Our Military Injury Claims lawyers have secured £2.3m in compensation for an aircraftsman who was injured whilst putting away rifles.
Our client, D, was working with a senior aircraftman picking up weapons from a Hercules military aircraft. One of the rifles still had the magazine fitted when it was originally packed into the storage rack. The senior aircraftman was not expecting the rifle to be loaded as whoever packed it away should have ensured it was safe to transport.
When the senior aircraftman picked up this rifle, he carried out the normal safety procedures, but failed to remove the magazine which automatically loaded a round.
The round fired into D’s right foot at very close range, exiting through the outside of his foot.
This caused multiple fractures to D’s foot, and he underwent multiple surgeries, including debridement and reconstruction. However, the foot was still so painful, and movement so limited, that D made the difficult decision to undergo a below-knee amputation.
Despite intensive rehabilitation, D was medically discharged from the Armed Forces due to the seriousness of his injuries and his on-going disabilities.
This incident has had a huge impact on D’s life, down to day-to-day activities like lifting heavy objects and walking up and down stairs. He has had to adapt to life with his prosthetic limb, and has made changes to his home to account for his needs.
Although D uses his prosthetic as much as possible, there are periods where he has to take it off to rest. During these times, he’ll use crutches or a wheelchair, but he tries to avoid using his wheelchair as much as possible.
The MoD accepted responsibility for what happened to D, and we secured a settlement that ensured his needs would always be provided for. This settlement was preserved under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and D’s entitlement to Guaranteed Income Payments, as well as his Armed Forces Independent Payments.
Our client was very disappointed he had to leave the RAF. However, the settlement has given him the financial security to help him manage his injuries, while training to start a new career. Now, D is a keen skydiver, having completed over 500 jumps, and despite his injuries has been able to make a fresh start.
If you or someone you love has been injured whilst serving in the Armed Forces, you may be able to claim compensation. Visit our Military Injury Claims page for more information on how we can help.
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