Military Claims

Military Road Traffic Accident Claims

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

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Can I make a military road traffic accident claim?

Suffering injury in a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) can be a traumatic and life-changing event. We have dealt with a wide range of cases involving:

Injuries to drivers and passengers
Injuries to cyclists and pedestrians
Accidents on and off duty
Accidents during training involving armoured and other vehicles
Accidents abroad and on deployment
Vehicles which have not been properly maintained or were not fit for purpose.

Where you have been injured by someone who is uninsured or who could not be traced (a hit and run), we can bring an armed forces road traffic accident claim under the Motor Insurers Bureau’s (MIB) untraced driver’s scheme.

What are some of the main causes of military vehicle accidents?

Some of the main causes of military vehicle accidents include:

Poorly maintained road surfaces
Use of unsafe vehicles
A lack of road traffic signs or markings
Lack of concentration by driver or pedestrian
Lack of attention to road safety
Driver fatigue

Negligence from officials, such as the Ministry of Defence, in the lead-up to or after an accident could result in serious, long-term consequences. It is their responsibility to provide the correct safety provisions, such as functioning vehicles and adequate road signs.

If you notice that your working conditions are unsafe, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends you contact your local safety advisor or chain of command immediately to allow the Ministry of Defence to resolve the issue internally.

Why make a military road traffic accident claim?

Unfortunately, even relatively minor injuries can impact on your military career. If you are medically downgraded and no longer able to carry out your duties or be deployed, then this might lead to you missing out on promotion, an extension of your Service or otherwise limit your career progression. In serious cases, where your career has been cut short by medical discharge, then you may have a very significant financial claim for loss of earnings, benefits and pension.

Our specialists, military vehicle accidents solicitors also have extensive experience in handling catastrophic injuries, including spinal injuries, limb loss and brain injuries.

Why choose Bolt Burdon Kemp for your military road traffic accident claims?

You can be reassured by the extensive experience our military vehicle accident lawyers offer you. Here’s why you can trust us to handle your case:

Experience: We’re proud to have spent over 35 years handling a wide range of cases, with many of these being army road traffic accident claims.
‘No win no fee’: We can take your case on a ‘no win no fee’ basis, which means that you won’t pay anything unless you win your case.
Real people: While our solicitors are professional in their service, they also offer the human touch needed for sensitive cases such as military road traffic accident claims.
Partners: To improve the level of support available to our clients, we work with partner organisations such as Headway and the Spinal Injuries Association.
Awards: As recognised by the independent Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, we’re one of the leading firms in personal injury.
Accredited: Each year, we’re assessed according to the Lexcel practice management standards and we’re members of The Law Society’s Personal Injury Accreditation
Testimonials: With hundreds of reviews from past clients, it’s safe to say that we’ve helped to improve many people’s lives.

Contacting us

If you or someone you know has suffered a military vehicle accident that was the fault of another party, we can help. Our team of specialist military solicitors is highly skilled in cases like these and can determine whether you could be eligible to make a military road traffic accident claim.

We have several funding options available to make our services more accessible. Many cases are funded by Conditional Fee Agreements, also known as ‘no win no fee’. This means you do not have to pay upfront fees.

Get free, impartial legal advice by getting in touch with one of Bolt Burdon Kemp’s expert solicitors on

Contacting us

Get free, impartial legal advice by getting in touch with one of Bolt Burdon Kemp’s expert solicitors on 020 3944 8628 or contact us online.

Meet our Military Claims Team

Ahmed Al-Nahhas

Head of Military Claims

Gaggan Mawi

Partner – Part of the Military Claims Team

Hannah Swarbrick

Senior Associate – Part of the Military Claims Team

Jennifer Ellis

Solicitor – Part of the Military Claims Team

Meet the full team

FAQs

What is the military traffic accident claims process?
If you decide to make a military traffic accident claim, the process will follow a simple structure:
- You will start with an informal, no-obligation chat with one of our lawyers.
- If your case has a reasonable chance of success, we may request more documents.
- If you decide to pursue your claim, we will start a thorough investigation into your armed forces road traffic accident case. However, if we feel your case may not hold, or if you aren’t satisfied with our funding agreement, there is no obligation for you to continue or part with any money.
- Assuming you are happy with the process, we will get in touch with the defendant (the person we believe is to blame) and lay out your claim.
- If the defendant accepts responsibility, we will negotiate compensation for your military vehicle claim.
We will arrange for you to be assessed by professionals who will report on your medical condition and the treatment you will need. We will also instruct other experts to advise on your financial losses, as well as the impact on your life and your career.

In addition to a civil claim, you may be entitled to bring a claim under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and we can help you with this too.
Are there time limits for my military traffic accident claim?

Time limits will apply to civil claims and these are normally three years from the date you were injured. There may be ways to extend time to bring a claim in special circumstances. You should discuss this with a solicitor as soon as possible so that you can explore your options.

If you think you have a claim then please contact us. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis. You can discuss your case with one of our specialist solicitors in complete confidence and without charge.
What compensation could you receive for armed forces road traffic accident claims?

When forming your case, your military vehicle accident lawyer will consider several factors to determine how much compensation you could be entitled to.

Examples include compensation for rehabilitative treatment, loss of earnings and other expenses that relate to your injury. When looking at compensation for physical and emotional suffering, this amount will be determined using the latest edition of the Judicial College guidelines.
Will making a claim harm my career in the armed forces?

You do not need to wait until you have been discharged to make a military injury claim – nor will doing so harm your career. There is an understanding that service personnel are asked to do a hazardous job in challenging conditions.

The MoD also has robust rules that are designed to prevent any discrimination against a serving member who makes a claim. In addition, claims are subject to a statute of limitation. Waiting to make a claim until you are no longer in the forces can be too late.
What if I am seeking a fatal military claim relating to a military vehicle accident?

We have experienced lawyers in this area who can seek the appropriate compensation for an armed forces road traffic accident. If someone close to you has sadly died in an armed forces road traffic accident, you may be entitled to bring a claim on behalf of their Estate and/or for their dependents.

Unfortunately, land transport accidents were the third largest cause of death (17%) among regular and armed forces in 2022. We understand that military fatalities are an extremely sensitive subject.
What other types of military claims have you handled?
Our experienced team has handled a variety of military claims beyond military road traffic accident claims. Examples include:
To find out more about how we have helped, you can view our success stories for military claims.

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Milo Apostolou

I approached this law firm when I needed specialised advice for a medical negligence claim , I would give more stars if I could , not only did they take the case on we also won triumphantly, I want to thank the whole team from Olivia , to Hockman , to molly , the reception staff , every member of that firm I spoke to were extremely professional.
Beautiful office,
Highly recommend this firm

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Jennifer Brissett

I cannot thank Bolt Burdon Kemp enough for their help dealing with my medical negligence case against the NHS

Hannah Travis dealt with my case she was very patient, she really listened to what I had to say and showed me empathy.

I was kept updated through every process via emails, post, phone calls, from day one to the end of my case. Everyone who dealt with me were very professional

I would recommend Bolt Burdon Kemp to anyone who believes they have a negligence case. They certainly went above and beyond my expectations

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Lianne Higgins

It is rare to find a solicitor who combines such personal touches and care for a client with outstanding quality of service. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had Gaggan and the BBK team by my side during one of the most challenging periods of my life.

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marilyn markall

Bolt bourdon kamp acted for me. Thay came in at the last minute so the case was difficult. They took it on against all odds. I had solicitor Heather petrie who was excellent she had a great understanding of my problems from a brain injury she was professional and sympathetic. I would highly recommend her. Later Hoffman wong helped the case. He was good too. I will highly recommend. Bolt budon kemp especially the solicitors mentioned. Heather also contacted me in her own time to keep me informed. I can't thank her enough at a difficult time.

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keith monaghan

I can say to this point in case they have been there surporting me. Julia very helpful and friendly. And have organised well to get us over the line. We won our part 36 .so technically the case is over. I did take advice from them but feel in my case. it right decision. I realise they are a business and have to earn money like everyone . Everything they said. They would do .. Case took a long time .but I think this quite normal under our circumstances. I have been awarded compensation and im hoping they deal with swiftly and put the cherry on the cake
It is important they make sure this is done after all the hard work they put in and what I had to go through. Julia allways ask me what I wanted to do. Yes she would give me advice but bottom line It my choice.
I would advice anyone out there who looking for a good solicitors firm to speak to these guys. I'm actually 24 hours away on flight
So that a big time difference but they managed it.
So well done big Thanks
Bolt burden Kemp .special thanks to Julia for she did for me.

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marilyn markall