Being a member of the armed forces comes with a unique set of risks. But it's perfectly reasonable to expect that you're provided with equipment to protect you and to do your job properly.

If you've been injured because of defective military equipment, then our solicitors could help you claim compensation through a civil case. This would be in addition to anything you may have got through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).

If you've any questions about claiming compensation, contact us for a free initial consultation about your case.

Our lawyers have previously secured compensation for military personnel who were issued with the following pieces of defective equipment:

  • Weapons and ammunition
  • Transport - including land vehicles
  • Aircraft - including component parts
  • Combat body armour
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) - including facemasks or ear defenders
  • Diving equipment
  • Parachutes
  • Heavy machinery
  • Ladders.

The consequences of defective equipment in a combat situation can be tragic. We've experience helping service personnel or their loved one’s claim if faulty equipment (or a lack of equipment) has caused or contributed to their injuries.

If you’ve been injured by defective military equipment while serving in any capacity 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.

You can also claim on behalf of a loved one who was killed due to defective military equipment. We can help you to claim compensation and represent you at inquests, getting you the answers you need.

Why choose Irwin Mitchell’s military injury claims solicitors?

Several of our military solicitors are former service personnel themselves. We completely understand the concerns you may have about making a compensation claim for an injury caused by defective equipment. We've a proven track record in establishing that faulty equipment or a lack of training has caused an injury.

Our team has a successful history in making compensation claims against the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Our lawyers have been involved in several landmark military cases, including establishing that a helicopter should be classified as work equipment for its passengers and crew. We've also run cases on the lack of enhanced body armour, which has led to it becoming standard personal protective equipment (PPE).

Our Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators are trained clinical specialists, who’ll help you to access any help and care you need. This could be emotional, physical, or financial support. We work with a network of trusted charities and support groups around the UK, so we can get you support that’s close by.

We’ve an in-house team of financial advisors in our Asset Management team. Once we’ve secured you compensation, they’ll be there to help you make sure your money lasts for the rest of your life. If you’re interested in investing your compensation, they can also advise you on this.

Our Welfare Benefits team are experts who’ll advise you of any means-tested benefits you could be entitled to. They can also help you to access these benefits. To stop your compensation from being factored into your benefit entitlement, we can set up a personal injury trust, which keeps your compensation separate from the rest of your finances.

We work in a flexible way, making sure the process is as easy as possible for you. Whether you’d rather we visit you at home or in hospital or, if you'd prefer to come to one of our offices, we'll be flexible to your needs. We can also communicate via phone or video call if that’s more convenient for you.

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Our defective military equipment cases featured in the Chilcot Inquiry
Bringing claims against the MoD and defence manufacturers since 1987
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More information on defective military equipment claims

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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."

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who can claim compensation for defective military equipment?

If you've been injured because of defective equipment, you could claim compensation. You could also claim compensation on behalf of a loved one who’s died (or who now lacks mental capacity as a result of their injuries).

There are various circumstances in which our lawyers have helped service personnel and their families, including:

  • Equipment malfunctions
  • Inadequate equipment, for example offering too little protection for a particular situation
  • Insufficient training in the use of equipment
  • Equipment not being made available when needed.

We've represented clients who have been injured in countries including:

  • Iraq
  • Afghanistan
  • Canada
  • Sierra Leone
  • Germany
  • Kenya.

But making a claim certainly isn't affected by where an accident occurred. You could be able to claim whether you were in a training accident in the UK or overseas, or while on tour.

Defective equipment is often grounds to overturn the defence of combat immunity, which the Ministry of Defence sometimes uses to prevent it being sued for injuries sustained in combat situations. The MoD could be responsible for your injuries while you were in combat if they were caused by faulty equipment. Find out more about how combat immunity can affect a claim.

You normally have three years to claim compensation, from the date the injury happened. In cases where a loved one has lost mental capacity, there’s no time limit for claiming.

If you're unsure whether you'll be able to make a claim, contact us today for a free initial consultation. We'll discuss your accident and offer our expert advice about your options.

What kind of injuries can I claim compensation for?

We've 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.

Tragically, defective equipment can also result in fatal injuries, and we have helped families claim compensation in these situations too.

You could be able to claim compensation for injuries that took place during combat, in training, or while on tour (provided that the injury was caused by defective equipment), or a lack of training in how to use it properly.

The type and severity of your injury can play a large role in how much compensation you can claim for, particularly if it's serious enough to lead to a military discharge. When calculating a settlement, we'll take the following things into account:

  • Your age, rank and specialism
  • Your condition, and its severity
  • Psychological trauma
  • Medical expenses you've had to pay, as well as travel expenses to any appointments
  • Your care and support needs – both now and in the future
  • Modifications to your home
  • Mobility aids
  • Your pain and suffering.

We'll also make sure that the loss of the following types of income/benefit are considered:

  • Service earnings
  • Pension contributions or resettlement grant
  • Commitment bonuses
  • Specialist pay and allowances
  • Service benefits, including loss of subsidised quarters and Learning Credits.

If you were injured as a civilian due to defective workplace equipment, our personal injury team can help you to make a claim for this.

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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 and several cases we were involved in were recently featured in the Chilcot Inquiry.

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

Several of our solicitors were part of team that recently won The Claims Innovation Award for Legal Service Team of the Year (2016) for their pro bono work within The Royal British Legion Solicitors Group (TRBLSG).


Our Offices

Our offices are located in major cities throughout the UK and have excellent transport links.