Military Injury Claims and the Battle for justice

Military Injury Claims and the battle for justice are featured in this weeks Law Society Gazette with contributions by Grant Evatt of Alma Law and other military claims specialists. Military service is a rigorous occupation and training is designed to be tough enough to prepare our men and women to battle an enemy, but not to such a degree that they are exposed to perilous levels of danger. The MoD has a duty, like all conscientious employers, to provide a safe system of work, safe equipment, safe training and well-trained fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. Any military personnel; Navy, Army, RAF, Royal Marines and Reserve Forces, who have sustained injury during their service as a result of negligence can bring a personal injury claim for their injuries and financial losses. Even the most moderate of injuries can put your career and all that you have trained so hard for in jeopardy. The article is here: Battle Lines In it, Grant acknowledges that the MoD’s stance of defending even the most meritorious of military injury claims may be designed to deter claimants from actually bringing claims. But he adds: ‘I still firmly believe that the MoD should at least attempt to commit to resolve claims that they know they are going to eventually settle; within an agreed time frame, without the need for costly and time-consuming court proceedings. If they do that, then I am certain that claimants and their legal teams will be transparent, and they will collaborate with them. The MoD needs to take a leap of faith and do this. It’s the least our brave men and women deserve.’ Grant Evatt is a former soldier with 29 Commando Regiment RA. He has specialised in military injury claims for almost two decades and he is an authority in this complex area.