Veterans awarded £10m for ‘coffins on wheels’ injuries

THREE former servicemen seriously injured in Afghanistan have secured a payout of more than £10 million, lawyers have announced.

Hilary Meredith Solicitors said it had secured the settlements for the veterans who suffered severe injuries when their “inadequately armoured” vehicles struck roadside improvised explosive devices (IED).

Simon Quinn, partner and head of military at the firm, said each of the three claimants had received a sevenfigure settlement. He added: “It is to be hoped that in any future conflict our troops will be provided with the best equipment available before death or serious injury occurs.”

A fleet of 166 Pinzgauer troop carriers, manufactured by BAE Systems, was introduced into combat operations in Afghanistan by the MOD in April 2007, the law firm said.

It added that the vehicles were nicknamed “coffins on wheels” by UK troops.

It said that a Royal Marine serving with 42 Commando suffered multiple severe injuries and fractures in October 2008. In August 2009, a Pinzgauer struck an IED, causing the driver to suffer an above-knee amputation and a Territorial officer to suffer severe psychological and physical injuries.

The MOD agreed in 2016 that it would settle the claims. A spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have settled three claims.”

The MOD said it only paid out around £2million in damages, with the rest of the money coming from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.