Accident causes
Military personnel can be injured in many different situations, both on and off duty. Find more information about the most common causes of military accidents, including air accidents, medical negligence and road traffic accidents.
Military Injury Claims
If you’ve been injured or become ill during, or as a result of, your military service, we may be able to help you claim compensation. Our specialist military injury claims team has significant experience handling complex cases against the MoD, and includes former military personnel, giving us in‑depth knowledge of both the armed forces and the claims process.
Whether you're still serving or are a veteran, the branch you served in does not affect your right to claim. We’ve supported clients from across all military backgrounds, including the Army, Navy and RAF.
We offer comprehensive support for a wide range of injuries, including PTSD, hearing loss and other conditions sustained in the line of duty.
Find the information you need on military injury claims
Whatever your injury or illness and wherever it occurred, we can help you claim compensation if it was down to someone else’s negligence.Why choose Irwin Mitchell to make a military injury compensation claim?
Whether you’re still serving or are a veteran, you can claim with us, no matter your branch of service. People from all kinds of military background, including Army, Navy, RAF, Special Forces and reserve personnel, have successfully claimed with the help of our expert military lawyers (some of whom are ex-service themselves).
You can make a civil claim or we can help you claim through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS); in some cases, you might be able to claim through both. Whatever your injury or illness, we are here to make sure you get the financial, physical and mental support you need to move on from the trauma.
We work with various Armed Forces welfare organisations and can help you to access support from them, including:
Can I make a military injury claim?
If you are a current or former member of the UK armed forces and you have become ill or sustained an injury that could have been prevented, you might be able to make a military compensation claim. Although it’s widely accepted that working in the armed forces will incur more risks than most occupations, the MoD still has a duty of care to protect you from avoidable harm.
What do I need to start a claim?
We can help you with a free consultation call and, if you wish to continue, start collecting evidence to support your case, including:
- Medical records
- Military reports and logs
- Receipts
- Photographic and/or video evidence
- Witness statements.
You can get all the help you need to progress with your claim, even if it has to go to court. We know the prospect of claiming against the MoD can be daunting, but we will be with you every step of the way, no matter how you were affected.
What types of military injuries can I make a claim for?
Working in the armed forces comes with a unique set of risks. We’ve helped people who’ve been injured as a result of:
- Training injuries: We've helped service personnel claim for injuries sustained during training such as assault courses, firing ranges, mountaineering exercises, parachuting and skiing.
- Cold injuries: A non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) is caused by long periods of exposure to cold conditions. NFCI is also known as immersion foot, but the general public is probably more familiar with the term “trench foot”.
- Noise-induced hearing loss: Inadequate ear protection and exposure to loud noises such as gun fire, explosions and aircraft noise, can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus and hyperacusis.
- Defective equipment: We have helped service personnel claim compensation for a number of different injuries caused by defective military equipment. These range from recoverable conditions like broken bones to long-term and permanent conditions, such as deafness, loss of limb and psychological damage.
- Off duty accidents: We may be able to help if you were injured in an accident or assault that happened while you were off duty from the military.
- PTSD: Access the support you need to deal with and move on from PTSD after your military service, including financial compensation for your ordeal.
- Fatal injuries: Get legal support during a military inquest following the death of a loved one while in service.
- Military disease: This could include tropical diseases such as malaria, mesothelioma and other diseases caused by exposure to asbestos dust, or illness caused by the contaminated water at Camp LeJeune.
This list isn’t exhaustive—get in touch if you have been affected by the MoD’s negligence in a different way.
What are the time limits for a military injury claim?
The time limit for military injury claims in the UK is three years. This begins either from the date of the injury or the date you became aware your illness was caused by avoidable negligence.
If you’re claiming through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), the time limit is seven years from the date you were injured.
If you’re claiming on behalf of a loved one who lost their life due to a military accident or illness, the time limit starts either from the date of their death or the date you got the postmortem report.
You can sign up to the military from the age of 16, and time limits for claiming against the MoD don’t apply to children under 18. The three-year limit will begin from their 18th birthday, giving them until their 21st birthday to start their own claim.
There’s also no time limit for making a claim on behalf of a loved one who lost the capacity to start their own claim.
Meet a specialist from our team
Our market leading team will help you understand your rights, secure the compensation you’re owed, and access vital support – from rehabilitation to long-term care.
Andrew Buckham
National Head of Military - Partner
Hear from the people we’ve helped
It can help to know you’re not alone. Hear from people who were once in the same situation as you and turned to Irwin Mitchell for guidance.
"Sometimes it seems so trivial in comparison to what other people are going through. Amputation and the claim have given me so many opportunities that were never there before and I’m going to use them the best I can to inspire others."
Richard
Military Injury client
Royal Air Force corporal Richard Davies suffered a severe foot injury in 2019 when a jet engine trailer struck his heel, leading to years of debilitating pain despite multiple surgeries and rehabilitation efforts. After being diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome, three surgeons agreed in 2021 that amputation was the best path forward. We helped Richard secure compensation, specialist support and rehabilitation, and the use of a prosthetic limb.
Making an enquiry
We have several ways you can contact us, either by completing our online contact form, by phone, or using our live chat. If you start your journey online, here are the first steps to working together.
Complete our online formWe need a few details to understand your situation and the kind of support you need.
We’ll contact you by phoneOn the call our experts will ask you a few more questions to make sure we connect you with the right legal advice from our team.
We arrange a full appointmentIf we’re able to support you further, the next step is an appointment with one of our specialists so we can discuss everything in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you were injured or fell ill after a military incident, you will have questions and you will want justice. Don’t worry, we have the answers and we have the experience to handle your claim with confidentiality and sensitivity in any situation.Speak to a Specialist
We are here to help you understand your rights and the support you need. Complete our enquiry form and one of our experts will contact you by the next working day.
Alternatively, you can call us now.
Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (Excluding Public Holidays).
0800 0223 321
Where you can find Irwin Mitchell
Our 256 partners are based in 21 local offices across England, Scotland and Wales.
Our commitment to you
Our experts always start by listening, so we understand what matters most from day one.- 01Clear legal guidance
You will always get straightforward, honest advice, with regular updates to keep you clear on the way forward.
- 02Specialist knowledge
A wide-ranging team of trusted specialists who understand what it takes to protect your future, your family or your business.
- 03Your needs first
Whether you’re navigating complex personal situations or business decisions, we take the time to understand your world and what’s at stake.
Irwin Mitchell Scotland
Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.
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