Hundreds of military personnel are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus after working on the Ajax Armoured Vehicle programme. If you’ve worked on the programme and developed hearing loss symptoms or ringing in your ears, our military injury claims solicitors may be able to help you claim compensation.
Testing new military equipment naturally comes with certain risks. But the Ministry of Defence (MoD), like any employer, has a duty to protect you from those risks and take all reasonable steps to prevent injury.
NIHL and tinnitus are permanent conditions that could seriously affect the rest of your life, including ending your service career. If you’ve been affected, you may be entitled to compensation to help you manage the impact of your injury on both your career and personal life.
We’re already representing a number of personnel, including engineers and vehicle commanders, who’ve suffered hearing loss and tinnitus while testing Ajax vehicles. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
The Background
The MoD planned to use the Ajax Armoured Vehicle to replace the FV107 Scimitar, which has been in service since 1971. The first Ajax vehicles were due for delivery in 2017 but the programme has faced a wide range of issues which have stopped two separate testing trials.
One of these issues is excessive noise and vibrations within the vehicle. This may be due to poor quality control during manufacture such as substandard welding and inconsistencies in the vehicle’s hull.
The Ajax’s manufacturer, General Dynamics, knew about the noise and vibration as early as 2010, but believed that they were within safety legislation limits. Military personnel testing the vehicle for the MoD had also raised concerns about the noise and vibration issues by 2017.
It wasn’t until November 2020 that the MoD acted on these concerns, by which point over 100 personnel needed treatment or monitoring for hearing damage. They paused testing on the Ajax and imposed a time limit of 30 minutes inside the vehicle to protect personnel when testing resumed in March 2021.
The MoD has now identified a total of 310 military personnel who need hearing assessments after working on the programme.
How Can We Help?
Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus are often permanent conditions, but a compensation claim can help you access treatment to manage the symptoms, such as sound therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, or hearing aids. It can also fund psychological therapy if you’ve suffered stress or depression due to your injury.
Compensation can also cover the financial impact if you're injury has forced you to change career, accept a medical downgrade, or leave military service entirely. It can pay for retraining in a new career, cover loss of income, and take into account loss of service benefits such as pension contributions.
Our team includes some of the UK’s most experienced solicitors for this type of claim and many are ex-military themselves. We’ve helped thousands of armed forces personnel get the compensation they deserve.
We may be able to help you make a No Win No Fee* claim, claim through the Armed Forced Compensation Scheme, or in some cases do both.
Call today on 0800 022 3321 to get started.
No Win No Fee*
Expert lawyers with a service background
Experience claiming against MoD since abolition of Crown Immunity in 1987
Offices throughout the UK
Call our experts FREE on:
0800 022 3321
Or we can call you back at a time of your choice
Phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year
