Your Questions Answered
What is Topas?
ToPaS is a no cost legal service available to all MoD Service and Civilian personnel. ToPaS (Third Party Accident Scheme), can be used by anyone within the MoD in the event of them being injured in the course of their employment by a negligent third party.
Who can use the Scheme?
Any MoD personnel – Service or Civilian
What types of claims/accidents are covered?
Any accident where injury occurs whilst on duty and is caused by someone else. e.g. road traffic accidents, tripping and slipping cases, injuries & assaults.
What type of claims/accidents are NOT covered by Topas?
Topas does not handle claims AGAINST the MoD – only claims against third parties.
Why does the scheme exist?
ToPaS was developed to provide free legal assistance to MoD employees.
How does the Scheme Operate?
In the event of an injury caused by someone else whilst on duty, be it a road traffic accident, assault or any other form of accident – MoD employees will be able to contact the ToPaS solicitors direct and obtain immediate advice and assistance to pursue a claim at no expense to themselves.
What do personnel need to do to contact Topas in the event of an accident?
Contact us on 0870 998 9000 and ask to speak to a Topas solicitor. Alternatively, an Initial Instruction Questionnaire can be completed and submitted on-line.
Also hard copies of these may be available from key MoD personnel (e.g. Family Liaison Officers, Medical Officers, HR Officers, Health & Safety representatives, AGC, RAO).
In addition, details can be downloaded from the MoD Intranet.
Who runs the Scheme?
Appointed by the MoD – the Scheme is operated by Ralli Solicitors, a firm of solicitors who specialise in personal injury claims.
What about Legal Costs?
Legal costs incurred by an MoD claimant in pursuing a claim will be recovered in addition to the compensation awarded by the courts in the event that the matter proceeds to trial. If the action is unsuccessful, there will be no charge to the MoD or the individual concerned as the third party's legal costs are insured.
What are the main benefits of the Scheme?
Personnel will receive 100% of all compensation recovered – no catches.
The scheme passes no legal expense onto personnel.
Personnel are fully protected from all claims for legal costs.
A first class service will be provided by a firm of solicitors with acknowledged expertise in personal injury claims.
The problems which an accident can generate will be neutralised and ameliorated by rapid advice soon after the event.
Appropriate levels of compensation will be achieved.
Why does the scheme exist?
If you are injured when on duty / at work by a negligent third party (anyone other than the MoD), therefore the accident was not your fault or the fault of the MoD, then the MoD can not pay compensation for your injury as this would be classed as misuse of public funds. ToPaS was developed to provide a Free legal service to enable the clamant to pursue a claim for compensation against the third party at no expense to themselves or the MoD.
What can we do if we are injured Off Duty?
Ralli Solicitors operate a Free Off Duty Compensation Service called: The Family Accident Scheme. This scheme is available to all Service and MoD employees including their Friends, Families and Dependants. This service is used to claim compensation when injured by someone else. For more details contact: www.familyaccidents.com Helpline: 0870 998 9000
