Alison Eddy

Alison Eddy qualified as a Solicitor over 25 years ago and was attracted to personal injury law by the fact that she felt lawyers could make a real difference to the lives of people who had been injured.  In 1995 with another partner, Colin Ettinger, she set up the London office of Irwin Mitchell.  From a small team of just 3 lawyers initially, there are now over 100 lawyers in the personal injury department in London.  There are teams specialising in international travel, child abuse and industrial disease as well as clinical negligence and serious accidents. Alison specialises in neurotrauma and clinical negligence.  She has a particular interest in claims for adults and children who have suffered brain or spinal injury as a consequence of failings in NHS or private hospital care or as a result of road traffic collisions. 

'I have seen a huge difference in the way in which claims are approached since I first became a lawyer.  In the early days it was all about achieving the maximum amount of compensation for the Claimant.  Over the years rehabilitation has moved to centre stage and the aim now is to resolve liability and obtain sufficient interim payments to enable a proper care package to be put  into place, provide therapies and move the Claimant into suitably adapted accommodation at a much earlier stage than would once have been the case.  The other major change in recent years has been the introduction of periodical payments.  Life expectancy is often a major issue and through annual interim payments it is possible to provide sufficient funds to provide care for an injured person for as long as they live. 

'The lives of our clients have often been turned upside down in a matter of seconds by often little more than a momentary lapse in concentration. Many will have complex medical and social needs.   It is hugely rewarding to know that as a lawyer I can make a real difference.  I enjoy working with a team who are dedicated and passionate about their work.  We hear stories of devastating loss that change the lives of the whole family but also stories of hope and determination.  Through interim payments we are often able to provide community rehabilitation and support the family through their grief and help them rebuild their lives.'