Military Non-Freezing Cold Injuries compensation

Cold injury includes whole-body cooling, i.e. hypothermia and cooling of the extremities such as hands and feet. NFCI mostly occurs in the UK during training exercises.

The symptoms of NFCIs include being more sensitive to the cold than before, as well as chronic pain. NFCI can be debilitating and affect all aspects of life.

Those of Afro-Caribbean ethnicity are at higher risk of developing NFCI symptoms. This is a known factor to the MOD.

Left untreated, NFCI can lead to permanent damage to nerves and blood vessels. Often, the affected area becomes more sensitive to cold.

Cases range from mild to severe, with some injuries being so sensitive to cold that sufferers can’t work outside and may end up being medically discharged.

An NFCI sufferer maybe prescribed medication and have the heating turned up and need to avoid exposure to the cold and wet.

An NFCI can be career ending and may affect future career prospects.

At Hudgell Solicitors our military injury experts can assess the details of your claim and advise you on which course of legal action to take for the maximum compensation award available.

Civil military negligence claims are not limited to a maximum compensation amount, unlike the AFCS scheme, and can therefore lead to high awards.

We strongly advise using our expert team of military injury lawyers as should you be considering applying directly to the AFCS scheme, 30% of claims without legal support are rejected.

Our expertise is provided on a no win no fee basis and we will ensure your application to the AFCS clearly evidences your injuries, and the impact of them.

For the more serious injuries which result higher awards, claimants can also be awarded a tax-free monthly payment (Guaranteed Income Payments) paid from the end of military service for life, to constitute a percentage of their salary.

Our team of expert military injury solicitors can also help in contesting compensation offers made through the AFCS, as we can advise on the level of damages which we feel should be offered.

We can also request ‘exceptional reviews’ of AFCS damages awards when a military injury unexpectedly deteriorates, or should further problems develop beyond those anticipated, years after an award has been made.

In a civil claim the amount of compensation you receive for NFCI will depend on the severity of your injury. Other details that will be considered are your age and the impact your injury will have on your future earnings and loss of promotions or pensions.

Civil military negligence injury compensation claims usually have to be started within a three-year time limit from the injury being suffered. However, there are a number of situations and circumstances under which this time limit can be extended, so it is advisable to seek legal advice even if you feel you may be out of time.

AFCS claims have a time limit of 7 years.

It is rare for military injury claims to go to trial and most cases settle out of court. Settlements are funded by a specific Ministry of Defence budget for those who have suffered injuries due to negligence.

This is often a concern raised by those who suffer an injury which is not career-ending, but the MOD is not allowed to discriminate against personnel who bring compensation claims against it after an injury, much like claims against employers for injuries suffered in normal workplaces.