soldier who lost legs gets 152 000 compensation

[bednobs]

and his mum is saying its not enough and they are going to sue for more. What do other ab'ers think about this? In my mind, when you become a soldier, you have to bear in mind there is always the possibility of death/injury. i think 152000 seems ok when he will also be entitled to benefits, housing and home care for free. When you think of all the ww1/2 vets who were bombd, gassed and lost limbs and who never "sued" the army. its not like the army can garuntee your safety after all is it?
am i just being harsh or have i completelty missed the point?
the army are always going on about lack of equipment and underfunding, but they'll get less and put more people in vulnerable positions if they have to pay out more in compensation.

[reachesme]

There right and your right.... Firemen and coppers who want compen get up my nose too, but if i was in thier shoes i would prob do the same.

[kempie]

A comparison is often drawn to the �480,000 compensation awarded to the RAF typist who picked up RSI from continued data input...

http://www.workplacelaw.net/display.php?resour ce_id=8906&keywords=

[bednobs]

yes, but my argument would be she should have got less, not him should have got more
anyway, if it is rsi, there is probably insurance to cover a payout, whereas you cant really insure an army against getting hurt can you?

[johnlambert]

No-one goes to work and expects to get hurt, and strangely enough, that includes soldiers/policemen/firefighters. everyone agrees that their jobs are dangerous, but if you listen to this soldiers mother, she makes the valid point that a civilian clerk working for the Royal Air Force gets �484,000 almost half a million quid for a hurt wrist and her son gets a paltry �152000 for almost dying for his/our country. Where's the justice there bednobs + reachesme?

[bednobs]

but as i said, surely the injustice is on the side of the typist who got far too much, rather than the soldier getting too little. if every soldier who'd injured a wrist got 450 000 the country would be bankrupt. Do soldiers really not expect t get hurt in war?

[horselady]

I think it's just the sheer injustice that is upsetting people, as the others have mentioned, it must be sickening for his family to know that the typist got so much more. I would feel the same if it was my son, soldier or not.

[johnlambert]

No bednobs
we always tried to hurt the other guy

[bednobs]

forgetting the seeming injustice of it, is the amount right, or too low or too much?

[jake-the-peg]

They are different issues they shouldn't use the term compensation to awards given to soldiers wounded in active service.

In one case they accept risk and when that risk becomes reality the State gives them cash to help them with getting on with life.

In the other case someone is hurt or injured usually due to the lack of care of their employer.

They are not comparable circumstances but the media are comparing them in order to create mischief

[campbellking]

Haven't seen the case, but I would be amazed if he gets 'care for free', as everyone is expected to contribute within their means for care. I work with amputees, and they have great difficulty when losing limbs to find accessible housing. Accessible would normally entail living on one level in a wheelchair accessible building, and believe me, these are few and far between. �152,000 really would not go a long way towards his long term care needs ( a decent pair of prosthetic limbs - NHS standards can be quite variable - would set him back around �14,000 to start with). Am sure this man would rather have his health than the money.

[andrea81]

I'm not going to be very popular - my hubby was in the army for 13 years and his opinion is simple.

You join the army and know the risks - men who know the risks sign up and it's all a matter of choice. compensation is making thinks worse, no-one will want to join up pretty soon!

Giving him a good pention should be all!

[sense4all]

I think that it is not enough for a lifetimes disability myself. I also think that forces hospitals being rationalised was not a good move either for severe - war inflicted - trauma patients.

[sandbach99]

I think that the typist was a civilian employed at the M.O.D. who would claim from an insurance policy for her repetative strain injury, Whilst it is unknown how badly disabled the typist is this condition can result in the total loss of use in hands and arms.

The soldier was badly injured of that there is no doubt but the M.O.D take into account the three most serious, in his case the loss of his legs is more serious than his brain injury, and his third injury is a broken elbow .

Whilst the compensation may seem low, I am sure the Veterens Agency will be paying a tax-free disability pension at a rate far higher than civilian Incapacity benefit. I believe there is also a Benevolent society and the British Legion which could also help with improved artifical leg and other needs he may have.

Maybe the mother should read Reach for the Sky the story of Douglas Bader, the WW11 pilot who flew with 2 artifical legs.

[anotheoldgit]

It saddens me to see that there are people on this site that couldn't give a damn or show a little pity towards our brave troops, who are risking life & limb in wars that we can never win.

If the MOD can grant one of it's employees �480.00 for a thumb injury, also substantial amounts to females they have to discharge due to them becoming pregnant, then the fact is that our armed forces deserve all the care and support we can give them also.

Incidently this brave soldier's mum who plans to take this matter to the high courts, will have find the legal costs herself. No legal aid for her, but we can dish out millons in legal aid for illegal immigrants to fund their appeals in their quests to stay in this country. Can this be fair?

Luckily she will be gettind aid from various forces benevolent funds along with an appeal fund set-up by the Daily Mail, I for one will also be making a small donation.

[bednobs]

i didnt for one minute say i didnt feel pity. What i feel is that 152 000 is enough. All the money is coming from the armed services budget, meaning less money available for others.
I get your point about the typist, but my feeling is she should have got less

[andrea81]

It's not that I don't pitty anyone that gets hurt in the Army, but I do know from experience (my husband) that lots of troops are not in it for the money and know that they may get hurt. Of course they don't expect to, but know it could happen.

I have every simpathy for soldiers, my hubby had a very serious leg injury and still has trouble with it, but the question of compensation isn't in him. I asure you, many soldiars think this way.

I have heard many soldiers feeling hurt by the negative press the Army gets and how the Army are rubbish etc....

[kempie]

j-t-p - who are the "they" who shouldn't use the term compensation for awards given to soldiers wounded in active service?

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence /WhatWeDo/Personnel/Pensions/ArmedForcesPensio ns/AFCS/

[sandbach99]

Can anyone remember how much compensation that woman received who had both legs blown off in the terrorist attack on the tube train, the lady who was determined and did walk up the aisle at her wedding.

The typists award was compensation and legal costs, how much was left for her?

Unless the mother has power of attorney she won't be able to make a case for court will she?

Will this lad be able to work again as a civilian?, the typist is unable to work again.

On the TV news there was a girl who lost her legs due to menningitis, no compensation and no wheelchair, I feel as sorry for her af I do for the soldier.

[Goodsoulette]

I too think 152,000 seems alright. I don't think the forces can afford enormous payouts and there has to be an accepted risk.

I know a marine who lost his leg and he is one of the fittest guys I know. Not only is he a copper but he mountain bikes in able bodied competitions, can run father and faster than me (which I quite frankly find embarrassing mainly because he is 44), competes in marathons, 10 k races. He hasn't let it get in the way of his life at all.

As much as I pity what happened to this guy, he should be an inspiration not a martyr.

I also think RSI in your hands could end up interfering with your entire life for ever. You use your hands for everything.

[anotheoldgit]

I also think RSI in your hands could end up interfering with your entire life for ever. You use your hands for everything.

Not everthing Goodsoulette, You can speak, see, smell, taste, walk, run, jump & skip without using your hands.

Even if she had to have both hands amputated, her injuries would have been anywhere near as severe as this soldier's.