly maintained equipment, or preventable transport accidents, we may still be able to make a case. Find out more about how combat immunity can affect a claim.

If you’re not sure whether you will be able to make a claim, it's important to seek legal advice from expert lawyers. Call us today for a free initial consultation on your claim, and we will be able to offer our expert advice.

When a member of the armed forces dies, an inquest may be undertaken to determine the exact circumstances. It's independent of the MoD, with a coroner appointed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

Inquests are carried out when the cause of death is unknown after a post-mortem. They can also be carried out if there is reasonable possibility to believe that your loved one's death was caused by a failure to meet standards that ensure the safety of service personnel.

The coroner will question witnesses to find out exactly what has happened. They will prepare a legal statement that sets out the exact circumstance of where, when, how, and why a person has died.

An inquest’s job isn’t to find fault, but in many cases, its conclusions will greatly help us in seeking compensation for your loss.

If you have any concerns about a military inquest, contact us for a free consultation with one of our lawyers, who will be able to answer any questions.

The compensation amount awarded is unique to each case. So, we will need more information about what happened to your loved one before we can give you an idea of how much a claim could be worth.

Whatever the circumstances around their death, we will make sure the compensation amount reflects your short- and long-term needs without your loved one. Compensation is calculated based on:

• Your loved one’s pain and suffering
• The circumstances that caused their death
• Your financial dependency on your loved one, such as loss of their earnings
• Expenses you have incurred because of their death.

Contact us to discuss what happened to your loved one. Once we know more, we will be able to tell you how much you could claim.