Military Road Traffic Accident Claims

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Road traffic accidents are one of the biggest causes of injury and death in the British Armed Forces. If you've been injured in a road traffic accident, or a loved one has died, our solicitors may be able to help you claim compensation.

Whether you were injured while on or off duty, a road traffic accident can be a difficult and traumatic experience. As well as dealing with the immediate consequences of your injuries, you may also be worried about your fitness, health and future military career.

A road traffic accident can seriously disrupt lives and livelihoods, causing short and long term health problems that can require extensive medical support and harming careers. Our lawyers have helped service personnel claim compensation and access rehabilitation following road traffic accidents involving:

  • Cars
  • Motorcycles
  • Coaches
  • Public transport
  • Pedestrians
  • Armoured vehicles.

Our specialist military claims team includes a number of lawyers who were in the armed forces themselves and, thanks to their backgrounds and years of helping ex-servicemen and women claim, they have an excellent understanding of the problems that service personnel face.

If you’ve been injured in a military road traffic accident while serving in the Army, Navy, RAF or Special Forces you may be able to claim compensation. You could also claim if you were injured while serving in the Army Reserve (formerly the Territorial Army), Navy, RAF or Special Forces Reserves.

Our Armed Forces Expertise

Since 1987, our specialist military injury team has helped hundreds of injured personnel from the Army, RAF and Royal Navy to claim compensation. We are considered one of the top law firms in the country for military claims.

We work closely with a number of Armed Forces welfare branches and organisations, and are the PAX appointed legal representatives under the PAX Personal Accident Insurance Scheme. We're also proud supporters of:

  • The Royal British Legion Solicitors Group
  • Help For Heroes
  • SSAFA Forces Help

We'll make sure that those responsible for your injuries are held to account, getting you the financial compensation and medical support you need.

If you have any questions about a military road traffic accident claim, call us today on 0800 022 3321 or contact us online for a free initial consultation about your case. We'll talk to you about your claim, and advise you on your options.

No Win No Fee*
Specialist lawyers with a service background
Bringing claims against the MoD since 1987
Experts in both military and civilian claims

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Andrew Buckham
Andrew Buckham Partner Meet the Team

Military Road Traffic Accident Claims - More Information

Ray Lowrie

Getting the support from Irwin Mitchell with my adapted house has given me the encouragement and independence I needed to get out there and find other things I am interested in."

Ray Lowrie

Client Story – Richard Davies

Finding a purpose through sport

Royal Air Force corporal, Richard Davies, was deployed on an exercise in Cyprus in May 2019, when someone towing a jet engine trailer ran into his left heel. Richard contacted us a few months after his injury to make a legal claim for his broken foot. 

the pain didn’t improve and what followed was a series of treatments, physiotherapy, and pain therapy supported by the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Stanford Hall.

He was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome and in April 2021, three surgeons collectively agreed that amputating his foot would be the best option.

Having a military specialism means that we understand the nuances of military claims, the allowances, the promotion prospects, and the pensions. It could be the difference between recovering a modest amount or the right amount, and that can make a real difference to someone’s life.

Richard remains humble about his situation, saying, “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.”

Read more about Richard's story here.

Simon Harrington


“Having a military specialism means that we understand the nuances of military claims, the allowances, the promotion prospects, and the pensions. It could be the difference between recovering a modest amount or the right amount, and that can make a real difference to someone’s life.

“Understanding the military and its internal procedures gives you an insight into their mindset and how they’re trained. When you know what they’re looking to achieve, it allows you to help them get there.

“Compensation will never put Richard back to the position he was in before he was injured, it just can’t do that, but what it can do is take away some of the stress and minimise the impact of that injury, not only on Richard, but on his family as well.” - Simon Harrington

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can Claim Compensation For A Military Road Traffic Accident?

If you're a regular or reserve member of the Army, RAF, Royal Navy or a specialist unit, and have been injured in a road traffic that wasn't your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. You could also make a claim if you've lost a loved one in a military road traffic accident.

It's possible to claim for traffic accidents that happened in the UK or abroad, whether you were on duty or off. The most important factor is that the accident wasn't your fault – you could claim for an accident caused by failings on the part of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), or another party, such as another driver.

The MoD has a duty to ensure that its roads and vehicles are properly maintained, and that the correct signage is present across all military facilities. Other road users have a duty to drive safely and responsibly to avoid accidents. If this hasn't been the case, you could have a claim.

Injuries we've helped our clients claim compensation and access rehabilitation for include:

  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Sensory loss
  • Organ damage
  • Head, brain and spinal injuries
  • Loss of limbs
  • Fatal injuries.

The military has a responsibility to make sure you receive the right medical help if you're involved in a road traffic accident, and to provide you with rehabilitation in the aftermath. If this wasn't provided to you, you may also have a case.

If you've been injured in a road traffic accident and are unsure whether you'll be able to claim, call us today on 0800 022 3321 or contact us online for a free initial consultation. We'll see if you have a case, and answer any questions you might have about the claims process.



Are The Rules Different If The Accident Happened While I Was Off-Duty?

It's possible to make a claim for accidents that happened while you were both on and off-duty, but the process may differ slightly.

If you were on-duty, you will most likely claim against the MoD if they are found to be at fault, and responsible for your injuries as a result.

If you were off-duty, who you claim against will largely depend on where and how you were injured. If you were injured while off duty, but still on a base, you may be able to claim against the MoD.

If you were off base at the time of your injury, identifying the party responsible will be a significant part of investigating your claim. It could be the driver of another vehicle, the driver of a vehicle you were in, or a local council responsible for maintaining road signs and markings.

The rules will also be different if you were injured while on leave in another country. The time limits and procedures for making a compensation claim can vary a lot around the world, so in these circumstances it's very important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, call us today on 0800 022 3321 or contact us online for a free initial consultation, and we'll be happy to help.


Why Choose Irwin Mitchell For A Military Road Traffic Accident Claim?

Our team has helped many current and ex-service personnel claim compensation for road traffic accidents and our expertise in this area is unrivalled. A number of our specialist military lawyers have served themselves, giving us a unique insight into claims of this nature, and any concerns you may have while making a claim. We also have a specialist road traffic accident investigation team that could assist in your claim if needed.

We have a proven track record in securing large settlements for military personnel following a road traffic accident, including:

  • £750,000 for a former Air Corps Pilot involved in an off-duty road traffic accident that resulted in a medical discharge
  • £450,000 for a Private in the Royal Green Jackets who was injured in France while returning to the UK from a base in Germany, resulting in the loss of his right arm.

We also have an established network of contacts able to help ex-service personnel find the right job, and have links with a number of armed forces welfare branches and organisations.

Rehabilitation is a key part of our service, and we'll ensure that any compensation settlement you receive takes into account any medical support you need, as well as any loss of service benefits or civilian earnings as a result of your road traffic injury.

We approach every case with care and sensitivity, and will always put the needs of you and your family first. If you have any questions about the claims process, or how else we can help, contact us today on 0800 022 3321 for a free consultation or get in touch online.

Read More FAQs

Related Information - Military Road Traffic Accident Claims

Road Traffic Accident Claims - We help thousands of clients to recover compensation every year
Court of Protection - How we can help protect people with reduced mental capacity
Rehabilitation - Find out how rehabilitation can change lives
Focus On Military - Our bi-annual newsletter for the Service Community

Scottish Flag All 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.

*To make a No Win No Fee claim, you need to enter into an agreement that's linked to a suitable insurance policy. We'll explain this in more detail before we start your claim.

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