Law firm helps former soldier win £420,000 in damages

A soldier who’s hearing was severely damaged in a training exercise has been awarded £420,000.

The case was bought by Wilmslow based legal firm Hilary Meredith which specialises in military damages.

The 29-year-old soldier secured an out of court settlement of £420,000 as a result of damage to his hearing which resulted in him having to give up his career in the army.

The soldier, a private, was on a training exercise in Kenya in October 2013 when pyrotechnics were exploded very close to him without giving him sufficient warning to use hearing protection.

The soldier’s hearing deteriorated to such a degree that he had to be medically discharged in March, 2015.

The Army was a career he loved and one in which he aimed to do well in by progressing up the ranks.

The soldier also developed tinnitus which is debilitating and impacted on his quality of life.

Due to his hearing loss and tinnitus, he now avoids places where he is surrounded by noise and has taken more isolated work, which has meant that his earnings have significantly dropped.

Sinead Cartwright, Director at Hilary Meredith Solicitors said: “I am conscious that this settlement, whilst never replacing the career that he loved, provides our client and his family with some financial security going forward.

“It is unfortunately too frequent that we see young men willing to give their life for their country and as soon as they are injured they are then discharged from the Army. For many soldiers, the Army’s cavalier treatment of them following an injury can have a far worse impact than the injury itself.”