Can I Make An Armed Forces Hearing Claim?

Can I Make An Armed Forces Hearing Claim?

If you suffer from hearing damage as a result of your time spent in the armed forces you could well have the right to claim for compensation.

Military personnel work in some of the noisiest working environments of all; from brass bands to jet engines, gunfire and exploding bombs, there is a huge range of situations where you might be exposed to very loud noises. In some cases the hearing damage can be caused by a single, very loud sound such as a gunshot or explosion in close proximity, whereas in other situations hearing loss can occur over a long period of time being exposed to high volume.

No matter how your hearing damage was caused, if it was not your fault and it occurred during your time in service then you could be eligible to make a claim. Around 300,000 former service personnel suffer from Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and Tinnitus, and while some of them don’t wish to make a fuss, either out of loyalty to their regiment, or if they felt that it was a risk that ‘came with the territory’, a great deal of them are eligible to make a claim.

In 1987 there was a huge change in the law when Crown Immunity – the right of the MOD to be exempt from prosecution – was lifted. This means that if you have suffered from illness or injury during your time working for the MOD you have the right to make a claim for compensation, even if you have previously been refused through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) or the War Pension Scheme (WPS).

Hearing damage or hearing loss can have far wider effects on the sufferer’s quality of life than simply not being able to hear well, or at all. It can make communications throughout daily life more difficult and can come with a range of psychological issues and challenges as well. When we pursue a claim for deafness or hearing damage as a result of military service we will take into account all of the factors in terms of what caused it, but also how to maintain a quality of life while suffering from the result of the damage.

Types of claims

Not only can you make a claim for the hearing damage you may have been subjected to, you may also be able to claim for:

• Delays in referring or diagnosing hearing damage, resulting in further damage
• Hearing damage caused by the negligent discharging of weapons
• Exposure to excessive noise during training without suitable instruction
• Misdiagnosis of hearing damage
• Failure to provide suitable, adequate hearing protection

Whether you are still a serving member of the armed forces, or a veteran, when you contact us our highly experienced solicitors will listen to your story and help advise you as to whether a claim for compensation is the right approach, and if appropriate we can assist you in all elements of the case if you decide to proceed. We would need to prove that the hearing damage was caused by factors that shouldn’t have come to pass; such as the lack of suitable hearing protection or even a deficiency in appropriate training. These can be complex cases so you will need the assistance of professional and experienced solicitors who are familiar with working in these types of cases. Contact us today and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.

Call us now on 0800 999 1875 or click here to start your claim.