Case Study: Army Engineer Awarded £25,000 in Compensation After Training Exercise Bridge Collapse

Impact of his injuries  

Chris was released from hospital the following day and returned to barracks to recover.

He and the rest of his unit were left traumatised by the event and were offered counselling. The exercise has since been changed following what happened.

“I didn’t blame the army for my injury. I blamed the accident itself; it was a fluke. People were saying stuff like, ‘the pin was put in the wrong way’, but no one admitted to it, and I didn’t know who did it. I didn’t hate any individual; I just hated everyone.”

Chris was suffering from PTSD, which sent his life into a downward spiral. Running had once been an outlet that supported his mental health, but his injuries meant he could no longer do it, making his situation even worse.

“I ended up putting on loads of weight, I couldn’t work out, and I was getting depressed. I wanted to end my life.

“It affected my marriage. It got to the point where I couldn’t help with my kids. It was a lot for my ex-wife to deal with, and it caused us to push away from each other. Managing this, along with my mental and physical state was overwhelming.”

In 2023, Chris left the army.

“I didn’t leave on my own accord. I thought I could try and get back up to fitness and stay in the army, but I couldn’t. I just couldn’t get there. It was like I was in a job that I couldn’t perform in, and I felt useless being there.”

Making a military accident claim

Following the accident, Chris submitted a claim through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

“I only got paid £1,000, I felt like it was nowhere near enough.

A year after the accident I was still injured, and my situation hadn’t got any worse or any better. When it all came through, they said that they didn’t feel like I deserved any more money. I believed this was incorrect, and obviously the claim I made with Express ultimately proved I was right.

“My partner [Who had a successful claim herself] mentioned making a personal injury claim to me, so I thought I’d give it a try to see if I could get compensation that way and then thank God I did.”

Chris contacted Express, following the success of his partner’s claim.

“It was amazing. I spoke to one of the ladies who dealt with my case personally. All the team were amazing.”

Damian Bradley, Partner and Head of Legal Operations, with extensive experience in military accident claims took on Chris’s case.

“Damian wasn’t a pushover, who just went with what I was saying, but the sympathy was there. I like the way that he portrays himself because he comes across as a very firm but fair man, and that’s how he was with me the whole way through. He was honest and realistic with me. So yeah, it was amazing, I absolutely can’t fault him in anyway.”

Damian said, speaking about what was required to prove the case:

“The compensation Chris received from the Army Compensation Scheme, in my view, was not sufficient and in no way reflected the pain and suffering he had experienced, nor the damage it had done to his wellbeing, marriage and career.

“The challenges we had, were, demonstrating fault for the accident, there was also a suggestion that Chris had not followed the correct procedure; the severity of his injuries, particularly his PTSD, and proving that his decision to leave the army and potentially missing out on an illustrious career in the forces was a direct result of the accident and not due to events in his personal life. We used GP records, Army personnel records, witness statements, expert medical evidence and therapy records to establish the full picture.

“In Chris’s case, given his financial pressures, we were also mindful of speed and the need to get a result for him as soon as possible so that he could continue his recovery and begin to rebuild his life and a new career outside of the Army.”

Supported by the evidence and applying pressure on the defendant for a quick resolution, a £25,000 compensation package was negotiated.

Looking to the future

Chris was happy with the settlement.

“Due to my divorce, I got myself into a bit of a financial situation, but now I’m out of that situation, so that helps me and my family massively. We were also in the process of moving house at the time, so it’s helped us with that.”

Chris has now found alternative employment outside the army and is back out running.

“Even though the claim is now closed, and that chapter of my life is closed, it still hasn’t fully sunk in for me. It’s like I’ve got the money, which is brilliant, but I haven’t processed everything yet. So, I’m trying to get myself back there, but it’s just not fully done yet.”

Damian added: “I am delighted that we managed to secure a fair settlement for Chris. This demonstrates that if you feel let down by the Army Compensation Scheme, pursuing a civil claim could be a viable option. As in Chris’s case, it can ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. While I understand that compensation is only a small part of his recovery, I am pleased that he can now focus fully on moving forward, knowing he has been properly compensated.”

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If you have been injured in a military accident, contact us today for a free consultation and see how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.