Military Road Traffic Accidents: Causes, Compensation Claims and Specialist Support
Ministry of Defence figures for 2021-2025 show that land transport accidents were the fourth-largest cause of death among UK regular armed forces personnel, making up 14% of deaths during that period.
Military road traffic accidents can cause major changes for members of the armed forces, whether they’re driving a forces vehicle, taking part in training or travelling while off-duty. These accidents could potentially lead to medical downgrading and/or medical discharge, which can be life-changing and difficult to navigate.
Why Do Military Road Traffic Accidents Happen?
Military road traffic accidents have a lot of possible causes, ranging from driver behaviour to vehicle safety and organisational/maintenance issues.
Like in civilian road accidents, every scenario is different. Responsibility may lie with a driver, involve more than one party or relate to wider failings that are out of the serviceperson’s control.
Common causes and contributing factors include:
- Human error: Speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt and driver fatigue caused by demanding schedules or night driving.
- Poorly maintained road surfaces: Things like craters or broken asphalt could cause heavy or specialised vehicles to lose control.
- Psychological and post-deployment pressures: Stress, fatigue and risk-taking behaviours that may be reinforced by high-pressure operational environments.
- Environmental and terrain challenges: Unfamiliar terrain, poor visibility during night-time movements and poorly maintained roads on bases or training areas.
- Lack of training: Operating heavy goods vehicles or specialist logistics trucks without adequate vehicle-specific training.
- Mechanical issues/use of unsafe vehicles: Inadequate maintenance or rushed safety inspections that leave worn tyres, faulty brakes or lighting problems undetected.
- Lack of road traffic signs or markings: Whether it be lack of signage for temporary road works or inadequate signage in unfamiliar terrain, these can increase the chance of an accident on military roads.
What Are the Risks Associated With Military Vehicles?
Armoured Vehicles
Armoured vehicles like the British Army’s Mastiff and Foxhound are engineered to protect personnel in harsh environments. However, their construction and dimensions can affect how they operate on public roads.
Drivers may have restricted visibility or need more room to manoeuvre. Other road users may also find it difficult to judge a vehicle’s size, speed or stopping distance.
Military Transport Trucks
The British Army’s MAN Support Vehicle fleet carry personnel, equipment and supplies. Their weight and load can affect braking, turning and stability – particularly on narrow roads or in poor weather conditions.
Taking Extra Care
Because armed forces vehicles are typically more difficult to drive than ordinary vehicles, it’s important that the utmost care is taken when they’re being operated, and that any drivers are provided with the necessary training. Still, even when this care is taken, other factors outside of a serviceperson’s control could result in or contribute to an accident. In any of these scenarios, pursuing a claim for military road traffic accident compensation may be a possible route.
Why Make a Military Road Traffic Accident Claim
Because of the heavy demands of service, even minor injuries could affect your military capabilities and career. Military injuries tend to have something akin to a snowball effect – for instance, not being deployed due to a soft tissue injury could cause you to miss out on a promotion, which might affect your long-term career progression.
Pursuing a military road traffic accident claim through to settlement could help cover the costs of any short- and long-term care and rehabilitation, plus make up for any lost earning potential or pension funds.
Can You Claim Compensation After a Military Road Traffic Accident?
There is a broad range of possible accidents that can warrant a military road traffic accident claim and two main avenues worth understanding:
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) provides compensation for eligible injuries, illnesses and deaths caused by service on or after 6th April 2005. You don’t have to prove that someone was negligent to qualify, but you must meet the scheme’s eligibility requirements.
Both serving personnel and veterans can apply. Generally, the claim must be made within seven years of the date of knowledge, although there are exceptions.
Understanding the relationship between military road accidents and the AFCS is best done through a specialist military solicitor, who you can access in our network through contacting Veterans Welfare Group.
A Military Road Traffic Accident Claim
An injured person may also have grounds for a personal injury claim – a military road traffic accident claim, in this case – if another party’s negligence caused or contributed to the accident.
For example, this might involve another driver’s actions, a vehicle defect or a lack of adequate road signs.
An AFCS application and a personal injury claim are different routes, with different requirements and time limits. A specialist solicitor can help you understand which options are worth exploring and what you need to know before proceeding.
Top tip: Getting advice early can help you stay on top of important deadlines and avoid losing the opportunity to pursue a military road traffic accident claim.
Getting Support After a Military Road Car Accident
Recovering from a military road accident can be difficult enough without having to figure out where to turn for help.
Veterans Welfare Group supports members and ex-members of the armed forces community and can help you explore the support available to you. Through our network of professionals, including employment specialists, rehabilitation providers and expert military solicitors, we can help you understand where to turn next.
You can get in touch with Veterans Welfare Group to discuss your situation and find out what help may be possible. Taking that first step can help you get on the front foot and foster a better outcome for your future.
