MILITARY ABUSE CLAIMS

If you’ve been physically assaulted or emotionally abused in the armed forces, you are entitled to make a personal injury claim. At JMW, our specialist team has many years of experience working with members of the armed forces and understands the effects that an assault can have, both physically and mentally.

Suffering abuse can cause long-lasting damage to both personal and professional lives, which is why it is important to seek compensation for the pain and suffering caused by a military colleague.

To speak to a member of our team in confidence today, call us on 0345 450 9547 or, if you would prefer us to call you, complete our online enquiry form.

MILITARY ABUSE IN DEPTH

We understand that there are certain standards of discipline but if one person deliberately harms another person, this is assault. Incidents will usually involve intentional physical contact without consent, but a threat of harm can also be categorised as abuse.

Claims can also be made for bullying. If a person is deliberately humiliated, demeaned or made to feel uncomfortable or afraid then you may be able to make a claim for compensation. This type of abuse can also include insults, assaults and humiliating initiation rituals.

For many, abuse by a military colleague can be traumatic due to the sense of loyalty that develops between personnel. It can also be difficult to speak up. Injuries sustained can often be permanent and include psychological damage, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or adjustment disorder. This can result in early termination from the military and cause problems for work and personal life.

Those in command have a duty of care towards all military personnel to keep them from harm during their service time.

TYPES OF MILITARY ASSAULT

The armed forces claims team have helped service personnel who have been subjected to the following types of abuse:

DUTY OF CARE

Every member of the armed forces has the right to carry out their duties without coming to harm. The chain of command has a responsibility to ensure that personnel are kept safe while in service. In some cases, the military can be held accountable for the behaviour of its personnel when they harm colleagues, even if the chain of command was unaware of the problem.

WHAT TO DO AFTER AN ASSAULT

Any type of abuse should be reported immediately. If medical attention is required, this should be sought as soon as possible.

As soon as an assault has taken place, details of the assault, including what led to the incident, should be written down. Any witnesses to the incident should be noted and their contact details collected, if possible.

A service complaint can be made to relevant part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), as they will be best placed to put things right. For more information on the complaints procedure, visit the government website.

A complaint can also be made to the Service Complaints Ombudsman (SCO) if you do not wish to approach your chain of command directly. The Ombudsman can refer your intention to make a service complaint by making a referral.